By Don Ketchum

Tolleson High’s boys knocked off defending Class 5A Division II basketball champion Anthem Boulder Creek 65-54 on Wednesday night (Feb. 23) in the first round of the state tournament and now have their sights set on top-seeded Phoenix Pinnacle.

Tolleson (22-4) will travel to face Pinnacle in a quarterfinal game on Saturday at 7 p.m. Pinnacle advanced with a 71-61 victory over Surprise Willow Canyon.

“We had a one-point loss at their place (Pinnacle, on Dec. 2) and the players felt we gave that game away,’’ said Tolleson coach Rich Brumbaugh. “We’ve been wanting to play them again for a long time.’’

If Tolleson plays defense the way it did against Boulder Creek (18-9) in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines will have a chance.

Tolleson outscored Boulder Creek 26-17 in the fourth quarter. Tolleson converted 18 of 26 foul shots in the final period, the result of Boulder Creek’s desperation as it tried to get back in the game.

“We won the game in the fourth quarter. Our defense won it for us,’’ said Brumbaugh, whose team clung to a two-point lead entering the fourth.

Sophomore Josh Braun scored five points in the third quarter four Boulder Creek, which played solid defense of its own by holding Tolleson to eight points in the quarter.

The Jaguars tied the game twice early in the fourth before Tolleson went on a 9-0 run to take a 50-41 lead with 3:20 left in the game. Guard Tyre Farrell scored two baskets during that stretch.

Stacy Davis, Tolleson’s 6-foot-7 junior star, was double-teamed most of the night, but his teammates helped to pick up the slack.

Tolleson had four players score in double figures. Brenden Pineda had 17, Farrell had 15, Davis had 14 and Raymond Pipkin had 10.

Boulder Creek, which relies heavily on its outside shooting, was not as accurate as it had been in previous games. A lot of that had to do with Tolleson’s defense. The Jaguars hit just two three-pointers – one by Braun and one by Jake Hunt.

Braun led Boulder Creek with 18 points and Weston Newell had 15.