Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Valley Vista played its game in the second and third quarters of its second straight 6A title game.

And once the game was in the Monsoon's hands, following a 15-5 run in the final four minutes of the third quarter, the second straight gold ball was theirs. Phoenix Xavier Prep - or any other 6A team for that matter - was not going to erase a 12-point deficit in eight minutes with  the ball in the hands of senior guards Taylor Chavez and Terrysha Banner.

Each of the dual point guards scored seven points in the fourth quarter, punctuated by Banners three-point play off a full-court outlet pass from fellow senior Clarissa Rodarte. No. 2 seed Valley Vista (25-6) cruised to a repeat with a 68-55 victory over No. 5 Xavier (27-6) Wednesday night.

"We felt pretty confident and we were making our free throws. Defense was what fueled our confidence. When they were missing shots and we were grabbing rebounds and not allowing offensive rebounds that fuels our offense," Chavez said. "We stayed poised."

While the guards brought it home, the frontcourt duo of Rodarte and freshman forward Marisa Davisgave the Monsoon a 32-26 halftime lead over an inspired Gators team.

Xavier already surprised the pundits by derailing a Goodyear Millennium-Valley Vista finals rematch, knocking off the top seed 50-48 a week ago.

"(Xavier) is a different team from the last time we saw them 2 1/2 years ago with a different coach. For us (the week between games) really helped to break down film and seeing what they did well and where they struggled," Valley Vista coach Rachel Matakas said. "We were able to find those weaknesses and make them do things they didn't want to do. We constantly kept them uncomfortable."

Led by the shooting of junior point guard Lelani McIntosh, the underdogs led 16-13 after a quarter and regained a 21-18 advantage on the junior's third trey of the half.

"That's something they've been working on since the beginning of the season. They know how to play together. Their screens gave Lelani some good shots in the first half. But Lelani can't do it by herself," first-year Xavier coach and former WNBA star Jennifer Gillom said.

Right before that trey, though, Rodarte made her presence felt with her own three.

Then she scored a layup and was fouled. She missed the free throw but raced inside and grabbed the rebound, following with a bucket.

The Monsoon led 22-21 at the end of the sequence. Valley Vista would not trail for the rest of the game.

"That three get me going. Getting to the free-throw line and seeing what the defense gave me calmed the team down. Making big plays get us back," Rodarte said.

Following 11 straight Monsoon points, McIntosh stopped the bleeding with her fourth trey of the half. She had 14 points at the break.

Valley Vista's Marisa Davis (#32) grabs a rebound during a 5A championship game against Xavier Prep on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Monsoons defeated the Gators 68-55 to win their second straight title. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]Yet the freshman phenom Davis was the most consistent player on the court in the first half. She sank two free throws to finish her team's scoring and recorded 10 points and 12 rebounds - six of them offensive.

"Marisa did a great job cleaning the glass and we knew that we had to keep on giving her constant touches. Even though we were down and in foul trouble (early) she kept rebounding and did a great job," Banner said.

Davis scored to start the second half and Chavez finally got a layup to fall after grabbing two straight offensive boards. After her bucket gave the Monsoon a 36-30 lead, they faced their only bout of adversity in the second half.

Rodarte picked up her fourth foul with 5:05 left in the third quarter. Xavier senior forward Montana Oltrogee hit two free throws and McIntosh sank a short jumper to get within two at 36-34.

But Chavez made one of two at the line and Davis scored on another putback. Oltrogee made one of two and the Monsoon's  fourth senior, guard Tiana Brown had her moment.

She drove and picked up a foul, then bounced in both free throws. Brown then stole a Gators pass and Banner fed a cutting Chavez in stride for a three-point play and a 44-35 lead.

Along with Brown, junior forward Kena Kilpatrick was a crucial role player, collecting seven rebounds.

"It's never been about one person. Everybody understands their role, and when everybody understands their role, you're able to be successful," Matakas said. "Kena didn't play much in the last game and T played well. This game, I needed Key to step up and Key did. She gave us an advantage with her speed and her length."

Now the defending champs were in the driver's seat. Chavez and Banner each sank two free throws and Banner nailed a crucial three from the wing to boost the Monsoon's advantage to 51-39 after three.

"We knew we had to fight through the adversity. We said we are not giving up. This is our game," Banner said.

Not much happened in the fourth other than 17 Valley Vista free throws and the courageous play of the hobbled Oltrogee (13 points, 11 rebounds).

Rodarte provided a final highlight, sailing over press row and into the aisleway trying to save a ball in bounds.

"I'm fine but I'm going to feel it later tonight," Rodarte said.

Chavez again led the way but deferred often. She and Davis had 12 shot attempts and Banner had 11.

Instead, the Oregon-bound star played a total game, with a game-high 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.

"She wants to win. She's exactly like I am. I don't need 30 points and 10 rebounds. If you lost people don't remember that. They don't remember points, they remember teams. They don't remember individuals, they remember state champions."

Unlike a year ago, when Valley Vista struggled to overcome Millennium and win the program's first state title 44-36, there was no doubt with this group once it got to Wells Fargo.

Chavez said the regular season was more of a struggle this year. But the Monsoon dominated its final two tests, dominating Gilbert 59-44 in the semifinals and controlling a team completely new to the finals Wednesday night.

"It means everything. It was hard to get through the season. We had some injuries - I had a sprained ankle ankle (earlier this month), Rysha has been playing with a hurt hip and Tiana a hurt knee. That was the hard part," Chavez said. "But our focus and knowing how to get it done really paid off big late in this year."

Valley Vista's Terrysha Banner (#2) drives to the basket during a 5A championship game against Xavier Prep on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Monsoons defeated the Gators 68-55 to win their second straight title. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Xavier Prep   16  10   13  16 – 55

Valley Vista   13  19   19  27 – 68

BOX SCORE

Xavier Prep – Leilani Macintosh 20 points; Montana Oltrogree 13 points, 11 rebounds; Katie Hassett 7 points, 3 blocks; Paris Moore 6 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals; Payton Davis 6 points; Addie Putnam 3 points, 3 assists; Elysia Fleetwood 4 rebounds.

Valley Vista – Taylor Chavez 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists; Terrysha Banner 17 points, 4 assists; Marisa Davis 14 points, 18 rebounds; Clarissa Rodarte 8 points, 6 rebounds; Kena Kilpatrick, 4 points, 7 rebounds; Tianna Brown 3 points.