Deer Valley/Peoria 4A Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On March 2nd <strong>Peoria</strong> and <strong>Deer Valley</strong> battled for the 4A Boys State Championship at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These opponents know each other very well as they both in the West Valley region so already having played the other twice in the regular season. It started out just as you would expect when two teams play for the third time in less than two months. Peoria got out to a 8-4 lead but a 5-0 run by Deer Valley capped by a [player_tooltip player_id='937199' first='Jayden' last='Sleeper'] three pointer got the Skyhawks a 9-8 lead. At the end of the first quarter the score was tied at 13. Deer Valley switched to a zone defense to start the second quarter. As both team exchange baskets Deer Valley gets a 20-18 lead. A 7-2 run by Deer Valley stretches the lead to 27-20. Towards the end of the 2nd quarter a [player_tooltip player_id='1334752' first='Caden' last='Bass'] three pointer cuts the lead to 30-27 heading into halftime. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third quarter it's much more of the same as Deer Valley builds a 41-35 lead. At the end of the third a steal and layup by [player_tooltip player_id='1333653' first='Christopher' last='Brookins'] gives Peoria a 47-46 heading into the final quarter. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='814508' first='Andrew' last='Camacho'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1032531' first='Jaydon' last='S Cameron'] trade shots as Deer Valley had a 50-49 lead with a little over six minutes left in the game. A few made Peoria buckets and a Deer Valley turnover and the score is suddenly 59-50. A Deer Valley three pointer cuts the lead to six with a little less than two minutes left in the game. Peoria fends off Deer Valley by running the clock down and making their free throws. Peoria wins the 4A State Championship <strong>65-57</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Here are some of the standout players from the championship game. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='814508' first='Andrew' last='Camacho'] <strong>Peoria</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior still trying to find his way back to regular form stepped up when his team needed him the most. Camacho came up clutch in the 2nd half with timely shots and going perfect from the line down the stretch. His leadership skills were on full display as he helped his younger teammates settle in the championship environment. Camacho finished what eluded him as a freshman. He finished his career a state champion. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1674458' first='Travis' last='Vasquez'] <strong>Deer Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A definite stock riser, Travis showed he could hold his own. A crafty ball handler and passer, he was hitting teammates with good passes repeatedly. He has good size for the position and has enough wiggle in his game to create separation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1334752' first='Caden' last='Bass'] <strong>Peoria</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore wing played a well balanced game. He hit three's, mid range jumpers while shooting a very efficient percentage. Bass was very active on defense with his length getting deflections and a handful of steals. One of the better 2025's in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1032531' first='Jaydon' last='S Cameron'] <strong>Deer Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cameron kept the Skyhawks close with his shooting in the second half. He has a quick release and also is able to hit the one or two dribble pull up jumper. His height allows him to shoot over the top of most defenders. He is an underrated rebounder as he knows how to use his body to get good position. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Ward SF 6'4 2023 Peoria</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The energy guy was a difference maker for the Panthers. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time quite often. He was a beast on the offensive boards giving Peoria extra possessions with his effort and energy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='831129' first='Eric' last='Perkins'] <strong>Deer Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In limited minutes Perkins made the best of his time. He shot lights out from three point range. His range extended well beyond the line and he wasn't shy about putting it up. On defense he had active hands and communicated well with his teammates. <br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1333653' first='Christopher' last='Brookins'] <strong>Peoria</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A blur in the open court Brookins has to be planned for by opposing defenses. He pushes the tempo as fast as anyone in the state and keeps opposing defenses on their heels. He did his job which was to find open shooters and to play pressure defense. <br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->