Hamilton’s
Huskies were the top-ranked team on the Arizona Interscholastic Associaton’s power
points list, and had easily defeated a tough No. 2-ranked Gilbert Perry team on
Thursday (Jan. 17). No. 3 Xavier had lost to Perry on Jan. 8, so the odds were
stacked against the Gators.
During
pre-game warm-ups in the Hamilton gym, Xavier coach Jennifer Gillom could sense
something different about her team. The Gators had a good week of practice, and
appeared to have their focus.
“I felt it
from the beginning,’’ Gillom said.
She was
spot-on.
Xavier
trailed only twice, with the first basket of the game and the first basket of
the second half. But the Gators otherwise handled every challenge thrown at
them and with what might be considered their best game of the season, were able
to plant the victory flag atop Mount Hamilton, 49-40.
The Gators
are 19-3 overall and are in a three-way tie with Hamilton (17-5) and Perry
(15-6) for the 6A Conference Premier Region lead at 3-1.
Gillom had
more of a bounce in her step as she headed toward the locker room to celebrate
afterward.
“I have been
waiting so long for that (Xavier) team to show up,’’ she said. “The leadership
we got from our seniors, our execution on offense and defense . . . I haven’t
seen that happen for a long time.’’
Xavier had
led just 20-19 at halftime, but that one-point differential was a BIG point.
“It sent a
message that we were able to play with them (Hamilton) and would be able to
continue to play with them,’’ Gillom said.
The senior
trio of point guard Leilani McIntosh and guards Paris Rasheed-Moore and Addie
Putnam were the driving force.
McIntosh
scored five points to keep Xavier afloat in the early part of the fourth
quarter and finished with 15 points. Rasheed-Moore, who had 12 points, drove to
the basket and made a key three-point play with 1:58 left in the game to
increase the Gators’ lead to six. And Putnam got 10 points, all in the second
half.
Just as
important was the effort of junior post player Tanya Barakat in the second
quarter.
With junior
guard-forward Elysia Fleetwood saddled with three first-quarter fouls, Gillom
put the 6-foot Barakat in the game to provide more of a physical presence
around the basket.
Barakat
responded with back-to-back baskets and came up with a handful of big rebounds.
Gillom had
watched Barakat in practice during the week, liked what she saw and decided to
give her a chance.
“That (game
performance) was huge,’’ Gillom said. “She is really coming along and is
starting to believe in herself.’’
It is
something all of the Gators need in the coming weeks. To look in the mirror and
remember what it took for them to defeat Hamilton.
Xavier will play next on Thursday (Jan. 24) with a non-region home game against Mesa Mountain View, then have a rematch with Perry at home on Friday (Jan. 25).
Xavier will play next on Thursday (Jan. 24) with a non-region home game against Mesa Mountain View, then have a rematch with Perry at home on Friday (Jan. 25).
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