Caleb Craig is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Canyon View High School for AZPreps365.com

WADDELL — Desert Edge couldn’t reach a quarter break with momentum Thursday night. 

Canyon View’s Devin Sanders made sure of that. 

The senior guard drilled six 3-pointers – four of them in the closing seconds of each of the first three quarters – to propel the Canyon View Jaguars to a 73-54 home victory  in the regular-season finale on Senior Night over the Desert Edge Scorpions.

Sanders’ first triple came as the opening-quarter buzzer sounded, extending the Jaguars’ lead to 21-13

With seven seconds remaining before halftime, he struck again, nailing another 3-pointer with seven seconds left to push the lead to 39-20 at the break. 

Desert Edge’s most promising stretch came in the third. The Scorpions cut the Jaguars’ lead to single digits, 44-35, with three minutes remaining, temporarily quieting the home crowd. 

Then Sanders put a halt to the Scorpions' momentum.

With 14 seconds left in the third, Sanders buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Then, he jumped the inbound pass, intercepted it and drilled a corner 3-pointer as time expired to extend the lead to 55-35 heading into the final frame. 

“Well, his (Sanders) last couple of games, he's really been shooting the ball really well. It's not just tonight,” Canyon View coach Ramon Marks said. “He's been knocking down big shots at big times.” 

Built on pressure 

From the opening tip, Canyon View dictated the pace with full-court pressure and clogged passing lanes. The Jaguars’ suffocating defense sped up the Scorpions and forced rushed possessions. 

“They brought a lot of pressure with their guards, and it kind of got us out of our rhythm on offense,” Desert Edge coach Cameron Johnson said. “We've got to really do a better job of being strong with the ball.” 

That pressure is Canyon View’s identity. 

“We kept the pressure on and kept them playing at a pace that we want to play,” Marks said. “We like to get up and down.” 

When Desert Edge sagged into the paint to limit drives, Sanders stretched the floor and made them pay from deep. He finished with 20 points.

Canyon View senior AJ Harris added the exclamation point to the game with 3:30 remaining, finishing a fast break with a reverse dunk to extend the lead to 23 and send the crowd into a frenzy. Harris finished with 17 points. 

New year, new Jags 

Canyon View didn’t look like this back in December. 

The Jaguars dropped four of their first seven games to start the season and were still figuring out who they were. 

Since then, they’ve flipped the script. 

The Jaguars have won 10 of their last 11 games and finished 10-2 in region play. 

They’ve found clarity. 

“Just defining our roles,” Harris said. “Not everyone can be the main guy… You gotta figure out what we're gonna do for that game, and then we go out there and execute.” 

That composure showed in the third quarter. When Desert Edge made its push, Canyon View didn’t panic or abandon its pressure. 

“The beginning of the season was a little rough. Had a few bumps in the road, but finishing 10 for 11, it really means a lot,” Harris said. “We’ve grown as a team. We play better as a team. We move the ball better. We're ready for the playoffs.” 

Thursday’s victory carried added meaning for Harris. It marked his final regular-season game on the court he’s called home for four years, a moment he once watched unfold for former teammates from the sidelines. 

“Honestly, it means the world,” Harris said. “I've been here for four years. I’ve seen all my former teammates’ senior nights. I’ve always been excited, but I'm happy with my guys.” 

Looking ahead 

Canyon View (13-5,10-2) now awaits its 5A postseason assignment. The AIA will  release the bracket on Saturday with playoff games beginning next week. 

Desert Edge (10-9, 7-5) will also be watching Saturday’s announcement to find out whether they will be in the tournament.