No. 3 Sunnyside overcame early cold shooting and an injury to starting post player AJ Yanez with senior guard Esa Barajas scoring 10 of her 20 points in the last 3:20 of the game in a 56-49 victory over visiting No. 14 Peoria Liberty on Thursday night.
Sunnyside (26-3) was 4 of 23 (17.3%) from the field in the first half, including two 3-pointers by Salpointe transfer Janae Webb that proved to be valuable in the long run.
In the second half, exhibiting improved passing and ball movement, the Blue Devils were 12 of 26 (46.2%) from the field and 5 of 11 from 3-point range.
Barajas made two 3-pointers as part of her late scoring barrage.
She also made a shot from beyond the arc as part of her seven consecutive points for Sunnnyside that put the Blue Devils ahead 42-33 with 1:08 left in the third quarter.
“We wanted to make a statement; our last game we lost in a heartbreaker,” said Barajas, referring to a 70-58 loss at home agianst Mesa Mountain View in the first round of the Open Division tournament last week.
“Honestly, we should have had that one. But this time, we came out and all we had on our mind was the three L’s (losses) we took this year. We didn’t want our season to end. I didn’t want our season to end. I want to keep going.”
Liberty (14-13) went on a 11-1 run to take a 44-43 lead with 4:12 remaining.
In that stretch, Sunnyside missed seven consecutive shots from the field, committed three turnovers and Yanez went down with a leg injury while colliding with a Liberty player for a rebound. She would not return.
The turning points was Barajas’ steal that resulted in a layup to put Sunnyside ahead 45-44 with 3:20 left.
It was one of Liberty’s 27 turnovers of the game, indicative of Sunnyside’s swarming defense. The Lions stayed in the game by shooting 18 of 35 (51.4%) from the field.
“A lot of props and respect to Liberty; they’re a tough team,” Sunnyside coach Justin Delgado said. “They came down here ready to compete. (Makenna Johnson, 18 points) is a heck of a player. They’re in Phoenix. We’re in 6A. It’s tough. It’s not easy.
“This is not 4A or 5A. 6A, we’re tested every night. This conference is so even. You look at how many of the teams are in the Open. Definitely a tough game. I’m thankful we came out of it with a win.”
Barajas made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions after her steal and layup, giving Sunnyside a 51-47 lead with 2:07 left.
Liberty was unable to make a shot from the field in the last 3:02, missing two shots and committing two turnovers.
Two free throws by Dora Medina with 17.7 seconds left followed by two more by Barajas with 5.8 seconds remaining sealed the win.
Barajas missed much of the first half with two fouls. She had only two points at halftime, when Sunnyside trailed 20-19.
“But when I got put back in, my teammates were helping me,” Barajas said. “I kept going. Once I got going, my teammates started going. Once we get going, we’re a hard train to stop.”
The engineer of Sunnyside’s execution in the first half was Webb, a junior who played at the junior varsity level at Salpointe the previous two years.
She is taking advantage of her opportunity with Sunnyside. She had eight of Sunnyside’s 19 points in the first half that included a couple of 3-pointers. She made another shot from beyond the arc in the third quarter.
“Huge game,” Delgado said. “Her first varsity minutes this year — I’m so fricking proud of Janae Webb. … She’s an offensive cannon. She can do it. I believe in her and knew what I was getting when she came here.
“I’m super happy for her.”
Sunnyside now shifts its focus to No. 6 Valley Vista in less than 48 hours. They play in the 6A quartefinal game Saturday at 6 p.m. at Sunnyside.
The Monsoon (18-10) have won six state championships, all since 2017, including a four-year run from 2020 to 2023.
“Valley Vista, what else can you say? They’re basketball royalty,” Delgado said. “They came down here and knocked off Salpointe the last two years. They’re tough.
“(Salpointe) coach (Joe) Luevano talked with me beforehand and told me some things about them. I’ll get back with him and see if we can get a win. They are tough.”
Yanez, who averages 11.8 points and 10.0 rebounds a game, indicated to me she should be available for the game against Valley Vista. She was walking on her own power after Thursday’s game.
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