By Don Ketchum

They can shoot the ball. They can steal it. They can rebound. They can lead the break, dishing the ball off or finishing the sequence themselves.

There is almost nothing the Phoenix Central backcourt of DaLan Stafford and Robert Selmon can’t do.

They were everywhere on Tuesday night (Dec. 21), sparking the Bobcats to a 77-70 victory over Laveen Cesar Chavez in the championship game of the Phoenix Union High School District 2010 Boys Basketball Holiday Classic at Phoenix North High.

Each man scored 26 points and was instrumental in helping Central maintain its lead in the fourth quarter. Stafford scored 11 in the period and Selmon had nine, including a thundering jam with seven seconds left to accentuate the victory.

Stafford was named the tournament’s MVP and clutched a nice shiny trophy after the game. Selmon gripped the trophy signifying the team title.

“Once they got going, their rhythm was pretty good,’’ said Central coach Darren Bustos.

Central used a zone defense to keep Cesar Chavez away from the basket early in the game, but Cesar Chavez had a long-range shooting touch, particularly Anthony Romero, who connected on three three-pointers.

Central later switched to a man-to-man defense to keep the pressure on the Cesar Chavez guards. Cesar Chavez’s passing was not as crisp as it had been in a semifinal victory over Laveen Betty H. Fairfax on Monday night (Dec. 20).

“The pressure worked a little better (than the zone),’’ Bustos said.

Central hit four three-pointers to begin the third quarter and led by eight entering the fourth. The advantage increased to 10 early in the fourth, but Cesar Chavez did not fold.

Cesar Chavez got to within 55-53 on a fast-break basket by Alex Worthen-Harris with 5:40 left, prompting Bustos to call a timeout.

The Bobcats regained their breath and their composure and began to pull away again as Selmon scored a basket and then a three-pointer with about four minutes left.

Central will now enjoy the holidays and get ready for the tough stretch that is the Class 5A Metro Region season.

“We knew all along that we had a good team, what was expected of us,’’ Bustos said. “Hopefully this will help us get over the hump, play more under control, play more consistent.’’