By Don Ketchum

Watch out for the DPA.

In the lingo of Phoenix St. Mary’s girls basketball, it means Devastating Passing Attack.

Phoenix North got a taste of it on Wednesday night (Jan. 25), particularly in the early going. The host Lady Knights were quick and crisp with their passes, helping to create a 20-1 first-quarter run and leading to a 69-24 victory.

St. Mary’s, which won the Class 5A Division I title last year, is 20-0 in the first year of Division I play. North fell to 16-9.

This victory came on the heels of a similar result on Tuesday night (Jan. 24) – a surprisingly easy 63-18 victory over Catholic rival Phoenix Xavier Prep.

The state tournament is just around the corner, and St. Mary’s coach Curtis Ekmark said, “I really think we’re on the verge of playing our best ball.’’

That doesn’t sound promising for opponents.

St. Mary’s played well in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chandler over the holidays, but still needed work, according to Ekmark.

“We came out of the tournament with a list of things to work on, and those issues are being solved one by one,’’ he said.

It doesn’t seem that the Lady Knights have a lot of issues – not with the DPA combined with hot outside shooting and in-your-face defense.

“We are really moving the ball well,’’ Ekmark said.

The team rode big first-half efforts from Ekmark’s sophomore daughter, Courtney, and Cortnee Walton. Courtney Ekmark and Walton scored 18 points each in the first half. Ekmark hit four 3-pointers and added a fifth in the second half to finish with 21 points.

Walton, who before the game was honored with teammate Shilpa Tummala on senior night, led all scorers with 24 points.

Jasmine Covington scored five points to lead North, and three other players each scored four.