Both West Valley boys basketball Open Division semifinalists in 2024-25 reconvened for high level competition 3½ months later with vastly different rosters and multiple high profile transfers.
Instead of a breakout tourney for Millennium or O’Connor transfers at Monarch Sports’ Prime Time event, the story of the tournament’s consolation bracket June 14 was the returning Tigers stepping up off the bench.
Millennium beat O’Connor 54-47 in the consolation semifinals thanks in large part to its second half. Then with talented junior guards Adrian Higuera and D.J. Spencer sitting out, the Tigers shut down Perry 51-34 as two unheralded returning forwards controlled the paint on both ends.
“The two guys that stuck out for me on that and guys that are fighting for spots is both Dylan Coday and Atanga (Arak). Today Atanga had 14 rebounds. Dylan had nine rebounds and then 10 rebounds in this one,” Millennium Coach Ty Amundsen said. “You know when we get Adan and Cam and D.J. out there, you’re going to have to do the dirty work. We need guys to fill those spots.”
Following a 77-54 loss to Phoenix St. Mary’s in the first round at Brophy Prep, Amundsen emphasized focusing on defense. His players listened.
Millennium held O’Connor under 20 points in the second half.
“Our lack of rebounding and defense yesterday was awful. I said it’s time to get some rebounds and play some defense on this end. For me it was more of an effort thing,” Amundsen said. “Those guys competed today for sure.”
Senior Cameron Holmes was playing at the NBPA Top 100 camp and sophomore Williams Field transfer Adan Diggs was playing for Rod Wave Elite AAU. Higuera and Spencer, a Desert Vista transfer, were the focus of the offense in the first two games.
Leaning mostly on role players in the final, Millennium turned to senior Tucson Catalina Foothills transfer guard Gabe Coronado to run the offense. Incoming freshman Amare Wilford provided support.
O’Connor also features a move in from Catalina Foothills, senior guard Melvin Stubbs. He is getting used to the Eagles along with sophomore forward Terrance Byrd, who recently arrived from Highland Prep.
The new-look team started practicing together June 1, Coach Josh Cole said.
“Everybody’s in a different role. Some guys probably have the ball in their hands more than they’re used to. We’ve got some returners that didn’t play a lot that are having to play minutes for us, Cole said. “I like this group and I think we have a chance to be special, but we’ve got to be a little more urgent.”
Senior wing Colton Watson now moves into a role as primary initiator. Fellow senior wing Ryan Parsley also will have a larger role. Fellow senior Ryker Hughes provides outside shooting and offensive rebounding.
Basha knocked off the Eagles 61-54 in the first round. O’Connor then crushed rival Boulder Creek 85-54 in the seventh place game.
“All these teams are well coached and play the right way. That felt like a regular season game, if not a playoff game. You don’t get that in a summer league game,” Cole said.
Richard Smith
Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
rsmith@iniusa.org
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.