By Don Ketchum

Looking for a team that is capable of pulling a few surprises in this year’s Division II boys’ basketball state tournament?

Cast your eyes upon Phoenix Sierra Linda.

Who?

Sierra Linda, that’s who.

The team from the southwest Valley traveled all the way to Scottsdale Coronado on Friday night (Feb. 10) and made a big statement in the Division II, Section III semifinals, stunning top-seeded Laveen Betty H. Fairfax 64-54. (That’s what the bracket says, but Fairfax really scored 56).

Sierra Linda (20-6), the No. 4 seed, will face Phoenix Arcadia at Coronado on Saturday night (Feb. 11) at 7:30 for the section championship. Arcadia, the second seed, advanced with a thrilling 62-60 victory over sixth-seeded Scottsdale Saguaro.

“It is a statement game for us because of the atmosphere. It is like the state tournament,’’ said Sierra Linda coach Ramon Marks. “They (Fairfax) are sort of a rival of ours (the schools are just a few miles apart), and they are the defending state champs (the old Class 5A Division II).’’

Sierra Linda was familiar with Fairfax’s approach, which is to try to get the ball inside to big men Stacy Davis and Marquez Jackson. The two teams met twice during the regular season and split.

So the Bulldogs hit Fairfax (24-4) with a pressure defense and a running game that might be one of the fastest in the state.

“We had to pressure them, try to disrupt things before the ball went into the big guys inside, and make them run up and down the floor,’’ Marks said.

Damien Mendoza was a factor inside for Sierra Linda, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the first half as the Bulldogs set the tempo.

In the second half, guards Edgar Sarmiento and Jonathan Matthews took control. Sarmiento scored 13 of his game-high 18 points in the second half, including a pair of 3-pointers. Matthews ran and ran and ran some more, scoring eight of his 12 points after the break.

Davis finished with 18 points, but only four in the second half. Jackson scored seven.

Sierra Linda will be going for a certain measure of revenge against Arcadia. Sierra Linda made the state tournament (Class 4A Division II) for the first time in its history and fell to the Titans in the opening round.

The Bulldogs have been under the radar for most of the season, but have a better idea of what to expect in the tournament. And that’s what makes them dangerous.

“Our kids have played together for a long time, and they are ready,’’ Marks said.