The No. 4 McClintock boys varsity team cruised to the quarterfinals of the 5A state basketball tournament on Wednesday, taking down No. 13 Centennial, 54-39.

The Chargers advanced to 17-2 overall, while extending their month-long win streak to nine.  The Coyotes finshed their season at 10-8, finishing fourth in the 5A Northwest region.

Leading the charge on the home court was senior forward Joshua Baker, who sank four 3-pointers en route to racking up 22 points for the Chargers. Senior center Jalen Calvert added 13 points for McClintock.

“I come to this gym every day for practice, so I know the hoops, I know the rim,” said Baker, who has averaged 22.5 points per game this season.

A slow start in the first quarter did not keep McClintock back for long as the Chargers held the Coyotes to their lowest points total of the season.

“We came out kind of sluggish,” Baker said. “We just went into the locker room and said ‘We’re seniors and this could be our last game if we don’t come out and play harder,’ and that kind of triggered us.”

Senior forward Chance Garland, who averages two steals, four rebounds, and five assists per game, kept the energy moving through the second half.

“We’re a senior-led group,” Garland said. “I’ve personally been to the playoffs before too, so we just needed to calm down and take care of the nerves and everything and just play like it’s any game.”

McClintock head coach Sam Dentz is in his eighth season with the Chargers, and for him and some of the seniors on the team, the playoff jitters weren’t a completely unfamiliar feeling.

“After eight days off, that’s kind of what you can expect,” Dentz said. “We talked to them in the locker room about having 16 minutes left. We have nine seniors. Let’s fight for everything, let the chips fall where they may, but don’t make it because we didn’t give it everything we have, and I think that cranked up their energy.”

Centennial’s two leading scorers made up more than half of the Coyotes' 39 points. 

Senior forward Dallin Dutry made five of his six free throws, along with three baskets to finish with 11 points.  Freshman Trenten Lavender added 10 points.

The Coyotes have only two graduating seniors from this year’s varsity squad, and head coach Randy Lavender is looking forward to going even further next year.

“The younger guys are learning leadership,” said Lavender, in his second season with Centennial. “It’ll take a little more time and this is good experience for them. The leadership will develop.”

McClintock will now host No. 5 Cactus Shadows (17-2) in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Friday.  It will be their third matchup this season.

The Falcons narrowly escaped with a 69-68 win at home in January, and the Chargers came out on top, 69-47, when they hosted the Falcons in early February.

“I think that’s what you play for the whole season, getting one of those top four seeds,” Dentz said. “I think we take advantage of it. Playing at home in a comfortable environment against a team we’re familiar with, so we couldn’t really ask for much more.”