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Seligman ends GC<br>boys season, 54-45

Just like the regular season, in the end, Seligman had Grand Canyon’s number.

The 2002-03 Grand Canyon High School boys basketball team, from left, front: Miguel Davila, Tempy Walker, Brian Skeet, Ryne Boone, Richardson Tisi, Kevin Beckerleg; back row, Greg Walker, assistant coach; Juan Davila, Robert Stickler, Miles Hunter, Ed Hazlett, Dennis Booth, Travis Schmidt, Danny Vincent. Not pictured: Nathaniel Bitsui.

The Phantoms boys basketball team was eliminated in the first round of the Class 1A regional tournament Friday in Joseph City by the nemesis Antelopes, 54-45. It was the end of an up-and-down season for a squad of young players who were often on the edge of success.

"I’d give us a C for the season, from a coaching and playing standpoint," second-year GCHS coach Dan Lopez said. "We made steady progress from the beginning of the season."

Grand Canyon ends this year with a 10-14 overall record, which included an 8-8 mark in the 1A North during the regular season.

Seligman came up big in the second half to end the Phantoms’ season on Friday. Grand Canyon led 22-21 at halftime. The team headed into the game confident they could stop their losing ways against the Antelopes.

"I think the kids knew it was a winnable game," Lopez said. "I told them regionals was a whole new ballgame."

As the game progressed, Seligman began to really benefit from the free-throw line. For the game, the Antelopes attempted 41 free throws, while Grand Canyon had just 10.

But Lopez said the biggest factor in the loss was his team’s inability to capitalize on the post game.

"We couldn’t finish; we got the ball inside, ran our offense and the big guys couldn’t score, that was the difference," Lopez said.

Seligman came out and played tough defense on the Phantoms in the second half, coming out on perimeter shooters Richardson Tisi and Tempy Walker. As a result, Grand Canyon tried to go inside.

"They went man-to-man on Richardson and Tempy, so that left the middle open and we started getting the ball into the post players for easy shots, but we just couldn’t make them," Lopez said.

Late in the fourth quarter with Grand Canyon trailing by three, the Phantoms came up with a steal and had a chance for a layup. The shot wouldn’t fall, Seligman’s Richard Alvarado rebounded and was fouled. On three straight trips down the floor, Lopez said his team had misses on short-range shots.

The difference in fouls was troubling to the coach.

"Tempy didn’t shoot a free throw and they shot 41," he said. "Even our inside players when getting contested (there were few fouls). Seligman was getting free throws and we weren’t getting anything. That was a big factor. I think that’s where they outscored us."

Grand Canyon’s gameplan included playing tough defense on Alvarado, one of the Antelopes’ top scorers. Lopez said the team did well on Alvarado, who still finished with 19 points. Vince Alvarado scored 16 and Juan Delgadillo added 11.

For the Phantoms, Walker led with 18 points, which included four three-point goals.

Grand Canyon now heads into an active off-season program. Lopez said several players want to take part in weight training in preparation for coming tournaments. The Phantoms plan to play in a spring tournament in Tuba City before heading into the summer league for a third straight year in Flagstaff. Lopez also hopes to take the team to a basketball camp.


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