A different day, a different opponent and a different result
for the Xavier Prep basketball team.
The Gators, who couldn’t do anything wrong against
Scottsdale Saguaro for a big win on Saturday (June 24) in the Thunderbird
(High) Summer League tournament, could do very little right on Sunday (June 25)
in a quarterfinal game against Phoenix Arcadia.
Arcadia rode the steady hand of guard Bryce Nixon, a
University of Arizona commitment, and used its experience from a 26-3 finish
last season to dismantle Xavier, 56-40.
Xavier, missing four starters (three club-ball commitments
and one injury rehab) finished its summer schedule at 7-2. The Gators had won
seven straight entering Sunday’s play.
“We missed our senior leadership, that’s for sure,’’ said
coach Jennifer Gillom, referring to inside players Montana Oltrogge, Katie
Hassett and Alana Kelley.
“We (coaches) figured that (the team) would either come out
and play lights out or might have some difficulty with Arcadia’s experience.
They are a good team.’’
Xavier hung with the Titans early in the contest, holding an
18-16 lead, but Arcadia outscored the Gators 17-0 over the remaining minutes of
the first half for a 33-18 lead at the break.
The second half was fairly even, with Arcadia doing just
enough to maintain its comfortable lead.
“We tried to pressure them (Arcadia) like we did against
Saguaro, but they don’t really crack under pressure,’’ Gillom said. “All of our
girls fought until the end and that’s all I can ask. We could have ended up
losing by 30, but they played as hard as they could. We kind of needed a tough
game like this. I am not disappointed at all. I am extremely proud of the girls.’’
The Xavier player most affected by the lineup change was
junior Paris Moore, who starts on the wing and plays the point on occasion.
Gillom put her in the post to try to take advantage of her athleticism, but the
physical play of the Arcadia players underneath the basket took its toll.
Moore was gassed by the end, bending over and putting her
hands on her knees while trying to catch her breath.
“She was kind of skinny in there, but to her credit, she did
what she could to keep it going for us,’’ Gillom said.
Most of the players on the Xavier roster will return to
their club teams before Xavier practices resume in August. Gillom said the
school’s two gymnasiums are expected to have their floors resurfaced in July,
part of a sprucing-up project for the entire campus.
Xavier’s team in the league’s junior-varsity bracket earned
a 37-23 victory over Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor on Sunday and will meet
Phoenix Pinnacle in a semifinal game on Monday (June 26) at 1 p.m. in
Thunderbird’s main gym. The JV bracket championship game is at 7 p.m., with the
varsity title contest beginning at 9 p.m.