Mesquite coach Candice Gonzales admitted she felt the nerves before Tuesday night's home contest against Salpointe Catholic.

The Wildcats fell to the Lancers in last season's 4A state title game, so naturally the motivation was at high levels for Mesquite players, but the anxiousness was equally present for veteran head coach.

"I was worried how our girls would show up, but they were mentally prepared, physically prepared and they took it upon themselves to get it done," Gonzales said.

The Wildcats (7-0) preparation paid off in the fourth quarter, when they closed out an otherwise close contest with a 14-4 run. The result was a 54-41 victory for Mesquite.

Senior forward Lucy Fisher came through for the Wildcats in a big way, scoring 18 of her game high 22 points in the second half. This included  eight of Mesquite's last nine points to help put Salpointe away.

"Lucy is really coming alive this year," Gonzales said of Fisher. "She's finally got that bug and that itch, and she wants to go on and play at that next level, and she's really proven herself." 
Navae Guidry added 18 points for Mesquite, 13 coming in the first half.

Guidry, a 5-11 senior, led Mesquite in scoring last season with 18 points per game. The 6-foot Fisher is a listed as a shooting guard, but her hustle and rebounding skill make her dangerous around the rim. Fisher and Guidry led the Wildcats in rebounding last year with seven a game.

"Lucy's an amazing player," Guidry said after the win.

"I feel like when things aren't working for me, they're more than likely working for her. Most teams prepare to stop me...but Lucy and I are really the same."

Fisher had 11 rebounds Tuesday night, many offensively, which led to high percentage shots and put backs in the second half. Mesquite (7-0) struggled through 22 percent shooting in the first half, with Fisher scoring just four points. Both teams picked up the shooting pace in third quarter. Salpointe's Naomi Schoenhage connected on a pair of three pointers, but the Wildcats were able to maintain a 37-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter thanks to three-point field goals from Guidry and Kahlia Gonzales. 

Mesquite's defense clamped down in the final quarter, holding Salpointe to six points while Fisher led the the 14-4 run to put the game away.

Fortune 500: Gonzales Nearing Milestone

With Tuesday night's win coach Gonzales is now just six wins shy of 500. All have come with Mesquite, where she's coached varsity since the 1999-2000 season. 
"I didn't even know I was that close until recently," Gonzales said. 
"My husband actually told just before the season began, and so I went and looked to count them up myself."

Besides the 2024 runner-up finish, Mesquite advanced to the state championship three consecutive years (2016, '17 and '18), capturing its lone title in 2017. She also won two state championships as a player at Gilbert High, where she was coached by Arizona legend Miner Webster, who won a state record 816 games.  
Mesquite basketball coach Candice Gonzales is six wins away from 500. (Photo by MaxPreps)

"Coach Gonzales does an outstanding job and I have so much for her. She deserves so much credit," Salpointe coach Joseph Luevando said.

"It was pretty close most of the game, but we just didn't execute  at the end of the game and Mesquite did."