By Don Ketchum

The 2009-10 Class 4A Division I girls basketball championship trophy still sits in the case at Phoenix Shadow Mountain High School. There’s nothing that Glendale Apollo can do about that.

What the Hawks can do, however, is concentrate on 2010-11. A big focus was a rematch against Shadow Mountain at home on Friday night (Dec. 10).

When Shadow Mountain would make a run and get close or pull ahead, Apollo would turn up the volume on defense and pull away again.

The key came in the fourth quarter, when Shadow Mountain pulled to within 64-60 with a little more than four minutes left. Apollo outscored the Matadors 13-1 the rest of the way for a 77-61 victory.

When asked about whether the effort in some small way made up for the state-title loss, Apollo coach Susan Prado-Ortiz said, “It’s a start.’’

“The defense by our team – that’s what made the difference,’’ she said. “It was one of our best defensive efforts so far. The girls held their composure.’’

Apollo (7-2) jumped to a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but Shadow Mountain (6-1) battled back to tie it at 36 at halftime. Apollo went on a 9-2 run to begin the third, but Shadow Mountain got to within four before Apollo got a basket from Jessica Rios and a three-point play from Peace Amukamara.

Apollo held a 64-60 lead with about four minutes left. Amukamara, a junior, and her sister, Promise, a senior, then took over. Promise Amukamara converted a pair of free throws after a technical foul was called on the Shadow Mountain bench and Apollo pulled away as the sisters combined for the last 13 points.

Promise Amukamara, who has signed with Arizona State, led all scorers with 24 points while Peace Amukamara had 16 and Alex Parris 10.

Shadow Mountain star Lexi Kresl scored 20 points, including three three-pointers, but forced a lot of shots as she attempted to get her team back in it and was off-target. She was in foul trouble, and inside player Cydnee Ceballos fouled out with nine points.

 D’Metria Coleman did a good job running the offense, scoring 20 points, but it still wasn’t enough.

“Another key for us has been our depth. I think we are deeper than last year,’’ Prado-Ortiz said.