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GilbertSunNews.com
GILBERT SUN NEWS | MARCH 6, 2022
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Mesquite wins first basketball title BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor
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ll Mesquite senior guard Nate Calmese could do when his Cohenj Gonzales was at the free throw line was turn around and look at the clock. He knew that with 5.6 seconds remaining and a six-point margin between the Wildcats and top-ranked Salpointe Catholic his team had the championship won. Gonzales missed his second free throw, but it didn’t make a difference as the clock ran out on the Lancers’ last-second shot. As the buzzer sounded, Calmese pointed to his ring finger. His 34-point, 10-rebound performance at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum Monday night carried the Wildcats to a 64-58 win to Mesquite senior guard Nate Calmese capped off a stellar career with a 34-point, 10-reclaim their first-ever state champion- bound performance to lead the Wildcats to their first-ever boys basketball championship. ship. (Dave Minton/GSN Staff)
“It’s indescribable. Just to know I’m a champion and to see all of our hard work paying off, and for us to be the last ones standing, it’s indescribable,” Calmese said. “Just to know after that shot, everyone was sleeping on us. Now, we’re champions.” Calmese and the Wildcats entered the contest with the No. 1 ranked team in 4A riding a wave of momentum and adrenaline. Just days earlier, Calmese hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to knock off last year’s champion, St. Mary’s. The bucket made national headlines and appeared on SportsCenter’s Top-10 plays as the best of the night. Though it did come with some controversy as it was questioned whether he was able to get the shot off in time. But to the naked eye, it was too close
see MESQUITE page 24
Perry boys win 6A basketball title, girls fall to Valley Vista BY BRITTANY BOWYER GSN Contributing Writer
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he Perry Pumas wrapped up another successful basketball season with back-to-back appearances in the girls and boys 6A State championship games on Wednesday, March 2 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. After multiple seasons of falling just shy of the big dance, both squads had finally reached the pinnacle. Pouring into the venue in busloads, it was a packed house as the students pumped in the energy all night long. Perry was making history, and the students all wanted to be there to witness it. Previously, no Perry Basketball team, boys or girls, had been able to earn a championship berth. Now, the school was looking at the chance to take home not
The Perry boys basketball team hoist their trophy after defeating Hamilton in the AIA 6A boys basketball state championship game on Wednesday, March 2 at Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. (David Minton/GSN Staff)
only one, but two in the same night and the students were looking forward to every second of it. Ultimately, the Pumas were able to take home the 6A title for the boys and the runner-up title for the girls. Either way, Perry was getting two new pieces of hardware to bring home for the trophy case. Perry’s boys grinded their way to a 4838 victory over the Hamilton Huskies to cap off a thrilling season. Despite the pain lingering in the air from the girls’ loss just before, the Pumas were able to lock-in mentally and focus on playing their game. “We were just locked in on what our mission was,” Perry boys coach Sam Duane Jr. said. “We knew what our task was and that was the only thing on our mind and our guys were really locked in.”
see PERRY page 24
