By Don Ketchum

The boys basketball team from Phoenix Arcadia would appear to have all the ingredients necessary to make a run at the new Division II state championship.

The Titans (Division II, Section III) were strong in all facets of the game on Thursday night (Dec. 1), earning a 75-64 win over host Phoenix Thunderbird (Division  II, Section II).

Arcadia (4-1) took control of the game with a good defensive effort in the second quarter. Guard Larry Lewis scored 13 of his 15 first-half points to spark the offense.

Lewis and backcourt mate Andrew Naderer help the inside players by crashing the boards, yet are quick enough to get back and slow down the opponent’s break. Lewis finished with 23 points, Naderer 20.

The two key inside players are 6-7 Chris Thompson and 6-5 Terrol Wilson. Thompson hit the boards and was a major factor on defense, and Wilson had several key putbacks.

“Chris had six or seven blocks, and that doesn’t count all of the other shots he altered,’’ said Arcadia coach Luke Neibling.

The Titans also have some depth off the bench, led by Cole Richardson.

Richardson is the quarterback for Arcadia’s football team, and brings an extra element of toughness, playing strong defense and getting free for shots. He scored seven points, including a three-pointer.

“It’s great to have a guy like that,’’ Neibling said.

Thunderbird (3-3) kept battling in the second half, and cut its deficit to 59-50 midway through the fourth quarter, on a three-pointer by Marcus Wheeler. After a first half in which he scored nine points, Wheeler warmed up to score 19 in the second half and finished with a game-high 28 points.

Wheeler, however, didn’t get a lot of help from his teammates. One of the Chiefs’ inside men, , Jake Lettner, picked up two quick fouls in the third quarter and sat out for awhile with four fouls. Tyler Lehew tried to pick up the slack, scoring 10 points, but got only one basket after intermission.

Arcadia was the No. 2 seed in last year’s Class 4A Division II state tournament, falling to No. 7 Tempe in the quarterfinals. Thunderbird was the No. 3 seed and fell to Tempe in the semifinals. Tempe was defeated by Tucson Amphitheater for the state championship.