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Eagles soaring into spring
O'Connor boys basketball 13‑2 entering second half of season
by Jason Stone

NORTH VALLEY – If Sandra Day O'Connor didn't enter the season holding the attention of opponents, the Eagles might have it heading into the second semester.

O'Connor began the second half of its schedule Jan. 9 against nearby rival Boulder Creek with a 13‑2 overall record as Northwest Region play moves into full swing.

The Eagles (2‑0 region) took a short break last week after winning the consolation bracket of the Great Desert Shoot‑Out at Cactus Shadows in late December. O'Connor won four of the five games at the tournament, including the last three.

Two players–Curtis Mitchell (22.8) and Ethan Esch (20.9)–enter the second semester with scoring averages better than 20 points per game. Mitchell's average ranks fifth in the state among all levels, according to MaxPreps.com.

Boulder Creek, meanwhile, entered the second half of the schedule with four wins in 12 games, including one at the Great Desert tournament. In addition to the game against O'Connor (which was played after press time), Boulder Creek (0‑2 region) also faces a Jan. 12 home game this week against Kingman.

Goldwater breaks streak at Phoenix tournament

NORTH VALLEY – Goldwater turned the tide after going winless in the first three games at last week's Phoenix Union tournament by pulling off a 64‑61 win over Alhambra in their fourth and final game.

The Bulldogs (3‑11 overall, 0‑2 region) went 1‑3 at the tournament, but weren't too far from going 4‑0. Goldwater lost the three games by a combined total of 13 points. The Bulldogs lost to Camelback 55‑51 (Jan. 3), South Mountain 64‑60 (Jan. 4), and Desert Ridge 52‑47 (Jan. 5).

The win over Alhambra was badly needed as Goldwater had lost eight straight games up to that point and had gone since Nov. 28 without a win.

The Bulldogs will try to turn the win into a winning streak this week. Goldwater had a game Jan. 9 at North Canyon (results unavailable at press time), and will next host Deer Valley (Jan. 12) and Kingman (Jan. 16).

Cactus Shadows looks for winning momentum

CAVE CREEK – After splitting a pair of non‑region games last week and going .500 at its own tournament before Christmas, Cactus Shadows will try to put a winning streak together with a handful of Wells Fargo 2 Region games upcoming on the schedule.

The Falcons (6‑10 overall, 1‑0 region) went 2‑2 at its own holiday tournament, the Great Desert Shoot‑Out, between Dec. 27‑29, then followed that up the first week of the new year by beating Kellis and losing to Higley.

Cactus Shadows will get to the heart of region play this week with games against Notre Dame, Bradshaw Mountain and Washington. The Falcons faced Notre Dame Jan. 9 in a game played after press time. The team will then hit the road Jan. 12 (Bradshaw Mountain) and Jan. 16 (Washington).

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.

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