By Don Ketchum

The narrow loss to Nogales in last year’s Class 4A Division I semifinal sticks in the minds of the boys on the basketball team from Glendale Raymond S. Kellis.

“They are hungry. They want to compete,’’ said coach Curtis Green of the team’s approach in this, its first season in Division II Section II.

The Cougars, the top seed entering the sectional tournament at Phoenix Greenway, did indeed compete in Wednesday’s (Feb. 8) first round, easily dispatching No. 8 seed Phoenix Thunderbird 64-35.

Raymond S. Kellis (22-2) moves on to face fifth-seeded Cave Creek Cactus Shadows in the semifinals on Friday (Feb. 10). Cactus Shadows defeated Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain 75-36.

Green pointed to defense as one of the main reasons his team was able to earn the victory.

In particular, the Cougars did a good job on Marcus Wheeler, Thunderbird’s top scorer. He scored just 2 points, about 18 below his average.

“I was proud of the defense, but I thought we didn’t do what we needed to do with defensive rebounding,’’ Green said. “We need to work on that.

“We’ve been up and down all season, but the last few games, the players are getting what we’re trying to do. Having played in last year’s (state) tournament helps.’’

Raymond S. Kellis had nine players reach the scoring column against Thunderbird (14-13).

Kenny Martin, the Cougars’ 6-foot-9 senior center who will play for Arizona State, led the way with 19 points, including a 3-pointer early in the second half. Demitrius Balark scored 11 and Desmond Ross 10.

Martin was even more effective at the defensive end, blocking at least a dozen shots. Green said he was looking forward to reviewing the tape of the game to get a definitive number.

Thunderbird junior center Tyler Lehew did a respectable job against Martin, leading the Chiefs with 10 points.

In the other half of the Division II, Section II bracket at Thunderbird, No. 2 seed Peoria slipped past No. 7 Glendale Apollo 61-57 and No. 6 Flagstaff surprised Flagstaff city rival Coconino, the No. 3 seed, 46-36. Peoria will face Flagstaff in the other semifinal on Friday night.