CSHS boys done in state first round
by Jason Stone            

CAVE CREEK – Something about the first round of the state tournament just doesn’t sit right with the Cactus Shadows boys basketball team.

Just like last year, the Falcons’ season came to an end in the first game of the 4A‑Division II state tournament as they took a tough 56‑53 loss Feb. 13 at Palo Verde in Tucson.

The Falcons, who were trying to shake off a poor start while it waited for players on the football squad to join the team, finished the season with a 13‑16 record. That included a 13‑7 mark during a 20‑game span from Dec. 16 until the state tournament.

Cactus Shadows, which was led by first‑team All‑Wells Fargo 2 Region players Phillip Aholt and Kyle Foley, started the season 0‑7. Those losses ultimately hurt the Falcons in power points, which determine state tournament seeding.  Cactus Shadows finished with the ninth seed, which meant traveling to Tucson instead of hosting the game as the No. 8 seed.

Aholt, who led the football team to a state championship last fall, finished with the basketball team’s lead in scoring (20.7 ppg), 3‑point field goals (102) and steals (40, tied with David Byrne).

Austin Wilbanks finished as  the team’s leading rebounder with 146.

Coach Nate Bjorkgren will lose six seniors from this year’s team. On the bright side, five players who saw action as sophomores are eligible to return next year.