Arizona roundup: No. 7 St. Mary's girls win third straight title

The St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.) nationally ranked girls basketball team had a scare Saturday afternoon at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

Rather than panic, they just turned up the heat.

According to aia365.com staff writer Les Willsey, St. Mary's forced 17 second-half to turn a six-point halftime deficit into a third straight Division I Arizona state title with a 49-37 win over Pinnacle (Phoenix).

Following a 14-0 run by Pinnacle to end the first half, St. Mary's ran off 14 straight of its own while winning its 60th straight game against an Arizona opponent and seventh title overall.

Pinnacle (33-3) lost its sixth title game in last seven years.

St. Mary's, No. 7 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings, finished 29-1.

"I tried to outsmart myself," St. Mary's coach Curtis Ekmark told reporters. "We were playing passive and trying not to give up threes..... We had to go out and play the way we play. Pressure. If we went down that way, fine. But that's the way we've played all year. That's what won it for us."

UConn commit Courtney Ekmark, the coaches' daughter, led the way with 14 points and six steals. Chantel Osahor had nine points and 10 rebounds and Dominique Williams and Danielle Williams combined for 15 pints and 10 steals.

Britta Nordstrom led Pinnacle with 12 points and Kenna McDavis chipped in with 11.

Remarkably, five St. Mary's girls have signed letters of intents: Osahor (Washington), Dominique Williams (UCLA), Danielle Williams (Michigan), Chloe Johnson (San Diego State) and Brandee Walton (New Mexico State). Courtney Ekmark is only a junior.

"It's just a great experience" said Dominique Williams, who won three titles in four years. "It took a lot of hard work, and we lost the first one but came back stronger because we lost. I wish we could have won all four, but you can't always be perfect."

See AIA365 story

Division II
Saguaro (Scottsdale) 49, Flowing Wells (Tucson) 38

See Jason Skoda's story

Division III
Winslow 45, Valley (Sanders, Ariz.) 40

A year after letting a championship slip away, the top seed wasn't going let it happen again, using a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter and 17 points and 21 rebounds from super sophomore Shandiin Armao to win going away.

“After losing to Page (in the state championship game) last year we made a commitment that we were going to work harder than our opponents this year, and that’s what these kids did,” Winslow coach Jerron Jordan said. “We made some plays and didn’t panic when they (Valley) took the lead.” 

“They played with their hearts,” Valley coach Julia Six said about her team. “They played. They really wanted it. I’m proud. I’m proud of what they did.”

Winslow outscored Valley 30-14 in the paint and outrebounded its opponent 43-28.

The victory for No. 1 seed Winslow (27-5) gave its third-year coach his first state title at a program accustomed to playing for titles. This was Winslow's ninth state crown. 

See AIA365 story

BOYS
Division I
Corona del Sol (Tempe) 63, Pinnacle 59

Bryan Siefker had 19 points and Casey Benson 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Corona (30-5) won its second straight title.

The Aztecs overcame a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes to complete its remarkable state-tournament run. They won their four games by a total of 14 points. They also broke Pinnacle's 16-game win streak.

Adam Gleave and Cassius Peat added 12 each for the winners.

Dorian Pickens led Pinnacle (26-8) with 24 points, but 18 came in the first quarter, which led to a 10-point lead.

"We told them at halftime they had to grind it out and believe," Corona del Sol coach Sam Duane Jr. said. "I've said it before. These guys just find a way."

See AIA365 story

Division II
Paradise Valley (Phoenix) 45, Salpointe Catholic (Tucson) 39

Fresno State-signee Paul Watson had 20 points, seven rebounds and five steals leading the fourth seeded Trojans (26-7) to victory. He scored 13 in the second half. Teammate Ryan Finley had 13 points.
 
Cameron Denson led Salpoint with 18 points, four rebounds and four steals.

See AIA365 story

Division III
Gilbert Christian (Gilbert) 60, Valley Christian (Chandler) 48

Dylan Bliss drilled three three-pointers in the first quarter leading to a 15-6 edge and Gilbert Christian (31-3) cruised from there to win its second straight title.

It was the fourth straight win for Gilbert Christian over Valley Christian, thanks large to the shooting of Bliss and Roberto Reyes (17 points). Bliss is the only senior on his team's roster.

Valley Christian (23-10) got 14 points from TJ Widner.

“We played well,” Gilbert Christian coach Jerome Joseph said. “We have guys who are talented, can make shots and share the ball, and when you get 12 guys on the same page, that’s tough to deal with. That’s what they did. They shared the ball. No selfishness. No ego. No pride.”

See AIA365 story