On Thursday, February 21st I traveled to Wells Fargo Arena (ASU) and watched the semi-final playoffs for the Division-I State Tournament, which featured the #1 seed Corona del Sol Aztecs versus the #4 seed Desert Mountain (DM) Wolves.The Corona kids were crazy, as they supported their team with at least 300 kids from the student section, which was the most impressive sight to see with everyone having black shirts on. This game was highly anticipated - not only to watch two elite teams, but also to watch two elite PGs in 6-foot-3 junior PG Casey Benson and 5-foot-11 junior guard Rolando Rhymes.
The game started with some nerves, as both teams were ice cold, until Benson hit a pull-up 3-ball to start things off for Corona.
Desert Mountain's 6-foot-5 senior SG Diego Magana came back and hit his own 3-pointer, and then 6-foot-4 junior Will Goff hit for two more for a 5 to 3 lead for DM with 4 minutes left to play. 6-foot-4 senior forward Adam Gleave made a jump-shot, then Rhymes made a fancy reverse lay-up for a 7-5 lead for DM.
Benson would answer, as he would go from way downtown for 3 pointers on two consecutive possessions for an 11-7 lead for Corona. Then 6-foot-4 sophomore PF Cassius Peat would bully his way in for a tough lay-up versus 6-foot-6 junior post Mark Andrews for a 13-7 lead.
Desert Mountain 5-foot-9 junior PG Gino Littles would hit a 3-ball, followed by two free-throws from 6-foot-1 junior guard Jarrett Givens for a 15-10 lead after one quarter of play.
The second quarter started and Rhymes puts on his own show, as he made 4 free throws, along with a great pass in traffic to Andrews who got fouled and converted both for a 16-15 lead for DM. Then Goff scored on a mid-range jumper from a nice pass from 6-foot-1 senior guard Brant Carter to cap off a 8-0 run for a 18-15 lead for DM.
Corona called timeout and got back into it with a three-pointer from 6-foot-3 senior guard Tennyson, after an amazing feed from Benson. Tennyson would then finish a lay-up off of an offensive rebound.
Rhymes would convert a mid-range jumper and then Benson would come back with a right hand lay-up for an “and-1” for a 23-22 lead.
Then Goff would knock down a 3-ball, from a nice Rhymes' feed for a 25 to 23 lead for DM. Rhymes then hit another mid-range shot for a 27-23 lead.
Corona's 6-foot-3 senior guard Bryan Siefker hit two 3-balls in a row, from Benson both times, for a 29-27 lead for Corona at the half.
At halftime, Rolando Rhymes had 10 points and 2 assists, while Will Goff scored 8 points. Casey Benson had 12 points and 3 assists at the half.
The third period began and Gleave scored 2 free-throws after a tough rebound in traffic. Then Andrews would make a tough lay-up off of a Rhymes' assist for a 31-29 Corona lead.
Tennyson then hit from the corner after an assist from Peat for a 33-29 lead. Rhymes then grabbed a steal and made a reverse lay-up then a Brant Carter 3-ball followed by a Gleave 3-ball. Benson would then get an assist in traffic and find Gleave for a cutting lay-up for a 38-34 lead for Corona.
Rhymes scored a lay-up, which was called off, as Benson got a charge called on him as he set his feet. Then the left-handed Benson made a tough driving lay-up in traffic with his right hand for a 40-34 lead.
Then Andrews made a huge block on Casey Benson, to keep the score at only a 6-point lead for Corona.
The final period started and Zach Bullock forced a 5-second call on Corona with his great man-to-man defense. DM cashed in as Goff scored a lay-up off of an offensive rebound, but then Benson scored an “and-1” for a 43-36 lead. Every time you thought DM would come back, Benson made a play.
Peat converted a free-throw, followed by a great cut to the hole from Benson for a 46-36 lead with 6 minutes left to play, which was the biggest lead of the game.
Goff answered with a three-pointer from a Rhymes' assist to stay alive. Rhymes then made 1 free throw for a 46-40 lead. Then Goff would knock down another deep 3-ball for a 46-43 lead for Corona with 3 minutes left to play - bringing the DM faithful to their feet.
Then Peat and Rhymes would exchange lay-ups inside for a 48-45 lead. Peat again would get fouled after a nice feed by Benson - making 1 free-throw for a 49-45 lead with 2:30 left. Then a key play down the stretch would take place as Siekfer would tap the ball from a Rhymes' pass and run down the court on a sprint to save it, before it went out of bounds - calling a timeout for Corona. Benson took advantage and blew by his man for a lay-up, followed by a quick Carter 3-ball from a Rhymes' assist for a 51-48 lead for Corona with 1:30 left in game to keep DM alive.
Benson, trying to put the team on his back, would get fouled and make 1 free-throw for a 52-48 lead. Then Rhymes made a reverse lay-up for a 52-50 lead for Corona.
DM fouled Siefker and he made 1 of 2 free-throws, as Peat grabbed a huge offensive rebound after the second miss and DM was forced to foul again. Gleave made 1 more free throw for a 54 50 lead for Corona.
Then Magana missed a wide-open 3-ball from a great feed by Rhymes.
On the next play, Corona's Gleave got an “and-1” to basically seal the victory for a 57-50 lead with :22 seconds left.
The final score was 61-53 in Corona’s favor, as the crowd was chanting “WE WANT PINNACLE!”
Will Goff finished with 16 points and Rolando Rhymes finished with 15 points, 4 assists and 3 steals in the loss for DM.
Casey Benson finished with 22 points, 5 assists and 3 steals, and Adam Gleave chipped in with 13 points in the win for Corona.
Corona will play @4 pm on Saturday at Jobing.com Arena for their second consecutive Division-I State Championship versus the Pinnacle Pioneers. Corona is striving for the repeat, which is a hard thing to accomplish.
Desert Mountain had a great year and I guarantee they will be back in the mix again for the state title next year. 6 juniors will be back from their core group, plus a possible arrival of 6-foot-6 sophomore phenom SF Dane Kuiper from Alaska.
