Seton Catholic girls basketball coach Karen Self was eager to see how much progress her returning players (all five starters) would show in the 2015-16 season. Not normally quick to heap praise, she was excited following the Sentinels season-opener in November against Saguaro.

Self noted after that game she'd seen significant "growth" in her team's level of play and maturity over the summer and fall.  That growth rarely waned.

After suffering a tightly-contested title-game loss last year to Maricopa in the final, top-seed Seton once again took home championship hardware with a difficult 49-40 victory over No. 2 Cactus Shadows in the Division II title game at Gila River Arena. Seton outscored Cactus Shadows 29-17 in the second half to erase a small halftime deficit.

The title is the eighth for Seton, all under Self. The Sentinels have appeared in 12 title games over the past 21 years and prevailed five of the last seven years. Seton (31-1) won its final 20 games in a row with its lone loss to Archbishop Mitty in a holiday tournament in northern California just after Christmas. Cactus Shadows finished 29-6 under coach Richie Willis. The Falcons played in their first girls hoops title game in school history. The Falcons gave Seton all it wanted for three quarters.

Seton the favorite to win D-II from the outset, was not in title form in the first half as Cactus Shadows was the more aggressive and physical team. The Falcons depth also played a role. as 10 players contribute in the opening half That led to a 23-20 edge at intermission for the Falcons.

The physical play, however, was its downfall in the second half ultimately, as Cactus Shadows finished with 32 fouls and had five players foul out. Seton as a result was 23 of 35 from the free-throw line. (15 of 25 in the second half). Cactus Shadows was 6 of 9 from the line for the game as Seton rung up just 11 fouls.

An extra eight minutes for halftime (18 rather than 10) served Seton well. 

"Our coaching staff was steamed, but the longer half benefittted us," Self said. "As coaches we settled down and then went to work on what we thought would help us in the second half. We wanted to get to basket and get to the free-throw line."

 Seton did just that. The Sentinels took six threes in the first half and missed them all. They didn't shoot a three in the second half.

With juniors Liz Holter, Jenn Wirth and LeeAnne Wirth and sophomores Sarah Barcello and Kendall Kricki in tow, Seton was equipped to win. LeeAnne Wirth, Jenn Wirth and Sarh Barcello suppiled the bulk of the offense with LeeAnne Wirth leading with 14 points (10 in the second half). Barcello added 13 points and Jenn Wirth 12. LeeAnne Wirth and Barcello keyed a third period rally that saw Seton turn a 26-20 deficit early in the third to a 33-28 lead late in the third. The Wirths collected eight rebounds each and were more aggressive on the boards in the second half.

LeeAnne Wirth was the only starter subbed by Self through the first 18 minutes. It seemed to light a fire under her.

"Our other coaches talked to her while she was out," Self said. "I asked her if she was ready to go back in (2 minutes later) and she said she was ready."

LeeAnne Wirth scored six successive points when she returned as the Sentinels surged to the lead. They led by one heading to the final period and trailed for a few seconds one more time early in the fourth before gradually running away from the foul-plagued Falcons.

"Our second half was clearly the level of play we brought most of the season," Self said.

Cactus Shadows missed leading scorer Caitlin Bickle for much of the game as she sat 15 of the 32 minutes due to foul trouble. She fouled out with 5:35 to play. Bickle finished with eight points. Teresa Murray led Cactus Shadows with 14 points.