The Birds Fall Just Short, Finish Great Season
Chaparral’s varsity basketball team nearly made school history on March 3rd in the 5AII state championship game held at Wells Fargo Arena. In the schools 37-year existence, no boys’ team had ever captured the crown. In the state title game, they were one bucket away from ending the drought, losing to the Jaguars of Boulder Creek High School (28-2) by the score of 59-58.
Although a disappointing way to end the season for the Firebirds, their run through the state playoffs was nothing short of amazing and inspirational. As the seven-seed, Chaparral opened round one with familiar foe, Pinnacle. The Birds started fast and finished strong, led by the sharpshooting of junior Zeke Chapman and senior Nick Tomsick. Chaparral finished off the Pioneers by 22 and moved into the quarterfinals to take on number two-seed, Ironwood Ridge in Tucson.
Ironwood Ridge was one of the hottest teams in the state going into tournament play, led by the return of senior point guard Lawrence Hampton and by seven-foot senior Jan Maehlen. Chaparral started slowly and found themselves down by as many as 16 points in the 3rd quarter and 12 points behind with just over three minutes to play in regulation. Behind big defensive plays by seniors Mike Moffet and Jarett Upchurch and junior Luke Roh and big shot after big shot by Tomsick, the Birds clawed their way back and took the lead when junior Alex Pyper went back-door for a lay-up with nine seconds to play. The Nighthawks tied it up at the buzzer sending the game into overtime. In the extra session, the Birds continued their strong defensive efforts and made plays on the offensive end to cap an impressive come-from-behind win, 62-58. The win advanced Chaparral to their second consecutive Final Four and became only the third loss on the Nighthawks’ home court in three years.
Marcos de Niza awaited the Birds in the semi-final at Wells Fargo Arena, and Chaparral was ready. The Firebirds maintained an advantage for most of the game led by Moffet’s eight 2nd-quarter points and had an opportunity to put it away at different stretches of the game. The Padres fought back and were able to tie the game late, sending it into overtime for the second consecutive game. Chaparral controlled the overtime period and were too much when it counted, winning by nine points, 72-63. Roh and Tomsick paced the Birds with 17 point apiece and a date with Boulder Creek for a state championship.
In the title game, the Firebirds and Jaguars went back and forth the entire game with neither team holding more than a seven-point lead. At the end of the 1st quarter, the game was tied 16-16. At the end of two quarters, the game was tied at 27 apiece. The game would have been tied after the 3rd quarter if not for a 60-foot shot at the buzzer by Boulder Creek. The Jaguars were up by five-points in the 4th quarter, but big shots by Pyper and key free-throws by Roh kept the Birds close. With a two-point lead and under 15-seconds to play, Boulder Creek connected on a three-point shot to take a one-point advantage. The Birds called timeout and executed a play to perfection, but a Jaguar defender made an unbelievable play to block the last-second shot and secure the victory.
It’s not the way Firebirds and the Chaparral community wanted it to end, but it was a great run and one of the most memorable state championship games in recent years. We are extremely proud of their efforts and successes this season. The Birds became only the second team to ever make the state final game and are the first team to go to back-to-back Final Fours. They battled injuries all season and played their best at the end of the season when it really counted. Thanks to all supporters of the program, and especially to the team and seniors for their dedication and commitment throughout the past year. We look forward to next season and will cherish the memories from the 2009/10 season. Go Firebirds!!!
Important Tax Information
When donating to the tax credit, please make sure that you put Boys Basketball Fund #864 Tax Credit.
