Boys 3A State Title Rematch Pusch Ridge @ Palo Verde

The much anticipated 3A State Championship rematch from last season between the visiting #6 Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lions and the #1 Palo Verde Titans is about to tip off. Both teams will look to and have the ability to make it back to the big game this season. Teams make it on to the court and HERE WE GOOOOOOO.

First Quarter

Palo Verde turns it over on its first possession. Noah McKinney knocks down a corner 3 for the first basket of the game. The state leader in assists, Kameron Pippen finds Ethan Graves for a layup. Palo Verde forces a turnover and Rashad Ortiz gets the layup. Ben Lambe answers back with a corner three for the Lions. Rashad Ortiz knocks down a three off a pass from Kameron Pippen. Both teams' offenses look locked in. Noah Mckinney is having a tremendous first quarter for the Lions and currently has 12 points. 20-18 Lions with a lead. Rashad Ortiz gets a steal and Kamaiu Ortiz is at the line with a chance to tie it up. He makes both, 20-20 with 45 seconds left in the first quarter. Rashad Ortiz with a steal on the inbound pass makes the layup through contact. The Titans force another turnover. Rashad Ortiz dribbles for the mid range pull up and draws the foul. He makes both and the Titans now lead 24-20 to end the first

Rashad Ortiz with 9 points for the Titans and Noah McKinney with 12 Points for the Lions.

Second Quarter

Lions start with the ball and Ben Lambe makes a three as the shot clock buzzes. Palo Verde with their first possession and Kameron Pippen gets hammered on a layup but no call from the ref. McKinney with a middy off the backboard. 26-25 Palo Verde up. Kristian White forces a back court violation with his defensive pressure but the Titans can’t capitalize on it. Pusch Ridge with another bad pass out of bounds. Rashad Ortiz makes them pay with another three. The Lions miss a three point attempt, Rashad Ortiz goes up and draws a foul. He misses both and the Lions get the rebound and yet another passing turnover. Rashad Ortiz with a POSTER dunk and the crowd explodes. Pusch Ridge with another passing turnover out of bounds. Timeout is called and the crowd is going wild. 31-27. Frankie Lopez Jr with the layup for the Lions to get it back to a two point game. Kristian White with the steal and he jams it home getting the crowd buzzing again. Noah McKinney fouled on the way up but misses both free throws. The Titans regain possession. Kameron Pippen turns it over on an offensive foul call. 2:20 left in the half and Ben Lambe gets the tough bucket and is fouled. He completes the three point play. Kameron Pippen gets fouled on the way up and makes both free throws 35-32 Palo Verde. Santino Almazan misses the mid range and Palo Verde is back at the line after getting fouled on the rebound. Noah Pedrego misses both and Noah Mckinney gets the rebound for the Lions. He gets fouled and knocks down 1 of 2. Pippen takes it past three defenders and finishes the tough layup. Pusch Ridge with another turnover. Kamaiu Ortiz misses a three and Kristian White elevates for the offensive board and draws a foul. Ben Lambe is now in foul trouble for the Lions. Palo Verde takes a 37-35 lead into the half.

Third Quarter

 Palo Verde with first possession of the half and Kameron Pippen misses, Ben Lambe with the rebound for the Lions. The Titans rebound a Lions miss and Rashad Ortiz goes up for the lay up and is denied by a big block from Ben Lambe. Ortiz answers back with a three on the next possession. 40-35 Titans lead. Christian Munoz with a three for the Lions. Kameron Pippen misses and Ben Lambe gets the rebound but Pippen is quick to steal the ball back. Ben Lambe with another massive block. Rashad Ortiz hits a mid range and the Titans are up 42-38. Timeout Pusch Ridge. The Titans get possession, Kameron Pippen finds Kristian White under the basket and White scores the and one. Lambe gets called on the foul and gets taken out of the game. Huge blow for the Lions. Kristian White gets a steal and takes it the length of the court for the score. Titans lead is now up to 8 with a score of 46-38. Ethan Graves gets out to the perimeter and blocks a three point attempt by Christian Munoz. Lions get the rebound and Noah McKinney finds Santino Almazan for the three. A rare miss by Rashad Ortiz and the Lions can't capitalize on the bucket. The lions regain possession after another miss by the Titans and cant make the shot. McKinney almost makes the halfcourt heave. 46-41 Titans lead going into the fourth. The Lions are held to only six third quarter points but their defense steps up and holds the Titans to nine points in the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Lions start with the ball and sophomore Christian Munoz makes the layup. Rashad Ortiz with an acrobatic layup for the Titans. Lions couldn't get a shot up in time and turn it over on a shotclock violation. Palo Verde with a chance to extend the lead, Kameron Pippen drives and makes the reverse layup. Palo Verde calls a timeout with a 50-43 lead. Lions hurting in the paint without Ben Lambe in the game.  Right on cue Lambe checks back in. Noah McKinney drives baseline and makes the layup for the Lions. Lions regain possession down by five. Ben Lambe finds Santino Almazan in the corner for the three. 50-48 Titans. Ethan Graves gets big in the post and finger rolls it in showing off some great footwork in the paint. The Titans regain possession after a Lions miss but turn it over on an offensive foul. 52-48 with 2:20 left. Ethan Graves gets a massive rebound but the Titans throw it out of bounds and Lions get it back. Noah McKinney with a deep three and it's a one point game. Kamaiu Ortiz hits the mid range and Titans call a timeout up 54-51. The Titans have slowed the pace down here in the fourth. Lions inbound the ball and Ben Lambe takes it right to the basket for two. Ben Lambe with a big rebound and the Lions get the ball down by one with 32 seconds left. Noah McKinney fouled on the shot with 23 seconds left and misses the first. He misses the second but the Lions get the rebound and are called for a travel. Titans get the ball with 21.1 seconds left up 54-53. Titans inbound the ball but the Lions get the steal with about nine seconds left and Noah McKinney is wide open down court but is overthrown and misses a scoring attempt. The Lions rebound and they miss on about  three attempts under their own basket. Buzzer sounds and Palo Verde escapes with a 54-53 win. 

Noah McKinney scores 20, Ben Lambe scores 13 and Santino Almazan Scores 9 for the Lions.

The Titans were led by Rashad Ortiz with 21 Points followed by Kristian White with 13 points.