Cruise control

 In the eyes of the Arizona Interscholastic Association's computer power ranking system, Yuma and Surprise-Willow Canyon's boys basketball teams were a dead even tie.

 Too bad team play and tempo control don't come with number-crunching stats.

 The Criminals got the track meet they were looking for and quickly turned their transition offense into a second-round playoff spot.

 Carlos Wallett scored 33 points and Ricardo Quintero punctuated it with 19 more as Yuma zipped by Willow Canyon 88-67 Thursday in the first round of the state playoffs in the Palace on Prison Hill.

 "They played right into our hands," Yuma coach Louie Pisano said. "I guess when you look at us we don't look like a team that can run, but that's what we do best."

 Yuma will head to Tucson on Saturday for the second round to play No. 1 seed and defending champion Ironwood Ridge, which beat Horizon 72-51.

 Wallett became the primary beneficiary of Yuma's pass-first, dribble second style of play, but showcased his athleticism on the blocks to get the ball around the long-armed Wildcats. When Willow Canyon got back on defense and dropped down, Quintero and Austin Taylor were free to shoot from anywhere they pleased.

 "You gotta hand it to them. "Thirty-four (Wallett) played a heck of a game," Willow Canyon coach Bob Bohon said. "We made him look like the fastest kid in the state. They all were a lot faster live than on film."

 Wallett appeared to be bound for a big night early on, breaking free after made baskets for easy layups and scoring 11 first-quarter points.

 "I couldn't sleep last night, I was nervous all day waiting to play, but once the game started I was okay," Wallett said. "I knew we just had to keep running all the time. I thought they were going to be faster than they were."

 The Wildcats tried to keep up and match the Criminals layup for layup, but had to rely on its one-on-one skills for offense. The hard-fought points slowly took their toll on the other end as Willow Canyon chased Wallett, Harmon and Steven Rojano all over the floor to no avail.

 "We like to pass and cut and hope to catch the defense off guard, and when we were patient and waited for the opening everyone played great," Pisano said. "It was a total team effort. I couldn't be more excited for these guys."

 The Criminals turned a five-point halftime edge into a 13-point lead early in the third quarter, but also saw Co-Player of the Year Steven Rojano leave the game with pain in his left arm. Rojano did not return and finished with 10 points- all in the first quarter - but Taylor filled in with 13 points off the bench and Yuma's lead continued to climb.

 "He could have played if we needed him, but once we got that lead there was no reason, and everybody else on the floor stepped it up," Pisano said. "We always tell them you never know when your number's going to be called, and Austin played great tonight."

 Willow Canyon's Josh Jones had 20 points and C.J. Crockom had 17, one of the few seniors who saw significant playing time.

 Yuma's other two scorers were Mitchell Harmon with nine points and Eric Rivas with four.