Falcons fulfill Glendale goal

Cactus Shadows’ girls basketball team had a motto all year: The Goal Is Glendale.

That’s where the Falcons ended up as they advanced to the 4A‑Division II Final Four, which included a game at Glendale Arena as part of the “February Frenzy.”

Coach Bill Dolezal ended his successful tenure with the Falcons by leading them to the semifinals. The Falcons, however, lost to Sinagua at the home of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, as senior leader Lara Kilgore suffered an ankle injury in the second half and the team never recovered in a 56‑41 loss.

Still, it was the program’s most successful season, despite playing most of it without injured guard Sarah Pages. One thing is for sure: Cactus Shadows put itself on the girls basketball map in Arizona in 2005‑06.

Everybody but Kilgore and Dolezal are back next season, meaning Glendale could be the goal yet again.

CSHS ties on boys soccer title

When you’ve waited as long as Cactus Shadows has for a state championship, any one will do–even if it has to be reluctantly shared.

The Falcons made school history in February when they earned their first boys soccer championship with a 1‑1 tie against Douglas in the 4A‑Division II state championship game at Mesa Community College.    

After years of close calls, Cactus Shadows earned the split tie under first‑year coach Mat Evans, a 23‑year‑old import from England.

“I think they realize that we’ve never won it before,” Evans said. “I told the players, ‘You’ve been part of that. You can’t rewrite the record book.’”

Cactus Shadows ended the 2005‑06 season with a 12‑game unbeaten streak after blasting Sinagua, Washington and Glendale in the first three rounds of the state tournament.