Lucas Metzner is an ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications student assigned to cover Paradise Valley for AZpreps365.com

The Star Spangled Banner roared through the gym, as an electric guitar solo broke the silence on Friday night. That silence would not return the rest of the evening in the noisy Arcadia High School gym. Senior night at Arcadia brought a good showing of fans, and an intense basketball game. The Titans held onto the lead, securing the win 60-50 over Paradise Valley. 

Arcadia celebrated 13 seniors on the basketball team, three managers, and seniors involved in band, and the varsity cheerleading and dance squads.

“These guys have been working in the program for so long. It's so great to celebrate them over these last four years,” said Arcadia assistant coach Philip Lozevski. “They've been dedicated and worked hard, and been there when nobody sees them working out.” 

Senior Evan Clayton accounted for 22 of the team’s 60 points. Clayton was one of two in double digits for the Titans. Fellow senior Brandon Austin contributed 18 points. The senior backcourt duo accounted for 67% of the team's total points.

Paradise Valley’s young squad was very much in the game during the first half, as Arcadia only had a one-point lead at halftime, 27-26. Sophomore forward Noah Sowunmi had 12 points at the half—21 overall—and led the Trojans in scoring. 

“That's what I look for every time I touch the basketball, to score or to get somebody else open,” Sowunmi said.

The third quarter hurt the Trojan’s chances. A key moment occurred after a Trojan turnover led to an emphatic one-handed slam from Clayton late in the period. Arcadia outscored Paradise Valley 15-6 that quarter.

“We need to be a little more careful with the basketball," said Paradise Valley head coach Cory Barder. “We had a few costly turnovers in the third quarter that ballooned things from five to ten. And now we go from a competitive standpoint to more of a chasing standpoint.” 

The Trojan’s found themselves trailing by 10 to begin the fourth quarter, and despite pulling within five points late in the game, were unable to complete the comeback.

Paradise Valley now moves to 2-22 on the year. But despite the look of the record, senior forward Max Ryan hasn’t been discouraged. He knows what his purpose is as the lone senior.

“We’re two and 20. Whatever. But that's not the point of the season,” Ryan said. “Because we're young, the point of the season is building going into next year. So, me as a senior, I just want to, not like coach them, but sort of guide them to what they could be next season. That was our whole point of this season.”