Coach Heidi Behnke doesn’t really know which Desert Edge team will show up to face Sierra Linda in Saturday’s Division II Section III girls basketball tournament final.

Will it be the team that appreciates playing in the final and performs like it? Or will it fail to grasp the enormity of the moment and not play up to its potential?

“It makes it exciting doesn’t it,” said Desert Edge coach Heidi Behnke after Tuesday's 44-36 sectional semifinal victory over Peoria at Agua Fria High.

Desert Edge (20-8) led the entire second half, but moments of inconsistency didn’t sit well with Behnke. The athletic Aisha Thomas, the only player averaging double figures in points for Desert Edge, led the way with 18 points, five rebounds and four steals against Peoria.

Ashley Fawcett chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds. Saturday’s 5:15 p.m. sectional championship game at Avondale Agua Fria will be the second time Desert Edge and Sierra Linda will meet this season.

Behnke said her team looked intimidated against 25-3 Sierra Linda, the section’s No. 1 seed, about three weeks ago, when Desert Edge’s young team got into foul trouble during the 36-22 loss.

Sierra Linda didn’t have much trouble running away from an undermanned Verrado team in the sectional semifinals. Out of state transfer Jenay Bojorquez, a sophomore point guard, runs Sierra Linda’s scrappy team, which only suits up two seniors.

A freshman, guard Jenae Gonzales, leads Sierra Linda in scoring (16.7 ppg).  

“I think they are unselfish sometimes, too unselfish at times,” said coach Desirae Carranza about her Sierra Linda team. “But they have good chemistry on and off the court.”

The winner of Saturday's game will earn a top seed and first round bye in the state tournament. 

                  (Sierra Linda coach Desirae Carranza is interviewed by a Sierra Linda student newspaper sports reporter. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.com)