FARMINGTON – The Farmington High School boys basketball team will face Maryvale, Ariz. in Saturday’s championship game of the Marv Sanders Memorial Invitational Tournament inside the Scorpion Arena at Farmington High School.
Here’s a recap of how Friday night games played out leading to the tournament title game.
The Farmington High School boys basketball punched its ticket to the championship bout of its Marv Sanders Invitational tournament with a convincing 63-34 victory over Canon City Friday night at the Scorpion Arena.
Saturday’s tilt against Maryvale marks the second consecutive year in which the Scorpions and Panthers will face off in the championship game of the tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Scorpion Arena.
“It’s going to be a fun, fast paced game and I think it’s going to come down to who has the better defense,” Farmington guard Landon Begay said.
Canon City will square off with Durango at 2:30 p.m. for the third-place title at the Scorpion Arena.
Farmington senior Landon Begay helped Farmington overcome a slow start conducting the Scorpion offense, finishing the night with 18 points.
Second Round Scores (Sanders Invitational Boys Tournament)
Championship Round Games
Farmington 63, Canon City 34
Maryvale 68, Durango 60
Consolation Round Games
Monument Valley 41, Kirtland Central 40
Window Rock 63, Shiprock 50
Canon City stayed in the back pocket of Farmington early in the first period despite two 3-pointers by Farmington junior Isaac Dinning to give the Scorpions some cushion on the scoreboard.
The Tigers utilized a fast break offense to get behind the Scorpion defense for textbook layups, while the defense kept Farmington from driving inside.
The first period featured Canon City’s best play as Farmington didn’t allow the Tigers to hit over 20 points until late into the third period.
It didn’t help the Tigers case that Farmington opened the third period with momentum behind junior Sataurus Griego who provided tough play under the net paired with a couple of threes by Begay and senior Samuel Goats.
Dinning chipped in with Begay, hitting the double-digit mark in the scorebooks with ten points in the contest.
“We’re moving the ball around and everyone’s chipping, it’s not just one player,” Begay said. “As the seasons going on, our chemistry is getting better.”
The Maryvale High School boys basketball team survived a second half surge from Durango Friday afternoon, defeating the Demons 68-60 to advance to the championship game Saturday night.
Durango trimmed a 16-point deficit down to 8 heading into the final period of play thanks to the performance of senior Noah Miles who scored 16 points in the second half.
Maryvale junior Adrian Stubbs proved to be the difference in stopping a Durango comeback. Any momentum that Miles shoveled up for the Demons was quickly filled in by Stubbs either through a free throw or driving the ball to the glass.
Stubbs scored 13 points in the fourth period alone while scoring an impressive 34 points in the game. It was the second time that Stubbs has posted 30 points in a game during the tournament.
“We’re a defensive oriented team, our defense ignites our offense. We came out with a lot of tenacity and that showed by evidence in the score and the energy from our guys,” Maryvale head coach Jeremy Smith said. “The altitude played a factor and conditioning. There’s no reason why we should’ve let (Durango) back into that.”
After a dominant start to the game by Maryvale that saw all five starters for the Panthers score in the first period, a lull by the Panthers offense followed for the next two periods.
The Demons took advantage of the stall of Panther points in the third period, outscoring Maryvale 20-12.
Durango’s offense found its confidence behind Miles’ ability to connect on the 3-pointers, and senior Otto Aalland’s determination to cause pressure to Maryvale’s ball handlers.
Fouls were Durango’s worst enemy Friday afternoon, getting into the bonus foul rule three straight periods, allowing Maryvale to get enough free points to maintain its lead.
Maryvale isn’t a stranger to the Marv Sanders Invitational, making a championship appearance last year, losing to the Scorpions by a final of 47-39.
“We have to play smart. Last time (Stubbs) got two fouls in the first minute of the game and that flattened us out because he’s our motor, and when you don’t have your motor for three and half quarters, that hurts you,” Smith said. “We can’t allow us to force the issue and be more prepared.”
For Durango, they will face Canon City to play for third place at 2:30 p.m. at the Scorpion Arena.
