Brady Vernon
ASU Student Journalist

Deer Valley wins opening round playoff game against Ironwood

February 13, 2018 by Brady Vernon, Arizona State University


Deer Valley senior center Bryce Davis led the Skyhawks with 24 points in Tuesday’s night win over Ironwood. The team’s 57-38 win will send them to the second round of Arizona’s 5A state basketball championship.

 

“I knew it was a big game, I love to try and shine in big games,” Davis said. “I just played honestly, I didn’t have any mindset. It was all my teammates looking for me. It was a great win for all of us, it wasn’t just my scoring, it was the defense, steals, rebounding, all of that."

 

Davis hit a three-pointer at the four-minute mark in the first quarter giving Deer Valley an 8-0 lead and the fans erupted inside the Skyhawk gym.

 

The Skyhawks didn’t allow Ironwood to score until there was 1:57 left in the opening quarter. Deer Valley would hold onto a 19-6 lead after the game’s first eight minutes.

 

The Eagles would find some life in the second quarter. Ironwood’s Dominic Gonzalez and Ajang Aguek kept getting to the line and getting the Skyhawks into foul trouble. The Eagles would close the gap to 28-19 heading into halftime.  Gonzalez and Aguek combined for all of the Eagles’ 19 points.

 

Deer Valley didn’t look the same after its fast start but Skyhawks’ head coach Jed Dunn took blame for that.

 

“We tried to spread them, and that was my fault. It took all the momentum out of that second quarter,” Dunn said.

 

Ironwood continued to fight back into the game getting the Skyhawk lead down to five with 1:25 left in the third quarter.

 

But Deer Valley ended the quarter on a 7-2 run in the quarter’s final 85 seconds. Senior KeyVaughn Williams scored a layup, then fellow senior Deven Breckner stole the ball on the next possession for an easy basket. Williams also hit a three-pointer at the third quarter buzzer sending the game to 42-32.

 

Two minutes into the fourth quarter after a foul call, Ironwood’s head coach Jordan Augustine was given a technical foul. Augustine showed obvious frustration during the game and after.

 

“That technical changed the game, they went on an 8-0 run after that,” Augustine said.

 

Deer Valley took advantage of the call as Breckner made all four free throws he was given. What was once a five-point deficit for the Eagles quickly turned into 14.

 

The Eagles only scored four points after the call on Augustine. The Skyhawks kept the pressure scoring 13 of the game’s final 17 points.

 

With the loss, Ironwood’s season came to an end on Tuesday night, but the team did not disappoint their coach.

 

“They played hard, man. They played the Ironwood way, that’s all I can say,” Augustine said. “It’s unfortunate it ended this way, but as far as my players are concerned I’m very proud of the way they competed.”

 

Meanwhile, Deer Valley will host Apollo on Friday night in the second round of the 5A State Championship.

 

“We got to get better at everything,” Dunn on what needs to improve for the Skyhawks before Friday’s matchup.