(Maricopa won the Division II title Monday. Photo by Jim Willittes/maxpreps.com)

Maricopa’s head coach Kati Burrows wanted outsiders to focus on her team’s underdog status as a No. 12 state seed while she zeroed in on completing her state championship goal.

“I just told them when the season began if we do all the little things that this (winning a title) is something that they can achieve, and they really bought into it,” Burrows said.

That’s a lot of confidence for a first-year coach, but she and her team backed it up Monday during its 52-49 Division II state title victory over favorite Seton Catholic at Gila River Arena.

Burrows still played up the No. 12 underdog seed role to her team, which does a better job of attacking when it’s playing a favorite, she said. Maricopa was in attack mode as soon as the whistle blew Monday in the championship game.

Seton Catholic scored the first basket of the game, but that was its only lead in the game. From that point on, Maricopa’s speed and athleticism dictated the pace for most of the game.

A size disadvantage also didn’t keep the shorter Maricopa team from going at its opponent, outscoring Seton Catholic 36-24 in the paint. Maricopa went ahead 17-6 in the first half, but Seton Catholic’s Jenn Wirth kept her team in the game with 14 first half points.

A three by Danae Ruiz allowed Maricopa to open a 38-30 gap near the start of the third quarter, but Seton Catholic answered with a pair of three pointers by its freshmen starters, Sarah Barcello (15 points) and Kendall Krick.

But the 38-37 third quarter advantage is the last time Maricopa allowed its lead to shrink to just one point during the remainder of the game.

“They are a great team, and I’m really happy for them, but on the flipside I would have liked to have seen us run a little more help team defense,” said Seton Catholic coach Karen Self, who was denied her state record tying 8^th girls state title.

Maricopa tired out in the fourth quarter during its two regular season losses to Seton Catholic (29-6), but Burrows’ girls didn’t wilt in the end Monday, allowing Maricopa to win its first girls basketball title.

Maricopa (30-5) got its second breath toward the end of the regular season, when its injuries healed. Raegene Womack, Tiara Edmond and Jamila Rodgers scored 15, 11 and 10 points respectivley for Maricopa. 

“We wanted to accomplish something memorable from the beginning,” Burrows said.

Mission accomplished.