Derrian Carter is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover South Mountain for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – With the game between South Mountain and Alhambra knotted at 12, Jaguar coach Marlon Rhymes called a timeout with 5:27 left in the first half. He gave his team a simple message: “Speed the game up.” It resonated with the Jaguars, sparking a 23-8 run to make the score 37-20 at the half.

“They were trying to control the tempo, and any time a team is trying to control the tempo, they want you to play their style of game,” Rhymes said. “(I told them) we have to play South’s game, and our game is fast-paced (and to) push the basketball.”

South Mountain’s boys’ basketball team (6-12, 6-4) trounced its 6A Metro Region rival Alhambra Lions (1-10, 0-4), 74-51, to conclude its season on Tuesday night at Alumni Gym.

During the Jaguars' 23-8 run, South Mountain weighed down Alhambra players with its tireless full-court press defense, forcing nine turnovers and blocking four shots. The Jaguars capitalized on the miscues by quickly scoring in transition and converting mid-range jumpers. 

In the closing minute of the second quarter, sophomore guard Memphis Noble blocked a shot, drained a three-pointer, stole the ball from a Lions player and converted two free throws. Sophomore guard Tyquan Solomon capped off the game-changing run with a steal and a near out-of-bounds toss to junior forward Shane Williams, who slammed a two-handed dunk. Solomon finished the night with 16 points, eight assists and four steals, while Williams had 13 points and five blocks. Noble scored 14 points, blocked three shots and stole the ball three times.

“We just want to feed off each other's energy,” Solomon said. “Once we get hot, nobody can stop us.”

After the Jaguars went on a 7-2 run to start the second half, expanding the lead to 49-26, Alhambra’s coach Ernest Cobb called a timeout with less than four minutes in the quarter. The Lions responded with a 13-0 run, forcing two turnovers, making contested buckets and knocking down two three-pointers to close within 10 points, 49-39.

“Last time we played them, they scored (nearly) 80 points,” Cobb said. “We average about 45 points, (so) it's hard to keep up with that kind of firepower. (We wanted) to slow the game down (and) keep the game (low scoring).”

With one second left in the quarter, the Jaguars stopped the bleeding after a Lion defender fouled Solomon, while he attempted a three-pointer. He knocked down all three free throws to make the score, 52-39. 

“We kind of failed the mission because we were up by 17 (at the half), but with a young group, I expected it,” Rhymes said. “I wanted to put it on their minds that we have to learn how to win.”

Despite nearly allowing the Lions back into the game, South Mountain had fun. After missing an alley-oop from freshman guard Archie Graves in the third quarter, Williams smiled at Graves and said, “My fault, Archie.” Amidst a 12-0 Jaguar run in the fourth quarter, the team tossed alley-oops to one another and celebrated and laughed if they scored or not.

“(This season) meant a lot because we didn't have a season last year,” Williams said. “To have one this year, it felt pretty good, especially to come up with my guys.”

During the Jaguars’ four-game win streak, they averaged 71.8 points, almost 18 more than their scoring average (54.1), and allowed 11 points fewer than their points-allowed average (59.9). South Mountain defeated its opponents by nearly 23 points a game. Coach Rhymes has high hopes for his young team next season.

“It's going to be must-see TV,” he said. “I expect the gym to be packed next year with kids, students and teachers.”