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Mesquite wins first basketball title

BY ZACH ALVIRA GSN Sports Editor

All 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 claim their first-ever state championship.

“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 Mesquite senior guard Nate Calmese capped off a stellar career with a 34-point, 10-rebound performance to lead the Wildcats to their first-ever boys basketball championship. (Dave Minton/GSN Staff)

see MESQUITE page 24

Perry boys win 6A basketball title, girls fall to Valley Vista

BY BRITTANY BOWYER GSN Contributing Writer

The 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 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.”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)

see PERRY page 24

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It was a close game to start things out as both teams worked to get comfortable on the floor. Neither team was looking to push the pace too much to start.

Hamilton hung around with Perry all night long. Even as the Pumas went on an 8-2 run to start the second quarter, the Huskies regrouped during a timeout and managed to trim Perry’s lead.

Duane talked to his players about moments like this leading up to the game. He knew Hamilton would not just lay down in the title game.

He knows it’s hard enough to beat a team such as Hamilton twice in the same season. To do it three times becomes especially tough.

“We knew that we were never too far ahead,” Duane said, touching on how Hamilton had come back from behind to win on multiple occasions this year. “Coach Harris is such a tremendous coach, his kids don’t quit. So yeah, you’re never too far ahead.”

Sure enough, the Huskies slowly started inching back into it. After Perry had pushed the lead to 10 to start out the final eight minutes, Hamilton brought it back within five off a 3-pointer from Aaron Foote with just under 5 minutes left to play.

It came down to a battle at the free throw line, where Perry was able to pull away to claim the title. As the buzzer went off, the team flooded the court in celebration. After jumping around in a circle, the Pumas even bust-

MESQUITE from page 22

to call.

Gonzales, a junior guard who is the other half of Mesquite’s backcourt along with Calmese, said the team was high off the adrenaline from that win for two days before settling down to take care of business against Salpointe Catholic.

And thanks to Calmese’s outing, along with Gonzales’ 14 points and 5 rebounds, they managed to pull off yet another upset victory.

“I think us getting back defensively and us stopping them from getting buckets under the rim, that was a majority of their points, was the turning point,” Gonzales said. “I feel like we started out-rebounding them and taking care of the ball. ed out a few dance moves as they were finally able to relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

“I love these guys,” said junior Cody Williams, who led the team with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and five steals. “These are my brothers, my family. Being able to see all the blood, sweat and tears we put in this season and coming out here and performing is the best feeling.”

Along with Williams, Perry also saw contributions from freshman forward Koa Peat, who had 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Hamilton was led by Adams’ 13 points and five rebounds.

While the Perry boys managed to get it done in the second game, the girls had trouble against Valley Vista.

Valley Vista’s run of dominance continued as the Monsoon were able to take home their third consecutive title, and fifth in six years, after beating Perry 6846.

The Monsoon wasted no time getting to work against Perry, jumping out to a 6-2 lead early off a steal and a bucket

from future Oregon Duck and current senior Jennah Isai. Perry was able to keep things close to start the game, but by the end of the first quarter, Valley Vista had jumped out to a 17-9 lead. The Monsoon quickly extended that lead to double digits before Perry made a run to come within three points. However, that’s when problems started to ensue for the Pumas. Valley Vista was already in foul trouble, but Perry failed to capitalize on it and instead continued Mesquite senior guard Nate Calmese capped off a stellar career with a 34-point, 10-rebound to try standing toe-toperformance to lead the Wildcats to their first-ever boys basketball championship. (Dave Minton/ toe with the Monsoon. GSN Staff) Through the second and third quarter, Valley Vista caught fire and quickly built to a 14-point lead. Even as Perry managed to again close the gap, it proved to be too much as free throws down the stretch sealed the victory for the Monsoon. “They turned [the ball] over 25 times,” Perry girls coach Andrew Curtis said. “We turned it over 24. I think when we turned it over, they were getting good looks and buckets. We were getting turnovers and we maybe missed a few bunnies. or we couldn’t get into it, so. I think that’s what it came down to.”

“We’re the first team to (win) in Mesquite history. It’s unreal.”

Mesquite’s game plan entering Monday’s contest was to attack in transition and get back on defense to force contested shots from Salpointe’s shooters. While the Wildcats attacked the paint, they often struggled to get back to the other end of the floor.

That led to Salpointe jumping out to a lead in the first 12 minutes of play, thanks in large part to Brett Rosenblatt’s 10 points. Mesquite quickly found itself trailing the Lancers 34-25 before embarking on a 10-0 run to finish the half. The wave of momentum carried over to the third quarter where transition defense and a wave of buckets gave the Wildcats a seven-point advantage.

While slim, it was a lead Salpointe was never able to overcome as the Lancers went cold from the field. They did, however, manage to trim Mesquite’s lead to four with under a minute remaining. But clutch free throws from Calmese and Gonzales put the game out of reach for good.

“Hey, hit our free throws and just be solid with the basketball,” Mesquite coach Shawn Lynch said. “Just be fundamental with the basketball. We reinforced that we have to get guys back (on defense). If we can pressure a little bit, it can slow them. I thought that helped.”

Salpointe was led by the duo of James Smotherman and Rosenblatt, who finished with 13 points each and a combined nine rebounds. Julian Riesgo had 11 points for the Lancers and added 4 rebounds and 6 assists.

Bryant Kayson, who had a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter for Mesquite, had 9 points for the Wildcats and 6 rebounds.

The win was monumental for Mesquite for many reasons. It capped off a Cinderella-type of run where the Wildcats were continuously counted out in the postseason. It also gave them a perfect 20-0 record against teams from the 4A Conference.

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