Cesar Chavez High School is always one of the most athletic and talented teams in the state - each year. Regardless of what team head coach Gary Lee places on the floor, look out as the Champions are almost just that - champions.
This season, Chavez (25-2) has been terrific. The team went into Wednesday night's Division-I, Section 4 Playoff game as winners of their last 20 games on the season - an amazing effort by Coach Lee and his team. While Lee has received some criticisms in the past by basketball enthusiasts across the state for not winning it all consistently, he has done an amazing job again this season in putting his team in posituion for another state title run.
Chavez has had only two losses on the season, and one of those losses came at the hands of Perry HS (21-6) earlier in the season - an 81-62 victory by Perry. Chavez would look to avenge their early season loss to Perry, while also looking to slow down the scoring efforts of star sophomore guard Markus Howard (Arizona State commit). Howard would struggle on the night - shooting only 12 for 35 from the field with no conscience. Howard would finish with a game-high 32 points in the game.
This was an excellent match-up of two of the state's elite teams, and it would be proven in the game's first three periods, as Chavez would take a one-point advantage, 29-28, into halftime, and then both teams would be tied at 46 all after 3 quarters.
In the fourth period, Chavez would begin to pull away - starting the 4th quarter on a 9-0 run. But in a two-minute span, Perry would go on a 9-0 run of their own to tie the game at 55 all, after an inside basket by 6-foot-5 junior John Schanglen.
With less than a minute remaining and holding on to a one-point advantage, Chavez senior guard Tarion May would dribble the basketball at the top of the key, before a defensive breakdown by Perry would open up the lane, and May would gracefully drive to the hoop- finishing a left-handed layup and giving Chavez a 64-61 advtantage with :40 seconds left to play.
Howard would then fire three consecutive three-point attempts to tie the game, but with a nice contested effort from the Chavez team, Howard would fail in his efforts to tie the game. Chavez would eventually win the game 65-62 - avenging their earlier season defeat.
Chavez sophomore guard Donald Carter has been solid all season long for his team. Carter would finish with a team-high 16 points, five rebounds and two steals in the win. Tarion May would contribute 12 points, while 6-foot-7 senior forward Isaiah Wilson, one of the state's best sleeper prospects, finished with 8 points and 9 rebounds.
Chavez will move on to face St. Mary's on Friday evening at Camelback HS @ 7PM. St. Mary's played strong in their big win over Gilbert High School on Wednesday evening - a narrow 59-57 win.
