By George Witkowski

For West Valley Preps

The Glendale Prep girls basketball team grabbed the rope one more time.

Because of that the Griffins are on their way to the 2A state playoffs Friday afternoon against defending state champion Sanders Valley.

Glendale Prep girls coach Steve Drake likes what he has seen of his 21-9 team, the most wins in program history, eclipsing their record of 17 wins.

The Griffins pulled away from a 31-24 contest, finishing on a 9-0 run and beat No. 18 Arizona Lutheran (10-16) 40-24 win in 2A play-in action.

“We’ve worked hard on getting the rope,” Drake said. “Which is, if you see her struggling, everyone is on the rope, and you’re helping each other. We’re getting that attitude of we want to play and compete. We ended the game with five freshmen on the court, and when you have depth, it builds competition.”

Drake had three scorers in double figures – junior guard Savannah Dowis scored 15 points, senior guard/forward Victoria Reyes had 13 and junior guard Anna Farrier added 10.

Senior forward Lauren Lam also chipped in with 13 rebounds.

“It’s not about the shots, it’s about teamwork and being unselfish,” Drake said. “Our goal was to win 20 and make state, and it’s important to set a goal. I’ve always coached to play for the state title, and the goal was to get to state and see what happens.

“There are teams that may be way better, but the ball’s gotta bounce and go through the hoop. The excitement is that they qualified for the state, and if they get on a roll (four wins), they are state champions. Tonight, we had players step up and next time we play it might be three different girls.”

Dowis said being calm made a difference, especially when she connected on nine of her 10 free throws.

“My (free throw) routine used to be a lot longer,” Dowis said. “Now, I don’t think about it, I just go up (there) and feel it. It was our teamwork, because it’s a matter of where we’ve run these plays, and we know where our teammates will be.”

Reyes said she just thinks positive thoughts and good things will happen.

“I have the same routine every time,” Reyes said. “I convince myself that it will be a swish and believe in yourself. “During the game, I feel the self-critique come on, and I think of something positive that I believe in.”

The Glendale Prep girls got behind at 7-2, but Dowis hit a pair of free throws with 1:54 left in the first quarter, Farrier hit a basket.

A free throw and Farrier basket with 37.4 seconds remaining, gave the Griffins a 10-8 lead they would never relinquish. The Griffins would build a 23-11 halftime lead.

Arizona Lutheran managed to get within 23-15 and 2418 to open the fourth quarter, but Reyes’ three-point basket, two technical free throws by Dowis and basket from Dowis made it a comfortable 31-18 lead with 4:35 remaining.

Farrier said the team played unselfish basketball.

“Usually I’m in the game and I’m focused,” Farrier said. “It’s not about individual points, it’s about the whole (team). It’s definitely really fun and we’re excited as a team and the family we have.”

Glendale Prep's Victoria Reyes (#14) attempts a layup against Arizona Lutheran on Tuesday at Glendale Preparatory Academy in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]