Clarissa Rodarte launched herself over a table chasing an errant pass, taking out out a radio announcer in the process, with the game well in hand in the fourth quarter.

That play embodied the effort that Valley Vista has become known for since coach Rachel Matakas took over in 2008. When Rodarte returned to the court, she did so to loud cheers from Valley Vista fans attending the 6A Conference girls basketball title game at Wells Fargo Arena.

Rodarte and Valley Vista took another bow after their game against Xavier ended in their favor, 68-55, celebrating a championship victory for the second year in a row. Valley Vista’s defense, senior leaders and a freshman had big games to help the program finish 25-6 this season. 

Seniors Taylor Chavez (University of Oregon signee) and Rysha Banner scored a team best 22 and 17 points, respectively, and Chavez also made 14 of 17 free throws.

But the biggest key for Valley Vista may have been the contributions of freshman Marisa Davis in the paint. That’s where the 6-1 forward gobbled up 18 rebounds and also pitched in 14 points in 31 minutes.

Davis started alongside four seniors, Chavez, Rodarte, Banner and Tiana Brown.

(Valley Vista's senior starters (left to right) Rysha Banner, Tiana Brown, Taylor Chavez and Clarissa Rodarte helped their program win back-to-back championships. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.com)

“Marisa Davis is definitely the most improved player on the team,” Chavez said. “She bought in to how coach (Matakas) coaches and helped us a lot as the season went along.”

Chavez also credited assistant coach Justin Maass for the excellent job in preparing the team defensively for Xavier.

In the semifinals, Xavier forward Montana Oltrogge scored 22 points but tallied only 13 Wednesday. When Oltrogge got the ball near the lane, a weak side defender often came to double team her.

Junior Leilani McIntosh led Xavier with 20 points and only turned the ball over one time in 26 minutes.

The junior fouled out with 3:39 left and Valley Vista up 63-48. As a disappointed Leilani walked off the court, Matakas walked on the court and patted her on the back.

Oltrogge also eventually fouled out, and before she took a seat, Xavier coach Jennifer Gillom told her senior, “You made it far today. Keep your head up.”

“A huge part of this game was (Valley Vista's) experience of being here before,” Gillom said. “They played with poise and handled our pressure. We came out with some nerves and couldn’t get shots to fall. But I’m so proud of these girls. They came out, fought hard and played hard.”

Xavier (27-7) upset No. 1 seed Millennium in the semifinals and reached a final for the first time since 1986.

The state runner-up led 21-18 in the second quarter but then went cold from the field for about four minutes. That allowed Valley Vista to take a 29-21 lead and never trailed after that.

After the game, Matakas brought her niece, Bella, onto the court. Matakas’ dedicated last year’s title victory to her brother, Madison, who was battling cancer and attended the 2016-17 championship game.

Madison passed away in August.
“(Madison) is watching over us,” said Bella, Madison’s 14-year-old daughter.

(Valley Vista coach Rachel Matakas is joined by her neice, Bella, on the court after the 6A Conference championship game. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.com.