Ashley Stevens is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mountain Ridge High School for AZPreps365.com.

GLENDALE — Sandra Day O’Connor and Mountain Ridge boys basketball tipped off in a heated rivalry game Tuesday night as the Mountain Lions tried desperately to avoid an agonizing sweep.

The Eagles escaped the jaws of the Lions’ defense, coming out with a 9-2 run early in the first quarter. Both teams committing costly fouls and forcing turnovers led Sandra Day O’Connor to an abysmal first quarter, giving them an 11-5 lead over Mountain Ridge. 

After forcing a steal and returning the ball for a fiery dunk, Sandra Day O’Connor senior forward Xavier Ali sent the Eagles’ student section into a frenzy to open up the second quarter.

The Mountain Lion offense battled back in the second and third quarters on their home court, matching the Eagles point-for-point while also eliciting their own student section into rallying chants. 

After tallying 16 points each in the second quarter, the Mountain Lions entered the second half trailing 27-21. Mountain Ridge, desperate to erase the six-point deficit committed in the first quarter, came as close as trailing the Eagles by one point before the third quarter ended.

Mountain Ridge senior guard Logan Hopkins hit two three-pointers and notched nine points in the third, carrying the offense to just a three-point deficit entering the fourth quarter. 

“We struggled early shooting the ball, but I knew once we got to our hoop we would shoot the ball better,” Mountain Ridge head coach Craig Marcus said. 

Hopkins entered the game leading the 6A Desert Valley Region with 23.3 points per game. He tallied 17 points for the Mountain Lions, hitting two shots from behind the arc and going four for five at the free-throw line.

“O’Connor did a good job not letting Logan get good looks or easy shots,” Marcus said. “We just kind of struggled getting everybody else going. We just couldn’t get a shot when we needed it to go.”

Senior guard Anthony Kangah contributed 16 points through five made field goals and shooting five-for-six at the free throw line while senior center Jan michael Lamberty scored 10 points and went four-for-six at the free throw line. Those three combined contributed 43 of Mountain Ridge’s 55 points. 

While the Mountain Lion offense shot 47% from the field, they only shot the ball 38 times, relying on free throws and trying to capitalize on the Eagles’ few mistakes. 

Meanwhile, the offensive hands of O’Connor rallied through the shots of seniors Ali and Zach Rama as well as freshman Michael Simcoe, who tallied 46 of the 64 the Eagles’ points despite shooting just 35% from the field. 

Desperate to impel a momentum shift, the Mountain Lion defense committed 25 fouls over the course of the game, gifting the Eagles 36 free throw attempts.

“They’ve been fighting this hard all year,” Marcus said. “Unfortunately, stuff happens. We’ve never really been able to get into a rhythm all year.”

“Six days a week we give it our all,” Hopkins said. “I know it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but we did everything we could.”

The three-year varsity player left it all out on the court, and despite another losing season, expressed gratitude and solace towards the players taking over for Mountain Ridge next season.

“Just make sure to have fun,” Hopkins expressed. “Make sure you love basketball and have fun.” 

Marcus said he feels the same sentiments Hopkins has towards his teammates.

“I’m proud of these guys," Marcus said. "I love them. I would take them over anybody. They’re just a great group of young men. I love spending time with them. It’s just sad that it has to come to an end tonight.”

The Mountain Lions finished the season 9-16. With nine of its 13-man roster graduating this year, the Mountain Lions are looking to build the team around its four returners: juniors Nate Lovas and Victor Sandrin in addition to sophomores Dallin Smith and Andy Saeva.