Grade A basketball describes Amphi, Arcadia in boys 4A-II

January 10, 2011 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Amphitheater and Arcadia would be right at the top of 4A-II schools without displaying boys basketball prowess since their schools begin with A.

The way the schools are playing as January nears its midpoint has them eschewing an alphabetical  hierarchy.

Amphitheater, the 4A-II state runnerup last season to Santa Rita by two points, is thirsting for another shot at the title. The trio of Lester Medford, Tim Derksen and Dominek Banks has guided the Panthers to a 15-2 record so far. They've won their last five games in a row, enjoyed an eight-game streak prior to that and made a more than respectful showing at the VisitMesa.com Basketball Challenge in late December winning three of four games.

One of those wins was over a very talented Orange Lutheran, Calif.; squad, which knocked off Chaparral and Westwind Prep in the same tournament. Amphi's only losses are to Salpointe and Chaparral. Derksen missed the Salpointe game and scored a season-low four points in the loss to Chaparral.

Medford and Banks are senior averaging 18.9 points a game and 9.7, respectively. They supply play-making and slight of hand leading the team in assists and steals. Derksen, a junior, is scoring at just more than 17 points a game and adding almost 10 rebounds per game. He's right there with Medford and Banks in assists.

The Panthers next challenge seems to be Jan. 17 in Tucson's edition of the MLK Classic. Amphi takes on Palo Verde in one of the marquee games of that event at McKale Center.

Arcadia has fallen just once with a 16-1 record overall. The Titans were one-and-done at state last year, but are maturing fast. They have walloped five 4A East Sky Region opponents so far by an average of nearly 20 points a triumph. The Titans, winners of 13 consecutie games, lone loss was to Desert Mountain.

Arcadia is led by junior scoring-machine Larry Lewis. Lewis, who has verbally committed to USC. He is averaging 22 points a game. He has plenty of help at the offensive end from senior captain Brandon Dixon (19 ppg) and junior guard Andrew Naderer (13 ppg), a 3-point threat that adds to the guard chaos created by the Titans. Arcadia has defeated Higley, Maricopa, Coronado, Seton and Notre Dame thus far in region play and takes on Williams Field (Tuesday) and Coronado again Friday.