Prep Boys Basketball
Falcons rally twice for wins
by Jason Stone

CAVE CREEK – Ah, that's more like it. Cactus Shadows' early season, boys basketball struggles appear over now that the entire team is in the fold.

While key players were still busy with the football playoffs, the Falcons lost their first seven games of the year. But since then, the Falcons have reeled off three straight wins and appear to be gaining the momentum that had them considered one the contenders for the 4A‑II state championship.

Cactus Shadows rallied to win from double‑digits deficits twice last week–first against Sunnyslope in the Wells Fargo 2 Region opener Dec. 19, then in a seven‑point overtime win against Coconino in Flagstaff two nights later.

The victories gave the team added steam going into its Great Desert Shootout tournament, held next week at Cactus Shadows.

The big moment came in the second half–the third quarter in particular–against Sunnyslope, which is traditionally a tough basketball school. The Falcons struggled early and found themselves down by 15 at halftime.

But in the third quarter, the Falcons exploded for 34 points and outscored Sunnyslope by 24. The Vikings made a fourth‑quarter comeback attempt of their own, but Cactus Shadows held on for an 80‑75 win.

Kyle Watkins, the two‑sport star who needed about a week to get his basketball legs under him after a long football season, scored a season‑high 22 points to lead all scorers. Phillip Aholt added 19, and Kyle Foley poured in 16 for Cactus Shadows.

Against Coconino, Aholt was the star with 29 points to help save the Falcons in a game they again dug themselves a first‑quarter hole. Cactus Shadows outscored Coconino 40‑28 in the second half to force overtime. In the extra period, the Falcons outscored Coconino 18‑11.

Cactus Shadows will take a few days off before hosting its tournament Dec. 27‑29. The Falcons will play Copper Canyon in the first game, then either Prescott or Coronado in the next game.

 MORE BOYS BASKETBALL

O'Connor rolls by Goldwater 89‑69

NORTH VALLEY – It's been a smooth flight for the Eagles of Sandra Day O'Connor so far in 2006‑07. The school's boys basketball team took care of business against nearby rival Goldwater last week and heads into the Christmas break with a 9‑1 overall record and wins in its first two Northwest Region games.

O'Connor notched the first victory of the season against Goldwater Dec. 19 as the Eagles rolled to an 89‑69 victory. It was the Eagles' first game back since losing to Paradise Valley for the year's first defeat five days earlier.

Goldwater, meanwhile, dropped its fifth straight game and headed into the break with only two wins in 10 games.

The break won't be very long for O'Connor, however. The Eagles are part of next week's Great Desert Shootout at Cactus Shadows. They are scheduled to play Higley in the first round Dec. 27 and either Agua Fria or Sunrise Mountain in the next round later that night.

Boulder Creek drops first 2 region games

ANTHEM – Boulder Creek is also gearing up for the Cactus Shadows tournament with a 2‑6 record heading into it. The Jaguars fell to 0‑2 in Northwest Region play last week when they dropped an 81‑56 decision Dec. 19 at home against Trevor Browne.

In next week's tournament, the Jags are slated to play Maryvale in the first round, then either Page or Chaparral in the next game.