By Don Ketchum

The voice on the other end of the phone was very familiar to Ricardo “Bambi’’ De La Riva, the boys basketball coach from Nogales High.

The voice belonged to Ray Molera, the former Nogales coach for whom De La Riva played in Molera’s first season in 1970-71.

Molera was calling to urge De La Riva and the 2010-11 version of the Apaches as they prepared for their Class 4A Division I semifinal game against top-seeded Glendale Raymond S. Kellis on Thursday night (Feb. 24) at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

“He said, “Bring the title home,’ ’’ De La Riva recalled. “We’re going to do our best. We’re going to give it a good shot.’’

It will be difficult for the Apaches to play much better than they did against Raymond S. Kellis, when they came away with a 66-63 victory. Nogales, the fifth seed, will face third-seeded Scottsdale Saguaro on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena.

Nogales will attempt to win a state championship for the first time since 1983, when the team won its second Class AA (now 4A) crown in a row.

Nogales (24-5) was much smaller than Raymond S. Kellis, but that didn’t seem to matter.

“I told them, “If we are to win this game, we have to crash the boards,’ and we did. The guys did a great job,’’ De La Riva said.

Leading the way was junior guard Joseph Monreal, who scored 25 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter. Bikonzi Moise led Raymond S. Kellis (22-4) with 22 points.

The key play came with 1:36 left in the game, with Nogales nursing a 54-53 lead.

Monreal drove through the middle of the lane and somehow managed to release the ball where 6-foot-8 Kenny Martin and 6-5 Jarvis Lewis could not get it. The ball went in and there was body contact, giving Monreal a chance to complete a three-point play, which he did.

“That (kind of play) is what I’ve been doing ever since I’ve been playing,’’ Monreal said.

“We just came out tonight and we were going to give 100 percent. No regrets.’’

The Apaches did it. As the final seconds ticked away, everyone on the bench, both coaches and players locked arms – brothers in arms.

When the final horn sounded, a large group of fans, spirit lines and even the band roared their approval.

One more game, and the team has the chance to bring it home.