Karen Self (Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

No. 1 Seton Catholic beat No. 4 Shadow Mountain 74-54 Saturday at the Grand Canyon University Arena to qualify for the program’s fourth straight trip to the championship game. Winners of three of the last four, head coach Karen Self is primed for her 10th title.

Sarah Barcello led all scorers with 28 points, Sara Pfeiffer had 15 and Kendall Krick added 13 for the Sentinels. Amanda Barcello pulled down 11 rebounds and Sarah Barcello had eight.

Senya Rabouin led Shadow Mountain (22-8) with 19 points and Dyamon Butler-Worley added 11 points and seven rebounds.

“The difference this year is I have a lot more confidence,” said Barcello. “We are a whole new team but we are focusing on ourselves.”

Seton Catholic will face No. 2 Pueblo (30-2) at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 at GCU for the 4A state championship.

No. 1 Shadow Mountain beat No. 4 Moon Valley to set up a date with No. 11 Salpointe on the boy’s side of the 4A state playoffs.

The Matadors (24-1) have won five state championships but the most damage to the rest of the state has been from 2015 through today, an incredible 130-17 record, three state championships and only seven losses in the last three years.

None of the losses have come to teams from Arizona and one was in an exhibition game. Gilbert Christian beat Shadow Mountain 87-47 in the semifinal round of the 2015 Division II state playoffs and the Matadors have gone 70-0 against teams from Arizona since that loss.

Jaelen House led Shadow Mountain with 17 points, Shemar Morrow had 15, Jovan Blacksher had 12 and Immanuel Allen 10. Jok Jok had 12 for Moon Valley and James Burries scored 10 for Moon Valley.

Moon Valley finished 25-5.

The championship game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the GCU Arena.