How sweet it is for Skyline Prep head coach Jace Romero, after winning this year's CAA State Championship on Friday evening at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The championship victory came in an epic 69-65 overtime win over favored Tri-City Christian High School. Tri-City had blown out Skyline Prep at home earlier in the season (72-47).
"I didn't think we could do it," said Romero after the game. "We worked on sharing the basketball and shooting all week. We really came out hot in the first half."
Skyline Prep came out firing on all cylinders in this game. With UCLA assistant coach David Grace and Washington State assistant coach Silvey Dominguez in attendance for the game, Skyline came out with immense intensity and caught a talented Tri-City Christian team sleeping.
Tri-City Christian (21-2) is the most talented team in the state's CAA ranks. Led by the play of 6-foot-9 senior post Nigel Shadd (Kansas State signee) and 6-foot-7 sophomore guard/forward Walter Talley, Tri-City has an immense lineup - much bigger than Skyline Prep's.
Skyline Prep (22-4) is a much smaller team, led by the play of numerous guards that play with an intense, fast-breaking style and enjoy shooting the basketball from anywhere on the floor. Their aggressive offensive style of play would work to ignite Skyline in the state final, as they would come out to take a big 14-point lead, 27-13, by the end of the first period. Nigel Shadd would finish the period with a nice alley-oop two-handed dunk.
Skyline would get right back to business in the second period - making shots from almost anywhere on the floor and with regularity. After a three-pointer from tough 5-foot-8 senior point guard Jamez Pearson, and a step-back three-pointer in the corner from 5-foot-7 junior guard Cameron Campbell, Skyline Prep would take a 35-20 lead with less than 4 minutes to play in the first half.
Again though, Nigel Shadd would continue his very strong play, and convert a jump hook in the lane. After a nice layup from 6-foot-2 senior Grant Jones, Tri-City would look to gain the game's momentum, but Skyline would end the half on a 6-2 run to go into the half, 41-26.
In the third period, Skyline Prep would begin to look very tired, as Tri-City would come out with excellent intensity and quickly get back into the contest. Tri-City would outscore Skyline 21 to 11 in the third period, but Skyline Prep would hold on to a 52-47, 5-point margin after three quarters.
The fourth period would be epic for both of these two programs.
With 4:40 left to play in regulation, Walter Talley would collect an offensive rebound and put-back to bring Tri-City to within 3-points, 55-52. After a big Skyline turnover, 6-foot-3 junior guard Taylor Ball would travel the length of the floor and finish a reverse layup to make it a one-point game, 55-54, with Skyline still in the lead.
Nigel Shadd would give Tri-City their first lead of the game, 60-59, with :50 seconds left to play in regulation, but two free-throws from Jamez Pearson would put Skyline Prep back in the lead, 61-60.
After a costly Skyline turnover at halfcourt, Tri-City would tie the game, 61-61, after a free-throw from Grant Jones. Then, with just seconds remainning on the clock, Skyline's Pearson would drive to the basket strong while being fouled, but referees would hold their whistles - leading us to an overtime period.
In the overtime, Tri-City would strike first and fast. Nigel Shadd would begin the overtime period with a two-handed tip dunk on a rebound, then he would convert a nice left-handed jump hook in the lane to put Tri-City ahead by 4 points.
But Skyline Prep would come right back, even when it looked as though Tri-City would run away with it. 6-foot-1 senior guard Seth Taylor would convert a layup, and then a steal on the inbounds and another layup by Skyline, and they would take the lead 67-65. Then after two free-throws by Skyline's Pearson, Skyline Prep would have their CAA Championship, 69-65, in front of a large bewildered Tri-City Christian crowd.
"They (Tri-City) did the best they could - it was a great game," said Laith Francis, a Tri-City parent and fan.
Recruiting Notes: Tri-City Christian 6-foot-9 senior post Nigel Shadd (Kansas State signee) has really improved a great deal over the years with his play. Shadd is still developing and is young for his age, but he has matured physically and mentally this season. He has developed his low post skills and plays with much more energy currently. Shadd is a big-time rebounder and shot-blocker, and will see playing time with Kansas State for sure. If K-State's coaching staff will be patient with Shadd, this young man should blossom at the collegiate level as a high-energy, rebounding and finishing post talent.
