Democracy Prep forward Dion Parker (middle) glides through Mater defense during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep guard Josiah Stroughter moves the ball down the court during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep forward Dion Parker (34) and Mater Academy point guard Miles Williams (4) get tangled up while reaching for the ball during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A Democracy Prep fan makes a thumbs down gesture to a referee during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep guard DaShaun Harris points to the other side of the court to signal that it is Democracy Prep’s ball during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep guard Jamarian Taylor drives the ball during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mater Academy head coach Antoine Wright coaches his players from the sidelines during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Young Democracy Prep fans dance during a time out at a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep guard DaShaun Harris dunks the ball into the net during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep guard DaShaun Harris (3) fights to keep possession of the ball as Mater shooting guard Kobe Robinson (12) guards him during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mater Academy head coach Antoine Wright coaches his players from the sidelines during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A Democracy Prep cheerleader dances during halftime at a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep players sit on the sidelines during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep head coach Cory Duke coaches from the sidelines during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A Democracy Prep fan cheers as she receives a thumbs up from a Mater East fan walking by during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mater East fans react from the bleachers during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mater East cheerleaders continue to cheer as their team is down during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mater players cheer for their teammates on the sidelines during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mater Academy head coach Antoine Wright is escorted away from a referee by his coaching staff and a player during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Mater shooting guard Deven Taylor (21) drives the ball as Democracy Prep guard DaShaun Harris (3) guards him during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep fans cheer during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy prep fans dance after their team won during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy prep fans dance after their team won during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep fans cheer during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep fans cheer during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy prep students wave goodbye to Mater East players in the final moments during a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep fans cheer in the final moments of a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep fans cheer in the final moments of a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Democracy Prep fans cheer in the final moments of a boys basketball game between Mater East and Democracy Prep at Democracy Preparatory Academy’s Agassi Campus on Dec. 6, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Reigning Class 3A boys basketball state champion Democracy Prep beat Mater East 67-54 on Friday night in the teams’ first meeting since the Blue Knights’ victory in last season’s Class 3A state title game.
Democracy Prep (3-0, 2-0 3A Desert League) faces Brentwood School (Calif.) in a tournament Saturday. Mater East (1-1, 0-1) will play Desert Hills (Utah) at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X