The Open Division State Championship game is now set after two exciting semi-final games on Wednesday evening, and the two final teams make a lot of sense. While numerous teams competed hard this season to get to this point, our state's top overall ranked team, Millennium High School, will now face the two-time defending state champions, Perry High School, in the Open Division state final. Millennium utilized a huge third quarter performance to blow out Notre Dame Prep, 65-38, before Perry would get a huge performance from 6-foot-8 superstar junior Koa Peat, to defeat Basha High School in the rubber-match, 63-46. Here are my recaps to both contests . . .
Millennium vs Notre Dame Prep - Open Division Semi-Final
It began as an exciting match-up on paper, as both of these two teams have had excellent seasons, although Millennium (25-4) had defeated Notre Dame Prep in an earlier season match-up. While that previous game seemed to be an anomaly of sorts, Millennium definitely proved on Wednesday evening @ Chaparral HS that was not the case, as they would completely handle Notre Dame Prep this time around - proving why Millennium has been rated as our #1 team in the state for some time now, and look more than prepared to win it all this season.
Notre Dame Prep (25-5) came out strong in this contest, as 6-foot-4 ultra-athletic senior Anthony Batson (Rice University signee) started the game off with a strong two-handed alley-oop dunk, after a nice pass from teammate, 6-foot-3 junior guard Bryce Quinet. After a floater from 6-foot junior guard Brennan Peterson and a long three-pointer from Quinet, Notre Dame Prep would jump out to a 7-2 lead mid-way through the first period. Millennium's star 6-foot-7 sophomore Cam Holmes would receive three fouls in the game's first period, sending him to the bench early. But Millennium would not get rattled. Led by Millennium's experienced coaching staff, the Millennium team would quickly make some adjustments, and after a three-pointer from 6-foot-3 senior guard Sabien Cain (Cal-State Northridge signee) with 1:50 left to play in the first period, Millennium would eventually take a 15-7 lead at the end of the first period.
Notre Dame Prep would remain relatively close in the second period, and after a dunk in transition from 6-foot-3 junior Will Feagles, on a nice assist from Quinet, Notre Dame Prep would be down by 7 points, 29-22, before a layup in traffic just before the halftime buzzer by Millennium 6-foot-7 talented junior Kingston Tosi. Millennium would take a 31-22 lead into halftime.
The third period would absolutely change the game for both teams, as Millennium would come out clearly focused in the third period - looking to punch their ticket for the Open Division State Final. After a transition layup by Sabien Cain, a two-handed dunk in transition from Cam Holmes, consecutive three-pointers from 6-foot-2 junior guard Quincy Everson and 5-foot-9 junior guard JT Amundsen, and Millennium would blow the game wide open, 46-26, with 4:15 left to play in the third period. Millennium would outscore Notre Dame Prep 30-9 in the third period, and not look back. Millennium would then cruise to a 65-38 semi-final victory - advancing to the Open Division state final.
Kingston Tosi had a very nice performance in this game, as he showed excellent versatility as a player and score from all (3) levels, including several nice dunks in the win. Tosi finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the victory, while Sabien Cain also contributed 19 points and 6 assists for Millennium.
Perry vs Basha High School - Open Division Semi-Final
It was another exciting rematch between two of the state's elite teams, as #1 seed and two-time defending state champion Perry High School and #4 seed Basha High School faced off in an exciting match-up of the state's two top East Valley-based programs. Perry (23-6) came into the contest as winners of their last (6) games, since their last loss to rival Basha. Basha (22-7) came into the game as winners of their last (6) games as well, and with emotions riding very high, as they looked to dethrone the defending state champs. But one major obstacle stood in Basha's way - 6-foot-8 superstar junior Koa Peat. Peat is as good as any prospect that has ever graced the Arizona hardwood, and he would turn in a monster performance on the evening - proving just how dominant a player that he is.
Peat would basically dominate this contest from start to finish, as he would turn in his best individual performance on both ends of the floor. After a Koa Peat transition basket, and then a strong 3-point play from Peat with 1:50 remaining in the first period, Perry would take 16-8 first quarter lead. Peat would then knock down a mid-range jumper over a defender with :38 seconds left in the first to give Perry a 21-8 lead after the first period.
Basha though would storm back behind a strong team effort. A three-pointer from gifted sophomore guard Mason Magee, then a nice assist from Magee to 6-foot-8 sophomore Elijah Summers-Livingston for a basket, which would then be capped off by a three-pointer from 6-foot-5 senior Christian Warren. Basha would remain close to Perry and prove that they would not lay down. With 1:35 left to play in the first half, Mason Magee would finish off a 3-point play to bring Basha to within 3 points of Perry, 25-22. Then Christian Warren would score on a driving layup just before halftime to pull Basha to within one point, 25-24, at halftime.
In the third period, Basha would quickly tie the contest at 27 all, after a nice contested three-point shot from Mason Magee. But that would be enough for Koa Peat and his Perry teammates to witness. Koa Peat would then get back to taking over the contest, as he would finish back-2-back dunks for Perry - an alley-oop dunk on a nice pass from 5-foot-10 junior guard No No Brown, and then a steal and a dunk by Koa Peat. With 3:46 left to play in the third period, No No Brown, who has played great this season, would knock down a three-pointer, after a loose ball was picked up by Perry. Then, No No Brown would convert another three-pointer in transition, after a nice pass from 5-foot-10 senior guard Barron Silsby. Perry would take a 47-37 advantage into the final period.
In the fourth period, Perry would hold on to their lead, as Basha would look to close the gap, but would fail to make the game any closer. Just before the buzzer, Koa Peat would travel from half-court through the lane, and finish a strong two-handed dunk to seal the 63-46 victory over rival Basha - pushing Perry back to the Open Division State Championship game, where they will now face #1 ranked Millennium High School for the championship.
