Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

TEMPE - Phoenix Xavier Prep senior guard Lelani McIntosh told coach Jennifer Gillom she would take control of their state semifinal.

She lived up to her word with a tour-de-force second half against two-time defending 6A Conference champion Valley Vista Thursday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center.

McIntosh poured in 20 of her game-high 29 points after halftime as the Gators erased a 27-23 deficit and pulled away to a 65-51 victory.

"I knew that she would probably struggle in the first half because they would throw a lot at her, like a box and one and different defenses. But I knew she was going to stay poised and confident because she's that type of leader. I had know doubt she was going to finish strong tonight. It was just a matter of when (she took over)," Gillom said.

No. 2 seed Xavier (26-4) returns to Wells Fargo Arena at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the 6A state final. It will be the rubber match with region rival and top seed Chandler Hamilton (25-5).

The loss ended the three-peat push of No. 6 seed Valley Vista (25-5). But this Monsoon team - which has one senior and starts two sophomores and two freshmen - has a completely different makeup.

Their youth showed Thursday, initially with foul trouble. Sophomore forward Marisa Davis, a 16 point per game scorer, picked up three quick whistles and played a little more than one-third of the game.

Freshman guard Jennah Isai took the lead with 16 points and 12 rebounds. But she fouled out trying to pressure sophomore guard Kailey Appel in the backcourt with 5:13 left in the game.

The Gators outscored the Monsoon 14-6 after Isai fouled out.

"The foul trouble we got in early (hurt). And every time they blow that whistle, that's not our style. We want to run. That played to Xavier's strengths. We got to get better defensively and stop reaching and fouling - period," Matakas said.

Conversely, Xavier forced 32 Valley Vista turnovers. And many of them came off their pressure defense.

Gillom made one tweak to the press at halftime but credited her players for the effort. Senior guard Addie Putnam finished with four steals, to go along with her 17 points.

"They were big and we thought our speed was disrupt them. We put a bigger player down there so they couldn't see easily and pass the ball around," Gillom said. "Overall, I think it was effort that won it. The intensity level was different."

When the Monsoon broke the press, freshman forward Saniyah Neverson capitalized. She finished with 13 points and nine rebounds inside.

Too often in the final two minutes, this team showed its youth.

"We haven't really been pressed much. We got pressed some in the Nike (Tournament of Champions) and we did fine. Hamilton was the only team that got us with the press," Matakas said. "The press really didn't hurt us as much as our youth and our leadership. It came down to execution and the details. We just didn't have one person step up and take that leadership role."