Desert Ridge and McClintock compete in different divisions and for a time Friday night the D-I tag on Desert Ridge signified its superiority over D-II McClintock. A double-digit lead for Desert Ridge was standard rather than the exception in the contest.

In the end a McClintock rally was too little, too late as Desert Ridge cashed in a couple late free throws to seal a 68-64 victory in boys basketball action at Desert Ridge.

Desert Ridge improved to two games over .500 for the season at 11-9 and ran its power-ranking record to 8-5 in D-I. That's good enough to keep the Jaguars in the top 15 in the D-I power rankings. The balanced scoring Desert Ridge featured, which McClintock did not, was a factor. Freshman Timmy Allen finished with 22 points and got plenty of back-up from sophomores Jalen Harris (15), Keith Holmes (11) and reserve John Packo (9). McClintock got better than 80 percent of its offense from junior guards Amiri Chukwuemeka and Malique Washington. Chukwuemeka led all scorers with 29 points and Washington added 24. They combined for 10 3s -- five apiece. Desert Ridge returned zero points in its starting lineup this season.

"We've played unselfishly," Desert Ridge coach Greg Ream said. "We've had a couple games where we had 16 assists and 22 baskets and one recently with 22 assists for 22 baskets. That's unheard of. Overall, we've been pretty consistent."

Allen, who starts along with three sophomores for Desert Ridge, made several plays that were difference makers down the stretch. With McClintock cutting what was a 16-point deficit to a one-possession game with under two minutes to play, Allen kept a Desert Ridge possession alive tipping away a loose ball after his team missed a shot. The Jaguars ended up retaining possession. Allen wound up with the ball again, made a nice move underneath for a layup that put the Jaguars up,, 65-59 with 1:45 to play.

A barrage of threes from Chukwuemeka and Washington helped McClintock get back in the game. It concluded with 1:16 left as Washington sank a trey  right of the top of the key to make it 65-62. Desert Ridge proceeded to miss four free throws, including the front-end of two one-and-one's over the next 48 seconds, keeping McClintock's hopes alive.

McClintock (15-7 overall, 9-5 prg in D-II) had possession with a chance to tie with 28.6 seconds left. At the 10-second mark, Washington got off a tough three that missed. Allen grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 8 seconds left. He calmly delivered two free throws to end the late charity-toss drought and essentially close out McClintock.

McClintock coach Sam Dentz lamented the fact his team usually fares better with a another player joining Chukwuemeka and Washington. Between them they've averaged 43 points a game. Back in November, McClintock beat Desert Ridge, 67-62, in the Paradise Valley Invitational. That night Josh Brewer had eight points to go with the 47  Chukwuemeka and Washington combined to score.  

"You can''t come out on the road and play the way we did early tonight," Dentz said. "Desert Ridge is an athletic, talented and young team. Tonight's a night we definitely could have used a third scorer. i think we could have gotten the ball to other people more."

 

 

 

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