#1 seed Corona Del Sol (30-1) continued their run towards winning this year's Division-I state title Tuesday evening with a nice 69-54 quarterfinal playoff win over Brophy Prep.
After getting off to a slow start in their last playoff game, the Aztecs would come out much faster in this one - taking a 13-4 lead with 3:50 remainning in the first quarter after a transition basket by 6-foot-7, 300-pound post Andrus Peat (Stanford commit - football).
Corona would extend their lead to nine points, 23-14, in the first period after a nice driving layup from 6-foot-3 senior combo-guard Calaen Robinson (Arizona State signee).
In the second period, Brophy Prep would look to narrow the Aztec lead after a mid-range jump shot from 6-foot-9 junior post Tim Kempton to start the second period.
Brophy would hang tough in the second period until a three-point play from Calaen Robinson after being fouled on a dribble driving move towards the basket. the three-point play would put Corona ahead 34-25 with less than a minutes to play in the first half.
Corona would take a 34-25 lead into the half.
In the third period, Robinson would put on a show on the home floor of his future college destination, as he would travel the length of the floor, go behind his back, and convert a left-handed layup over a defender.
After Corona would then extend their lead to 40-27, Brophy would look to come back - going on a 4-0 run to make the score 40-31. After a big block from Tim Kempton, Corona head coach Sam Duane Jr. would call a timeout to step the game's momentum gained by Brophy Prep.
The timeout would prove beneficial as Andrus Peat would convert a three-point play inside , and then Robinson would score on a driving layup to put the Aztecs ahead 44-31 with 1:52 left to play in the third period.
In the fourth period, Peat would rebound his own missed shot and score inside to put Corona ahead 46-33 with 7:15 left to play.
Brophy Prep would keep the game close until 2:55 left to play in the game when 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Casey Benson would convert a layup after an assist from his backcourt mate Calaen Robinson.
Corona would then hold on for a 69-54 playoff victory.
Casey Benson would lead the way for the Aztecs with a game-high 20 points. Corona will now move on to the Division-I semi-finals where they will face Desert Vista HS on Thursday at Jobing.com Arena.
Playoff Notes: #5 seed Desert Vista (22-8) won a narrow quarterfinal playoff game over #5 seed Gilbert HS Tuesday afternoon. 6-foot-6 senior forward Danny Powell (Eastern Washington signee) led the way for the Thunder with 24 points in Desert Vista's 53-50 Division-I quarterfinal playoff victory at Arizona State's Wells Fargo Arena.
A jump shot by 6-foot-1 junior point guard John Marshall with 1:06 left to play in the game gave Desert Vista the lead and eventually the win.
