The Phoenix boys basketball team closed 2017 with a victory.

The Pirates used a big second half to pull away from South Umpqua for a 62-36 win on the final day of the Evergreen Bank Tournament at Grants Pass High School.

Phoenix (3-8 on the season) outscored the Lancers 23-11 in the third quarter to pull away. PHS led 27-14 at the half before going on to avenge a loss to SU two weeks earlier.

Sophomore guard Mateo Lopez led the third-quarter surge, scoring 13 of his game-high 14 points in the stanza, including a trio of three-point baskets. Javan Gail and Kevin Botermans both had big games in the post, with Gail scoring 12 points and Botermans 11.

The win came a day after a tough 59-54 overtime loss to Hidden Valley in the consolation semifinals of the event at Hidden Valley. PHS led 27-16 at halftime but watched its lead erode over the final two quarters. Hidden Valley scored a basket in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, where it outscored the Pirates 12-7.

Gail finished with 13 points while Ethan Hutsell added 11 and David Lozano-Reyes 10. 

Phoenix fell to Crater 63-36 on the first day of the tournament. The Pirates trailed just 30-21 at halftime.

PHS returns to action on Friday when it will take part in the Sky-West Crossover at Hidden Valley.