Keaton Magnuson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Campo Verde for AZPreps365.com.

Campo Verde stormed into Williams Field’s house last Thursday night and put the Blackhawks away handily, because of a balanced scoring attack fueled by double-digit turnovers.

The Coyotes came into the game with the pending postseason on their minds, but that didn’t stop them from getting into focus quickly as they finished the first quarter on a 6-0 run. Many of Campo Verde’s points came from the defense and hustle of junior guard Isaiah Kai and sophomore guard Cohen Ferguson. The two combined for over 20 points and generated more than half of Williams Field’s turnovers.

“I wanted to make them feel my presence,” said Kai. “I didn’t want them to score.”

Kai fooled the Blackhawks in second quarter on another turnover when he slowed his momentum enough around the rim and two defenders slipped past him, which led to the basket and the whistle.

Kai and Ferguson, partners in the backcourt, got into a groove early as they assisted each other on multiple baskets down the stretch and closed out the half 32-19, with Campo Verde in the lead.

“We make a good duo,” said Ferguson. “I think I get open really well and find the spots on the floor that Isaiah can hit me.”

From there the game moved further out of reach for Williams Field as junior forward Ty McDowell and junior guard Justin Garcia helped push the score to a 24-point lead at the end of the third. McDowell put up 11 points and Garcia had 10, which bumped the Coyotes four starters into double figures.

Williams Field, celebrating its senior night, emptied the bench in the final quarter and the Coyotes did the same as the game rolled to a 66-39 finish. Campo Verde played with a ton of energy and an intensity that the Blackhawks just never matched on either end of the floor.

“I think it’s just having a certain mindset that you want to do well and we talked about imposing our will tonight,” said Campo Verde Coach Mark Martinez.

Williams Field finished the season on a 15-game losing streak and the Coyotes await their first playoff matchup at home on Friday against Sunnyside.

“I think we’re battle-tested,” said Martinez about what the regular season finish meant for the future. “I gotta anticipate that we’re going to see the fruits of our labor here in that first round.”