Austin Nicholson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Phoenix Country Day School for AZPreps365.com

Emotions ran high Tuesday in Paradise Valley. It was Senior Night for two of Phoenix Country Day’s star players.

Eagles guards Griffin Freret and Daniel Gomez were  honored before the start of the 63-55 victory against Cicero Prep. It was their final home game. 

"It’s so emotional,” Gomez said, “and knowing that it’s my last game on this court is [surreal].”

It was so appropriate, too.

Entering the game, Gomez was five points away from scoring 1,000 points in his career at Phoenix Country Day. He surpassed that milestone with 30 seconds left in the first quarter when he drained a three-pointer in transition. The assist was from his long-time teammate Freret.

“It means a lot,” said Gomez. “Before the game, Griffin was saying, ‘No one is getting this assist, but me.’ Knowing that the bond we share was shown in that one moment means everything.”

Freret said their friendship goes back before high school.

“I’ve been playing with him since seventh grade,” Freret said. “To be involved in his 1,000th point was pretty special.”

The Eagles (12-5) seek to secure a first-round bye in the regional playoffs Friday. Phoenix Country Day plays its last regular-season game at Scottsdale Christian. 

The Eagles got things going when junior wing Will Miraglia nailed a three-pointer on the opening possession. He finished with 18 points. After that basket, things got sloppy for Phoenix Country Day. 

"They stuck with it and played hard,” said head coach Shane Lewis. “It wasn’t pretty, but it’s a win.”

Both teams went back-and-forth during the entire game, but the momentum permanently shifted towards the Eagles near the end of the first half. Cicero Prep had shot the ball efficiently up to that point, so Lewis decided to make a change.

He switched the defensive scheme to a full-court press, forcing multiple turnovers for the Centurions. The Eagles led 28-26 at halftime.

“We needed it,” said Lewis. “We were not playing well.”

The beginning of the second half, however, was the same story as it was in the first half. They turned the ball over because they were trying to pass it through tight windows. Gomez picked up the slack for the Eagles, scoring seven points in the quarter.

The fourth quarter is when the senior guards shined. Freret scored all of his nine points, including two clutch free throws to ice the game. Gomez tallied eight of his 23 points to keep the game out of reach for Cicero Prep.