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WEST VALLEY PREPS

Deer Valley girls continue climb with emotional win at Cactus

Posted 1/21/20

It was more than just another region game Jan. 21 and both the Cactus and Deer Valley girls basketball teams played like it.

In the first of two meetings between the nearby Glendale schools, family members were on both sides and one player had transferred between schools.

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WEST VALLEY PREPS

Deer Valley girls continue climb with emotional win at Cactus

Posted

It was more than just another region game Jan. 21 and both the Cactus and Deer Valley girls basketball teams played like it.

In the first of two meetings between the nearby Glendale schools, family members were on both sides and one player had transferred between schools.

The visiting Skyhawks took a one-point lead into halftime, then the second half saw eight lead changes. Deer Valley (14-7 overall, 11-2 regular season) took the lead and ran the clock in the final two minutes to come home with a 50-46 victory.

"We were really really looking forward to it. A lot of our girls played with passion tonight and it worked out for us," Deer Valley coach MJ Walker said. "You see them getting emotional and you give them a hug and try to keep them in the game and give them that positive energy."

On this night it was particularly emotional for junior guard Eden Brosseau, who just became eligible after leaving Cactus to attend Deer Valley this season. Her younger sister Eliyah, also plays for the Skyhawks varsity as a freshman.

Then there is Skyhawks freshman post player Michaela Lee, younger sister of Cactus senior post player Olivia Lee. Olivia Lee is one of the Cobras' twin stars along with fellow senior and cousin Myla Lee.

Olivia Lee finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, but her night was marred by foul trouble. She picked up her third midway through the second quarter and her fourth just before halftime.

"Being so big sometimes they call more. When she moves they see ball up here but underneath she's getting bumped," Cactus coach Robert Henige said. "I'm very comfortable coming back against Deer Valley. I think they stole one but I think we can come back and steal one at their place."

Olivia Lee was matched up on Deer Valley senior forward Sara Roskelley, who took advantage of the foul trouble by driving to the basket for layups or to set up her teammates. She finished with a team-high 18 points and five assists.

Roskelley - who also plays badminton and runs track - is a third-year varisty player who can enjoy the program's rise more than most. Deer Valley hovered around .500 the last two seasons.

"I'm excited, especially with her being a multi-sport athlete. She's buckled down and started to be a leader on this team for everyone. She is the glue and I can't say enough about her and how proud I am of her," Walker said.

Junior guard Allison Howard is the other veteran in the lineup. But freshmen Brosseau, Lee and Rickelle Andrade have injected more talent and advanced basketball knowledge into the program.

"I knew what they were capable of and I knew they were going to make some freshman mistakes in the beginning. We knew that consistent work in the gym gives them the confidence they need to perform out here," Walker said.

Lee gives the Skyhawks a true inside presence, finishing with 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

Andrade stretches defenses and did so against Cactus (14-8, 6-6), hitting a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 16 points.

"They got out and shot great in the first quarter, probably four of five or five of six on threes. And we knew it but couldn't do anything about it. You get a hand in their face and they still make it. That's basketball," Henige said.

The opposite of the Skyhawks' young roster, the Cobras have a large group of seniors around the Lee cousins. But most of them, other than guard Selena Daley, have not played as regulars in the rotation.

Myla Lee led all scorers with 22 points.

Guard Rose Cullop would have been another returning starter, but stepped away from the team to focus on other priorities.

Now thrust into bigger roles, Cactus players are trying to build maturity and confidence. Henige said that leaves a team with very little margin for error.

Senior post player Liz Vernon played maybe her most minutes against the Skyhawks. Sophomore post Rylie Henige hit the offensive boards well but had trouble finishing on putbacks.

"It's been tough but we've got a couple seniors out there, like Savanna Carpenter. She is a great defender who works her tail off. She's probably one of the best in the league, if you ask me. If she were a little taller she probably would be an all-state defender," Henige said. "It's been rough because some nights we're clicking and other nights the timing is off. Liv and Myla do a pick and roll or a pick and pop and it just flows."