Sports360AZStory by Amiliano Fragoso, Video by Eric Sorenson
The Seton Catholic Girl’s basketball team defeated Tucson Sahuaro High School 70-40 to win their 11th state championship in program history.
STATE CHAMPS! Congratulations ladies! #scpgirlsbasketball pic.twitter.com/rgVIim4QmL
— Seton Catholic Prep (@SetonCatholicAZ) February 29, 2020
It was a true team effort for the Sentinels as four players scored in the double figures. Junior Amanda Barcello was one of three who shared a team-high 11 points.
“It’s just our competitiveness,” Barcello said after the game. “We proved to everyone who doubted us last year that we were ready and we came.”
The game was in hand for Seton Catholic early as they took control in the first quarter leading 17-10. The Sentinels extended the lead to 36-19 at halftime.
A big factor for the Sentinels’ success was containing Sahuaro’s Alyssa Brown as she averaged over 30 points a game coming into the contest.
Long-time head coach Karen Self explained after the game how they contained Brown, who scored 21 points but shot just 6-21 from the field.
“We knew that she was going to have to work for [her points],” Self explained. “I think it was reflected in the free throw line because I think she was more tired and she had to work really hard to get her points.”
Sahuaro came out of the halftime break with some fight in them but it was too little, little too late as Seton Catholic continued to hit their shots, outscoring their opponents in every quarter.
Seton Catholic finished the game 25-55 from the field (45.5%) and an impressive 38.9% from behind the three-point line. They also dished out 16 total assists, compared to just two for the Cougars who struggled with the Sentinels pressure defense the entire game.
Self’s team will look to continue this momentum going into next season as there are no graduating student-athletes for the Sentinels.
“I think we know that we’re the same girls and just coming back next year and giving it all we have again.”
