By Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Taylor Chavez has played a starring role for Valley Vista girls basketball almost since she stepped on campus.

But she, and the program, did not reach new heights until a group of specialists became elite in their roles. Those fellow seniors are ready for one more playoff run, starting tonight.

Guard Terrysha Banner gives Chavez help with running the offense and runs the Monsoon defense. Forward Clarissa Rodarte can play, and guard, almost every position on the floor and is possibly the team’s most vocal player on the floor. If not her, then it’s forward Tiana Brown, who only averages 2 points a game but sets up baskets by Chavez, Banner and Rodarte with her screens and helps guard the post on defense.

“These seniors have always known their role and they’ve accepted that role. They’ve gotten really good at it. So they’re all kind of experts in their roleand the things they bring to the team. Nobody tries to do too much, but everyyear they’ve gotten better at it and expanded their games,” Valley Vista coach Rachel Matakas said.

Rodarte is the veteran, having joined the rotation as a freshman and started since her sophomore year.

She said she lacked confidence when she was younger, particularly her offensive game. As a senior, however, she averages 12.5 points per game.

“Going into my junior year and senior year, I built a lot of confidence. I knew I had to be a player that scored, defended the ball and did the little things. I have to lead by example,” Rodarte said.

Naturally a guard, Rodarte plays wing or even power forward on this guard-dominated team. Matakas said her strenght allows her to play bigger than her listed height of 5-9 — almost like a power guard.

“She plays the three and the four. She’s got an outside shot and a midrange  shot and she’s probably the strongest guard in the state. You hit her and it’s like hitting a wall,” Matakas said. “She’s the bull on the team. She can displace posts from their positions defensively.”

Banner arrived on the scene next, transferring in her sophomore year from rival Goodyear Millennium. She said the team welcomed her, even though her transfer was held up and she could not play until late in the regular season.

During the 2015-16 team’s run to the semifinals, Banner mostly was used as a defensive specialist off the bench.

“It was hard to get her into the system because we had already established everything. We had Cerena Reeves and Kiara Edwards so we had all the pieces. It was kind of difficult to get her implemented. No one really saw who Rysha really was,” Chavez said. “That summer all of us (current) seniors worked together and grew really close. We’re still extremely close and hang out outside of basketball.”

Chavez looks to cap standout career with another title

That bonding on and off the court began in earnest during the summer of 2016.

“ It probably wasn’t until the beginning of her junior year because Rysha didn’t get to play as ( as a sophomore). We all just clicked and had a knack for playing with each other,” Rodarte said.

Brown said Banner is the team’s fiercest competitor. When she competes with another player, they should know Banner wants ger to get better.

In addition to her pressure defense, “ Rysha is the engine for our defense, the heart and soul of it. She fires the team up by locking people down. That fires the team up because they know she’s going to create a pass to one side. She can penetrate and kick and she can hit the three ball now,” Matakas said.

Her improved offense Banner was invaluable during the 6A title game with Millennium, as she hit seven of 10 shots for 16 points against her old school. This year, she average 14 a game.

If two nail biters are any indication, this Westside rivalry will again decide thechampion.

“It’s definitely our toughest game every year. It’s a very emotional game and both crowds are going wild,” Banner said. “The atmosphere is great and it brings everyone’s intensity up.”

Brown played a bit in that 6A final but was on the periphery of Valley Vista’s rotation last year, She was happy that team managed to avoid falling apart, but didn’t have a huge role in it.

“Everyone had their own

personal issues but it never got big enough to mess the team up,” Brown said. “Last year, I was kind of just there. This year being a captain, I’m more of a vocal leader. I talk a lot in practice, to the players and coach Matakas. And being hurt and on the bench for half the season, I learned a lot by watching my team about how I can contribute more.”

Chavez said Brown makes sure everyone, including her fellow seniors, is accountable. Matakas said Brown has a way of lifting the squad out of adversity “Tiana Brown is kind of the heart and soul of this team. She’s the one that can motivate kids. She has a really high basketball IQ and she talks to kids on the floor,” Matakas said.Against teams with two skilled inside players like Millennium, Brown helps Rodarte and freshman Marisa Davis defend larger players.

“She plays the power forward for me sometimes so I can play guard. She’s able to set screens and read defenses. And she brings the energy from the bench onto the court,” Rodarte said.

Defense is the common thread among the seniors, and any player wanting to see heavy minutes on a Matakas- coached team.

“Hustle plays and defense are what we are based on. Rysha has a pride in her defense that you can’t really teach, It makes you want to copy that,” Brown said.

The seniors’ drive to repeat and pass on an elite program to the younger players started almost after the celebration ended at Grand Canyon University last February.

Valley Vista starts the playoffs at 21-6 and one of the favorites, along with Millennium and Gilbert.

“As soon as we won it, we were ready to get back in the gym and work. Weknew what it was like to be there and to win it. We want to achieve it again this year,” Banner said.

Banner said she is waiting until the season’s over to choose a college program and wants to study exercise science.

Rodarte said she is relieved to sign with Cal State-Fullerton before the season. She said she’s confident in firstyear coach Jeff Harada’s ability to turn programs around. Rodarte said she wants to study medicine or business Matakas is happy to have a couple more weeks coaching this low-maintenance senior class.

“ I trust them. If they say something to each other, I’m not going to challenge that because they know each other. Why mess with something that’s good just because you’re the coach. Sometimes you let the kids coach themselves and they do a better job,” Matakas said.

Valley Vista senior guard Clarissa Rodarte starts her drive against Goodyear Millennium junior center Alania Diggs Tuesday at Valley Vista High School in Surprise. Elliott Glick/Special to West Valley Preps>