Keaton Ranger is a good basketball player, but he is not the Lone Ranger by any means. There are plenty of others to help play the hero for Gilbert Christian.

Ranger scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half, including three straight baskets to begin the fourth quarter, to help give the Knights a chance for a second straight Division III championship and third overall in the last four years with a 67-57 victory on Friday (Feb. 22) over Phoenix Scottsdale Christian at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

Gilbert Christian (30-3), the No. 2 seed, will meet either No. 4 Snowflake or No. 9 Chandler Valley Christian on Saturday (Feb. 23) at 6 p.m. for the title at Jobing.com. Scottsdale Christian finished 21-8.

Gilbert Christian held a 29-28 lead at halftime. Forward Sam Jones scored 10 points and Conner Sengeri matched that for Scottsdale Christian.

Jones got in foul trouble in the second half and Ranger took more of an active role. Fellow guards Roberto Reyes and Dylan Bliss finished with 16 points each to help the cause. Jones scored 14, including a thunderous dunk with five seconds left in to put an exclamation point on the game.

Scottsdale Christian kept it close throughout the third quarter and early into the fourth, and Ranger went on his scoring spree.

“They (Scottsdale Christian) played well, and we didn’t play our best,’’ said Gilbert Christian coach Jerome Joseph. “Give credit to coach (Bob) Fredericks (Scottsdale Christian).

“We knew we would be in for a tough game. We didn’t play them this year, but they’ve been to our (holiday) tournament before and we know a lot about each other.’’

Jared Frame led Scottsdale Christian with 15 points. Clay Crookham scored 13 and Segneri had 12.

Joseph added that he thought his team turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, and that allowed for a little more breathing room.

Asked to compare this year’s team with the one from last season, Joseph said, “We are a little more athletic. We are smaller, but we are deeper.’’

The Knights are good, and they are young. The team has just two seniors, along with six juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen.