By Don Ketchum

A coach who would become better known for football later in his career led Peoria High to its first state basketball championship in 1937 – his name was Edgar “Mutt’’ Ford.

It wasn’t until 1984 until Peoria won it all again under Thad Simmons. Now, 28 years after that, another title is within the Panthers’ reach.

Peoria stayed alive in the new Division II tournament on Wednesday (Feb. 22), holding off a late rally by Laveen Betty H. Fairfax for a 55-53 quarterfinal victory at Arizona State’s Wells Fargo Arena.

Fourth-seeded Peoria (26-3) advances to the semifinals on Thursday (Feb. 23) against either top-seeded Phoenix Arcadia or No. 8 Tucson Salpointe Catholic, which played later Wednesday. Game time for this semifinal is 7:45 p.m. at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

Peoria’s Lawrence Pierce endured a physical contest, much the same as one of Ford’s football players would have in the old days. He was bumping and grinding with Fairfax star Stacy Davis all day.

Pierce, two inches shorter than the 6-foot-7 Davis, did a good defensive job, particularly in the second half, when Davis scored nine. He finished with 15.

Pierce also scored 13 of his own 19 points after intermission, complementing his close friend and teammate, point guard Dewayne Russell, who scored 15 points in the second half and finished with 25.

“I love working. I was happy they put me on it (assignment on Davis). He is a great player,’’ Pierce said.

It wasn’t Davis, but point guard LeJon Johnson, who nearly brought Fairfax, last year’s Class 5A Division II champion, back into it.

Johnson connected on a 3-pointer with 27 seconds left to bring Fairfax (25-5), the fifth seed, within 52-50.

After Russell hit a pair of free throws with 19.6 seconds left, Johnson drilled another trey at the 13-second mark to make it 54-53. Russell made one of two free throws with 7.4 seconds left for Peoria’s 55^th point.

Fairfax had a chance to tie it, but missed the front end of a one-and-one situation with 2.3 seconds, and Peoria’s Jose Bustamante grabbed the rebound.

“We kept our composure,’’ Pierce said. "This means a lot because they were the champs.''

Asked if he was nervous during the final moments, Peoria coach Michael Serwa smiled and said, “Just a little bit.’’

“They made a couple of runs at us. Their point guard had a great game (25 points, including six 3-pointers). We tried to take away his shot, but he still made them.

“Our big guys did a nice job boxing out, containing them. Dewayne had a great game, and Lawrence was great inside. He had some good looks (shots).’’