Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

At times during the second half of Friday's 5A boys basketball quarterfinal, fans were left to wonder if both starting lineups would foul out, or if Deer Valley would grab a loose or 50-50 ball.

The only two things that were certain once Apollo stormed back to tie the Skyhawks in the final minute of the third quarter were — this game was going to be decided at the end of regulation, and both teams had enough what if? calls and moments late that it would be a bitter end for the losing team.

No. 9 seed Apollo had No. 1 Deer Valley on the ropes for much of the final 10 minutes of play. The Hawks tied the game three times in that span and had several opportunities to go ahead. But the Skyhawks held firm, and never trailed after going down 2-0 in the opening minute.

Senior Ari Danzy made the second of two free throws to give the Skyhawks a 66-64 lead with 16.8 seconds to go and Apollo had its final chance. But senior Keyvaughn Williams stole the ball cleanly at midcourt with 14 seconds left and made a layup with 7 seconds left to seal the 68-64 win as Skyhawk Gym erupted.

"I knew I needed to stay in front and I saw him make a wide move and I was able to get around and pick it," Williams said. "It feels great. It's an unbelievable feeling."

For the first time since 2006, the Skyhawks are in the Final Four. They play No. 12 Phoenix Paradise Valley (21-6) in the late game of a 5A girls and boys quadruple header, scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 at Wells Fargo Arena on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe.

Though it was the highlight victory of his 10-year coaching career at Deer Valley, Jed Dunn said the night belonged to the players, in particular the four senior starters — Williams, Deven Breckner, Ari Danzy and Bryce Davis.

"I just wanted it over. I wanted the clock to run out and it took forever. Every time we play (Coach Jacob Marin) and Apollo it's like this. We knew it was going to be a fight," Dunn said. "We got a couple key plays late and those guys have been there, so they were poised in the huddle, so I was just trying not to jack it up. Keyvaughn has led us in assists and steals the last two or three years. It's not about me. I'm really excited for them. Ari's so good — he switched from shooting with his left to his right and made 6 of 7 from the line. Those four seniors have done so well for us and I'm happy for them."

Technically, the quarterfinal was only the second playoff game of these player's careers — though the 2017 play-in defeat to Maricopa certainly hurt like a playoff loss.

That fact, and the difficulty of knocking off Apollo (17-12) Friday night, made the semifinals berth that much sweeter.

"We knew they're a really tough team. They killed us on the glass and got every 50-50 ball. We struggled with our sets. We just had to pull it out," Breckner said. "It shows how blessed we are. Being here for four years, nothing was given to us. We worked for everything and started from scratch. That's why it's so meaningful to us."

Deer Valley (25-3) dominated the first 2 1/2 quarters. Williams and Breckner alternated threes for the Skyhawks first 12 points and the home team led 22-9 after one.

The lead ballooned to 17 in the second quarter, and Deer Valley led 35-20 at halftime. Breckner controlled the game, with 14 points at the break

Apollo freshman guard Paris Woods goes up for a layup against Deer Valley in Friday's 5A boys basketball quarterfinal in Glendale. [Ralph Freso/For West Valley Preps][/caption]"Our focus is really high, because the second half of the season we really did't play anybody tough. Mentally we were there and locked in. Everything was working," Breckner said.

Davis started the second half with a dunk and the squad was still cruising along with a 48-32 lead halfway through the third quarter. Then the Hawks started pounding the offensive glass and the lead evaporated.

In its 17-1 run, Apollo started with a three by junior forward Emmanuel Taban. Freshman wing Paris Wood missed the second of two free throws but junior Gabriel Nyawumenya grabbed the rebound and scored.

A minute later Woods hit a three to bring the visitors within four. Dunn called time out and then was hit with a technical, which he sheepishly admitted after the game was deserved.

Taban hit both free throws and forward Martin Simon — a force on the offensive glass all night with 12 points and six boards — tied the contest at 49. Danzy hit two free throws but Simon answered with a basket.

Breckner was fouled as the quarter ended and made both for a 53-51 Skyhawks lead.

"They killed us ... all three games (this year) they killed us on the glass. We were trying, but man they were determined. That's Jacob, that's a credit to him," Dunn said.

The parade to the line only intensified in the final eight minutes. After the teams combined for 19 free throw attempts in the third quarter, they attempted 20 in the fourth.

Deer Valley was a bit more accurate from the line during the first four minutes, when seemingly every shot attempt resulted in a whistle. Davis sank two to expand the lead to 64-59 with a bit more than four minutes left.

But the younger brother of former Hawks star Holland Woods, now at Portland State, was making his own name in the clutch. Already the taller of the brothers, Wood used his speed to penetrate and length to shoot over the Skyhawks guards.

Williams was matched up on the 6-7 Taban and it would not have made sense to put Davis on the quicker guard. Woods scored eight of his team-high 20 points in the fourth.

"He really hurt us. He's really good," Dunn said. "We were really fortunate to get out of this bad boy with a win."

His short jumper tied the game at 64 with 1:57 left. After a travel call on Davis, Apollo shot for the lead but missed.

Junior Ethan Cashion grabbed the rebound, one of five for him on the night, and was fouled. He made the first of two for the 65-64 lead.

"He does all the little things — takes charges, grabs rebounds. The stuff Ethan does is never in the box score. It goes unrecognized. But he does so many things defensively. He was big the last time we played over there (a 57-49 win at Apollo Dec. 16). And making that free throw, holy cow. He's not a good free throw shooter. I think he closed his eyes on it," Dunn said.

Then Danzy drew a charge on Taban — the senior's fourth foul — with 26.2 seconds left to regain the ball. After the Skyhawks ball handlers ran some clock, Taban fouled Danzy with 16.8 seconds left and had to leave.

That foul was crucial for the final possession, as Williams could now cover Woods.

After the steal and layup and court storming, all that was left was for the Skyhawks to say goodbye to the gym by cutting the nets down. Starting Saturday, it's time for this team to embrace its new challenge.

"They were scoring off our mistakes and a lot of offensive rebounds," Williams said. "To go with my guys to ASU and have a chance at the state championship game feels great. We've got shoot around Saturday morning — so it's on to the next."

Deer Valley senior Deven Breckner goes upper a scoop shot after splitting the Apollo defense during a 5A boys basketball quarterfinal Friday. [Ralph Freso/For West Valley Preps][/caption]

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Apollo            9 11  31  13 – 64

Deer Valley  22 13  18 15 – 68

BOX SCORE

Apollo – Paris Woods 20 points, 5 rebounds; Emmanuel Taban 14 points, 4 rebounds; Martin Simon 12 points, 6 rebounds; Gabriel Nyawumenya 8 points; Felix Thomas 4 points; Jaylen Glover 3 points.

Deer Valley – Deven Breckner 18 points; Bryce Davis 15 points, 9 rebounds; Keyvaughn Williams 13 points; Ari Danzy 11 points; Johnny Diaz 4 points; Ethan Cashion 3 points, 5 rebounds; Jaret Allen 2 points, Jalen Allen 2 points