No. 15 Buena and No. 23 Marana might be too far removed from a 5A Southern Region title, with each sharing a 4-4 record in region play, but the goal for every team is to make the playoffs and that goal is still within reach for both squads, especially with Marana coming up with a 40-37 win over the Colts Tuesday night.

Winning a region championship does not guarantee a state or conference playoff spot in the 5A and 6A ranks, so staying in the top 24 is the name of the game and the Marana boys may have improved their chances with two games left in the season but that chance almost slipped away.

The Tigers sprinted out to a 16-3 lead after the first period and then built a 21-9 lead with 1:12 left in the half but the Colts came storming back on a 9-0 run that continued into the third quarter.

Buena senior Grant Ward entered the game needing 10 points to break into the 1,000-point club but he struggled early with only three points but he hit a couple of free throws and a bucket and fellow senior Kino Bellinger hit huge 3-pointer to help close the gap down to 21-18 with 6:20 left in the third, only to see Marana slowly pull away again.

Marana junior Andrew Ball hit a 3-pointer to end the bleeding and the Tigers went on to build a 27-19 lead with 2:11 left in the period but the Colts came alive once more. Ward hit a bucket with 1:05 left and Bellinger hit back-to-back threes and the game went into the fourth quarter tied 27-27.

Brock Fenton put Buena up 30-27 in the opening moments of the fourth but Isaiah Roebuck responded with a 3 of his own to tie the game up, but Bellinger came down and hit another 3 and Buena led 33-30 with 6:40 left in the game. Ward scored his 1,000th point to put Buena up 35-31 with 5:20 left but the biggest lead of the night for the Colts was erased with buckets from D'Marco Dunn and Charles Rhynard.

Grant Ward breaks 1,000 career points - no celebrations on the road. Buena leads 35-33 4:28 left #AZPreps365 pic.twitter.com/dbxCtWQS1B

— Andy Morales (@AZPreps365Andy) January 30, 2019

“He (Ward) was the one guy on our team the last few years who probably should have got more shots but never complained, would have more rebounds except that he often defends guards away from the basket, and would have more assists if this was not his first year as the starting point guard,” Buena head coach Dave Glasgow said.

“Grant is a very good shot blocker also, but because he is so valuable and we need him on the floor, he has accepted coaching and picks his spots in that area to stay out of foul trouble. Our teams have gone 19-9, 24-6, 24-4, and 18-8 so far in his time here.”

Ward hit two more free throws to give Buena a 37-35 lead with 1:21 left but Ball came through with a 3-pointer to put Marana up 38-37 with 50.1 seconds left and Dunn hit two free throws to put Marana up 40-37 with 26.4 seconds left. A last-second shot by the Colts missed the mark and Marana held on.

Dunn led Marana with 16 points and Ball finished with eight. Bellinger scored 18 to lead Buena and Ward added 13.

Marana's Andrew Ball on his big shot and holding off Buena:

Marana junior Andrew Ball hit two big 3 pointers to hold off Buena, including the game-winner #AZPreps365 pic.twitter.com/wHQBRDuTkw

— Andy Morales (@AZPreps365Andy) January 30, 2019

BUENA CAREER SCORING LEADERS

Kino Bellinger (2015-current) 1,443

Marc Matthews (2009-2012) 1,374

Rod Springer (2012-2015) 1,113

Devonte Malcolm (2008-2011) 1,028

Grant Ward (2015-current) 1,003