It was a big night on Friday (Feb. 1) for the boys’ basketball team from Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep.

The Saints picked up some momentum entering next week’s Division II, Section III state qualifying tournament with a 54-45 victory over visiting Tempe High.

With that came the announcement from coach Chris Stark that there would be no practice on Saturday (Feb. 2). Stark’s team of Ferris Buellers cheered, clapped and stomped when they learned about their day off.

“They earned it,’’ Stark said.

Notre Dame, which was No. 14 in the D-II power seedings, climbed to 17-9. Tempe, at No. 25, fell to 18-8.

“We have played a really difficult schedule,’’ said Stark, whose team faced Phoenix Paradise Valley three times and Phoenix Shadow Mountain and Scottsdale Saguaro two times each.

After a 12-12 deadlock at the end of the first quarter, Notre Dame stepped up its defense to set up three straight baskets to begin the second quarter. The Saints had a 24-17 advantage at halftime.

“Our defense was encouraging. It usually does set the tone. It is our bread and butter,’’ Stark said.

Jake Deichmann scored 7 of his 10 points in the third quarter to spark the Saints. And Marc Dombrowski converted 4 of 5 free throws in the final 1:03 of the third to help keep Notre Dame afloat.

Perhaps the two biggest Notre Dame baskets came after Tempe pulled within 41-36 early in the fourth and was threatening to pare the lead even more.

Notre Dame and Tempe scrambled for the ball near the Notre Dame free-throw line. Notre Dame somehow managed to gain possession, and Austin Vedder drilled a 3-pointer with 6:14 left. Vedder launched another trey and it found its target with 5:48 left. That gave the Saints an 11-point edge and Tempe seemed to deflate after that.

Stark lauded the unselfish nature of his team.

“We don’t have any stars. We don’t have a guy who can give you 20 every night, but we do have a lot of guys who can give you 8 to 14,’’ he said.

And the coach noted the play of senior guard Maurice White. Point guard Nicky Sarandrea suffered a knee injury in the team’s previous game, so White moved over to handle those duties in addition to playing touch defense. White seemed gassed at the end, and seemingly had all he could do to walk off the floor and into the locker room.

Stark is uncertain if he will have Sarandrea for the sectional tournament, and hopes the senior will be available for the state tournament.

Vedder had 14 points, Deichmann 10 and Arizona State-bound tight end Grant Martinez had 9. Emmanuel Gant led Tempe with 14 points and Oscar Lopez and Delano Jones had 8 points each.