By Richard Smith
Mail |
X: @rsmithYWV

Willow Canyon split two of the most intense games of the Section 7 boys basketball weekend in Mesa June 20-22 — with both contests decided in overtime.

Trailing JSerra Catholic High School from Orange County 67-61 late in the second half of both teams’ opener, the Wildcats scored the next seven points to grab a brief lead before the Lions made one of two free throws to force overtime.

Willow Canyon scored all five points in the extra frame. Sophomore guard Maurice Carter II drove to the baseline and threw a hook pass to senior wing Antwan Gilkey, who hit the decisive trey in a 73-68 win.

“We trust each other, even when stuff gets tight,” Carter said.

Willow Canyon Coach Joseph Colletti said the program culture is everything and leadership is a big part of that. He said he was pleased with how players led each other through the second half comeback.

Gilkey transferred in from Paradise Honors last summer and started to carve out a role when he became eligible the second half of last season.

“He came to us last year from another situation. He’s put in the work. He’s in the guy shooting and doing skill work with our coaches. He’s improved tremendously. We believe he’s a college wing. He showed glimpses of that tonight,” Colletti said.

Junior forward Garrison Bambolo and junior guard Braylen Gray also stood out against a physical opponent.

After giving up a bunch of offensive rebounds to the bigger Lions in the first half, the Wildcats controlled the glass better after halftime.

“We just started playing more physical, got more physical on the glass and matched their intensity in the game. That’s really it,” sophomore guard Jaydon Hayes said.

Willow Canyon used another second half rally to beat Honolulu Punahou 64-57 in a second round game the next morning.

While Carter and Hayes will pace the Wildcats in scoring all season, a couple of role players continue to make gains.

Senior forward Austin Cooper was the backup post player last year. Colletti said he has improved playing off the ball and provides energy and effort on defense. Senior Daniel Garza is a throwback point guard, focusing on setting up scorers and intense defense.

“Daniel is a true floor general. We’ve got some other guys that can make plays. They can score. Daniel last season had an almost 7-1 assists to turnovers ratio,” Colletti said.

The win over Punahou moved the Wildcats to the showcase Court 1 and into a matchup fans of 5A basketball missed out on in the 2025 playoffs.

Willow Canyon was the top seed in the conference, received a first round bye then were upset by No. 9 seed Phoenix Carl Hayden in the second round. So the Wildcats anticipated semifinal showdown with Phoenix Central never happened and the Bobcats cruised to the 5A title.

The upset also meant Willow Canyon’s best basketball season ended with three straight losses.

“We ended on a bad note last year, so we don’t want that sour taste. We bring our relentlessness. We fight, we play together and we get it done,” Cooper said.

A large crowd at Section 7 was in for a treat as the Wildcats and Bobcats traded baskets and free throws the afternoon of June 21. Carter hit the tying bucket in the final minute to knot the game at 84.

Central senior guard John Mattingly erupted for 50 points and 17 rebounds in the eventual 90-87 Bobcats win. Carter and Hayes matched him basket for basket until the final minutes.

“Jay and Mo are outstanding human beings. They’re the people you would want to care for you and your family. And it shows on the floor. They care for their teammates and do the right thing. They do what’s right off the court and I think you see that on the court,” Colletti said.

Dysart senior center Santiago Leyva goes up for a shot against two Northridge (Calif.) Heritage Christian players and is fouled late in the second half of both teams’ first game at Section 7 on June 20 at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa. (Richard Smith/West Valley Preps)

Dysart benefits from Section 7 intensity

Dysart High was competitive in two of its three Section 7 losses, so the Demons were not just happy to be there.

On the other hand, Coach Keegan Cook is acutely aware of the value of his team winning its qualifying bracket June 17-18.

“For us to be able to have this opportunity to play against teams like that will get us a lot better in the future,” Cook said. “For us to get another week of basketball together helps them trying to figure out each other.”

Following a 46-43 weekend opening loss to Northridge (Calif.) Heritage Christian, Cook said Section 7 is similar to playoff basketball in both the intensity of play and the talent of opponents.

In the final four minutes, the Warriors switched to a zone defense, giving the young Demons a lesson about learning on the fly. Dysart later lost a close game to 6A school Phoenix Desert Vista 59-55, then ended the weekend with a 73-65 win over Temecula Valley (Calif.).

“It’s all about decision making. You’re not going to draw up a play and run it because they’re going to fly around defensively and challenge it. That’s just going to help us moving forward, with what the right basketball play is,” Cook said.

Senior center Santiago Leyva and junior forward Ashton Havvard started last year and will lead the team. Returning guards DJ Tillman and Noah Navarra, a senior, and Geo Passmore, a junior, will help.

Section 7 also was an unveiling of sort for Dysart’s talented incoming freshmen guards Jordan Cruz and Benji Tanner.

“We’ve got a good mix of guys that are coming back and really know what we’re trying to do, and they’re helping some of the younger guys coming up,” Cook 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.