“Ro runs our show.’’

Those are the words of Scottsdale Desert Mountain boys basketball coach Todd Fazio, in reference to junior point guard Rolando Rhymes.

Rhymes was the primary element to Tuesday’s (Feb. 19) Division I quarterfinal game against Mesa at Arizona State’s Wells Fargo Arena.

Rhymes ran the Wolves’ offense with a steady hand, scored when it was needed and played strong defense as Desert Mountain advanced to Thursday’s (Feb. 21) semifinal at Wells Fargo. Desert Mountain (25-5) will face either defending champion Tempe Corona del Sol or Goodyear Millennium at 7:45 p.m.

Rhymes scored 22 points, complementing forward Mark Andrews’ 24. Many of Andrews points came as the result of Rhymes’ outstanding passes.

Rhymes transferred from Phoenix St. Mary’s and sat out last season. He took the floor this season and gradually got a grasp of the offense. He is the grand-nephew of legendary Valley-area coach and former local player Argie Rhymes, now the coach at Phoenix Carl Hayden.

“He (Rolando) has come a long, long, long way,’’ Fazio said. “It took some time.’’

In the first half, the 6-foot-6 Andrews took advantage of the absence of Mesa’s 6-10 big man, Isaac Allen, who got into foul trouble.

Andrews, also a star football player, scored 12 points in the second quarter, as fifth-seeded Desert Mountain increased its lead to 25-12 at halftime.

Fourth-seeded Mesa (25-6), which lost to Desert Mountain earlier this season, cut the deficit to single digits early in the third, but Rhymes drilled a 3-pointer at the 6-minute mark for a 28-16 lead.

On Desert Mountain’s next possession, Andrews threw down a jam, courtesy of a Rhymes pass on a pick and roll, and the Wolves maintained their momentum.

Rhymes scored on a spinning scoop shot shortly thereafter. He scored 16 points in the second half.

Sophomore guard Jalen Jenkins, one of Mesa’s top players, became more involved offensively in the second half, but he, too, was in foul trouble. Mesa was whistled for 19 fouls in the game, Desert Mountain 11.

Desert Mountain hit 13 of 14 foul shots in the fourth quarter.

Despite the output of Andrews and Rhymes, Fazio was quick to emphasize, “We are not a two-man team.’’

Dan Richards led Mesa with 14 points and Jenkins had 13.