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Willow Canyon girls basketball emerges from shadows

Posted 1/14/19

Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Geography has done Willow Canyon girls basketball few favors.

The program has spent the last five seasons wedged between two of the state’s five biggest …

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Willow Canyon girls basketball emerges from shadows

Posted

Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Geography has done Willow Canyon girls basketball few favors.

The program has spent the last five seasons wedged between two of the state’s five biggest destination schools for the sport — Valley Vista and Millennium — and seen the most talented players in the far West Valley go to one or the other. Even the other nearby in this predicament, Shadow Ridge, benefits from having about 700 more students than Willow Canyon, and in theory a deeper talent pool.

Yet Willow Canyon’s girls program has emerged — not as a perennial state title contender like the Monsoon or Tigers — but as a team that can win a couple playoff games and raise the bar at its school. The Wildcats even had a ‘We’re No. 1’ moment, as when the first batch of AIA rankings was released in December, Willow Canyon stood atop the 5A heap.

“It’s been great to watch the school’s reaction to it. Two years ago nobody knew who Willow Canyon womens basketball was, if we’re calling a spade a spade. And for just reason,” fifth-year coach Brandon Scholtz said. “People on campus can feel it. It’s hard enough to get people excited about girls basketball. Especially when you’re not an established program. So to see the community and school be excited for them, it’s so fun to watch.”

One day later, Willow Canyon dropped to No. 2. And Sunrise Mountain — itself an emerging surprise team in 5A — spoiled the Wildcats 10-0 start just before winter break with a 43-32 win in Surprise on Dec. 20.

Willow Canyon did not play in a winter break tournament then lost its first game back to Avondale Agua Fria on Jan. 8. The WIldcats rebounded by drubbing Goldwater Jan. 10 and are now ranked No. 8 in 5A.

With only eight regular players – plus freshman center Chloe Lobmeyer, who also plays at the lower levels and has her varsity minutes limited, the Wildcats needed a break.

Sophomore guard Aryana Nevarez, a Valley Vista transfer, will provide reinforcements now that she is eligible.

“We canceled our Christmas tournament for three reasons: health, family in town, and that we don’t want to be a team that peaks in November or December. The teams that hang around are those that keep that trajectory going into late January,” Scholtz said. “We’re eight deep. Our transfer, Aryana, will get cleared to play when we get back.”

While the Wildcats are now a bit deeper, their ascension is largely thanks to the power of two. Senior 5-10 forwards Ali Denny and Kaylee Kriwer have been the building blocks for Scholtz’s turnaround, lifting the program since first teaming up a season ago.

Both can handle the ball and shoot well for their size, or drive to the basket if need be. Denny said she knows Kriwer’s favorite three-point spots while Kriwer does a good job of finding Denny while driving.

“I think we know what each other is thinking. We know how to help each other,” Kriwer said.

Her first two years with the Wildcats, Denny had reason to feel a bit alone on the court. As a freshman, she already was clearly the second-best player on an 8-17 team.

“When I first got here, we were like the worst team ever. We only had one main scorer, Mareena Denham. Everyone on our team can score now, so we take all our individual talents and push it together,” Denny said. “It’s the best feeling. If you look at our banners, we haven’t won our region since 2006-07 or 2005-06. It’s great to see that growth because we used to be good and then fell off.”

Her sophomore year was slightly better, though at 10-17 it signified the program’s 10th straight losing season.

Ranked No. 23 in 5A, the Wildcats reached the play-in stage of the postseason, losing to No. 10 Ironwood.

For the sake of comparison, Millennium and Valley Vista played for the 6A title that season.

“You’ve got what should probably be the two best teams in the state withing a few miles. And they always have feeders coming in. It’s guaranteed. I don’t coach a club program. I stay away from it. We only have two or three that even play (club),” Schlotz said. “It’s been 13 doing it together. All offseason, we were in the weight room. We had them pushing cars in the parking lot. It’s been great team bonding and strength building.”

Then Kriwer and her family moved in from Prescott Valley. She played varsity basketball her first two years at 4A school Bradshaw Mountain.

“Moving up a division, the 5A game is faster and more fluid. It’s definitely very fast. I like that level of play better so I liked that transition,” Kriwer said.

The duo clicked in their first year together, as Denny averaged 14.6 points and 12.7 rebounds a game and Kriwer averaged 7.8 and 5.1. Together with senior Lexie Pumel, they made slight gains at 11-15 and another No. 23 ranking.

Beyond their improvement, though, what allows the Wildcats to have one less win in a month than all of last season? In a word — guards.

Willow Canyon's Kyia Hogan attempts a layup against Sunrise Mountain on Dec. 20, 2018. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]Junior point guard Ryan Dreyer returned after missing last year with a knee injury and freshman guard Makayla Ramirez adds a dimension.

“Ryan has helped a lot. It balances a load between our other point guard, Emma. Makayla as also helped as a freshman on defense, getting deflections and steals. Shelby (Maher) also has improved as a player. Sarina (Ramirez) also has improved. She gets those rebounds that you don’t know how she can get them,” Denny said.

Denny said this team gets along and pushes each other, especially in sprints. Kriwer said Scholtz pushed her limits physically and basketball IQ wise.

“Our coaches push us and they’re part of our family and our unit. They know how to get stuff done. They help us with conditioning and shooting,” Kriwer said.

This combination has led to an early season beyond players’ dreams.

“When I was a freshman, or even going into sophomore year, I didn’t think we were ever going to be 10-0. But I know Scholtz is a great coach and he’s going to try his hardest because he’s been in those types of situations,” Denny said. “We know we’re not going to get the best recruits because Valley and Millennium are right around the corner. Top players are obviously going to go to those winning programs. But we’ve got some sleepers and I’m very fortunate for them to be on our team.”

Now the dreams are bigger. Scholtz said the Wildcats rewrote goals in December.

“When we started off the year we sat down as a team and wrote all-in statements. If we were going to accomplish something this year, it can’t be seven or eight of us, it’s got to be all 13 of us — 10 players and three coaches. We even had the coaches write all-in statements,” Scholtz said. “Once we sat down and started focusing on what those meant, you could see the confidence inside start to build. We got into the Deer Valley tournament and played well. When we played Ironwood in that first game, you could see the confidence jump.”

The main goal, though, is to not make a trip to Marana, or anywhere else.

“We’re going to host our first home playoff game in 10 years, and we’re going to win it and go to the second round of the playoffs,” Denny said.

Willow Canyon's Ali Denny drives to the basket against Sunrise Mountain on Dec. 20, 2018 at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]