Salpointe standout Majok Deng is guarded by Catalina Foothills standout Sam Beskind. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

Catalina Foothills improved to 18-4 overall and 3-0 in the 4A Gila Region but it wasn’t easy. Ranked No. 2 in the state, the Falcons led No. 23 Salpointe 51-34 with 6:46 left in the game only to see the Lancers close out on a 24-8 run.

Salpointe (5-15, 2-2) ultimately came up short 59-58, but the Lancers proved ready for the home stretch, but time is running short.

There are two ways to qualify for the 4A state playoffs: win your region or finish in the top 24. Catalina Foothills beat No. 9 Nogales 77-49 on Tuesday night so the Falcons control their own destiny for the region title but there are still four region games remaining on their schedule including rematches with Nogales (14-4, 2-1) and Salpointe.

The Lancers, like all teams in the region, still have a legitimate shot at the automatic berth from the region but a top 24 finish seems more likely and it will guarantee a spot in the play-in tournament at the very least.

Majok Deng finished with 29 points with 11 coming during the 24-point outburst in the final six minutes of the game. The University of Arizona (along with 20 other DI programs) has interest in the Salpointe junior for good reason. Deng stands 6-foot-5 and is averaging 20 points a game and he passed the 1,000-point career mark on Tuesday night in a 63-53 win over No. 34 Canyon del Oro (3-15, 0-3).

Deng has come on strong in his last six games with almost 27 points an outing and he’s been joined by sophomore transfer Evan Nelson. Nelson transferred over from Mountain View Marana over the summer and he is averaging 20 points a game in three games since becoming eligible for play.

Nelson struggled early but he scored 13 points in the final run including a bucket with .8 seconds left to cut the lead down to 59-58.

On the other side, Catalina Foothills standout Sam Beskind scored 23 points to lead the Falcons. Beskind was the Southern Arizona Player of the Year last year after leading the Falcons to a semifinal finish and he appears primed for another run at state.

Sophomore Hayden Moser added 12, junior Carson James scored 11 and fellow senior Spencer Lewis finished with 10 points. Beskind scored seven points in the fourth quarter but James hit two free throws with 33.5 seconds left to provide the final cushion.

Catalina Foothills will host Canyon del Oro on Friday night and Salpointe has a week off and will visit 6A opponent Rincon/University next Friday, Jan. 26.

Nogales travels to No.10 Walden Grove (9-7, 1-2) on Friday night.

The 4A Conference play-in tournament is scheduled to start on Friday, Feb. 9 and the state playoffs will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 14.