Corona defense crushes DV; Aztecs secure record 4th State win

By Alex Zener

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Those who foresaw a game of intense rivalry between two Tempe Union high schools, in which Corona del Sol’s highpowered offense was to be pitted against Desert Vista’s suffocating defense, could not more emphatically have missed their mark. It was the Aztecs’ stifling defense, allowing the Thunder to score only fi ve points in the fi rst quarter and 21 points through the first three quarters, that was most evident in Corona’s fourth straight record-setting Division I championship win, with a 57-32 thumping of Desert Vista in the fi nals at Gila River Arena. “We played incredible defense in the fi rst half,” said Corona del Sol coach Sammy Duane Jr. “I knew about three minutes into the game that we were playing our best defense of the season.” As is often the case, the Aztecs’ off ensive eff ort was fueled by their defense, leading to fast-break points including numerous dunks, where almost everyone who played in the fi rst two quarters had an assist. Corona had 11 assists on 13 baskets in the fi rst half alone leading 31-13 when the players left the court at halftime. “We shared the ball really well tonight looking for the open man” said Coach Duane. “That was all started by our defense.”

Dane Kuiper, the 6-foot-7 wingman with long arms and quick hands, must have stolen or defl ected passes at least 10 times. He was often leading the fast break like a guard to either score on a lay-up or dunk, or to deliver an assist. Kuiper, heading to University of New Mexico next fall, led all players with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Marvin Bagley III struggled a bit off ensively in the fi rst quarter of his fi rst high school state championship game but made up for it with his best defensive eff ort all season. He guarded the paint, ready to pounce on any Desert Vista player who managed to penetrate Corona’s defense and get close to the basket. Bagley tallied four blocked shots and nine rebounds in the fi rst half alone. Once Bagley settled down off ensively, he wowed the crowd with several dunks, ending the fi rst half with 10 points. Altogether he scored 16 points, 14 rebounds and fi ve blocked shots. Alex Barcello, Corona’s highly talented and intense sophomore guard, even seemed to relax and enjoy the moment when Corona closed out the third quarter leading 53-21.

Barcello ended the game with 12 points and three assists in the stats. It’s only fi tting, given his last name, that Cassius Peat was a member of Corona’s championship four-peat team. Peat has the distinction of being the only Aztec who has played on all four championship teams. “It was my goal at the beginning of the season to win my fourth championship ring,” said Peat. “It means the world to me to have been the only one who got to play with all four of these championship teams.” “Cassius’s championship experience and leadership was invaluable this season,” said Duane. “He played a great game for us against Chaparral and was the diff erence-maker. He adds so much to our team.” Peat, one of the two senior starters on the team, will be heading to Michigan State to play football this fall, but not before having made his presence felt on the basketball court. He was a force in the paint for the Aztecs, snagging rebounds and getting points on put-back baskets as well as hitting free throws, but he also ran end-to-end to score lay-ups. Junior guard Tyrell Henderson was not only tenacious on defense but helped bring the ball up the court on off ense, grabbing rebounds and leading fast breaks. It almost seemed as though he put a dagger in the hearts of the Thunder players when he hit a trey at the end of the third quarter. Sixth man Isiah Bolden did an excell ent job, providing a spark off the bench either on defense or off ense when needed. He played a number of minutes in the championship game when Peat had to sit after picking up his third foul midway through the third quarter after being called for an intentional foul on a Thunder player who dared to drive baseline through him.

Corona tied a state record with Phoenix Union (1958-61) and Mesa (1923-26) as the only top-division school in Arizona history to win four consecutive state championship titles. Duane is the fi rst coach in Arizona history to win four straight state championships. His father, Sam Duane Sr., has won four championships at Corona but not sequentially. “Tonight is all about Sammy,” said Sam Sr. “It’s an incredible accomplishment, and I am so proud of him.” Corona also may have made unsubstantiated history when they led by over 30 points, 53-21, at the beginning of the fourth quarter, triggering a running clock for the rest of the game. The Aztecs cleared the bench with three minutes to go after playing keep-away the fi rst fi ve minutes of the fourth quarter, most likely to prevent running up the score. Still, Desert Vista had to score four points against Corona’s bench to keep from getting the distinction of fewest points scored in a Division I state championship game since Tucson Amphitheatre in 1949 scored 26 points.

The Aztecs, who have not lost to an Arizona school for the past two years, went 33-1 this season, with their only loss represented by one point to Sierra Canyon from Chatsworth, Calif. The Aztecs struggled a few times, most notably against Central in the Super Sectionals and quarterfi nals, but had that nevergive- up attitude prevalent among championship teams. The Aztecs should return Bagley III, Barcello and Henderson this November to gear up for their fifth state championship run.

 

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