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‘It’s a learning year’: Xavier basketball struggles early at Section 7 tournament

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‘It’s a learning year’: Xavier basketball struggles early at Section 7 tournament

One of the last times former Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb was in the Arizona Cardinals’ stadium, his hope to win the Super Bowl was crushed. The Eagles lost the 2008 NFC Championship game to the Cardinals 32-25, and Arizona went on to play in the Super Bowl that season, losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On Friday, he was at State Farm Stadium as the lights were shining on his daughter, Sariah, a rising sophomore who plays for Phoenix Xavier College Prep’s basketball team. Sariah was part of the Gators’ team competing in the Section 7 basketball tournament this weekend in Glendale.

Section 7 is the nation’s largest high school boys and girls basketball tournament with 144 teams in attendance. It draws teams from across the country. This year’s teams come from California, California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico, Florida, Texas, Wyoming, Hawaii, Louisiana, New Hampshire and Oklahoma. The girls tournament was this Friday and Saturday, while boys play June 21-23.

McNabb thought it was important to enter the State Farm Stadium doors once again and to walk onto the field where his pursuit of the Lombardi trophy faded. He said he never misses a game of his daughter’s, even if it’s in this stadium.

“It’s just an opportunity for me to support her, and some of the girls that either we coached in club or we’ve seen them grow up and get a chance to watch them play,” McNabb said.

Sariah said it means the world to have her dad at all of her games.

“I know that he’ll support me through whatever I do, and he’s always there to help through everything,” she said.

Xavier solidified its name in the Gator history books last season, winning the school’s first-ever basketball championship, defeating Desert Vista for the Open Division title.

Now, Xavier is working to rebuild. Head coach Jennifer Gillom was hesitant to say as much after the team lost 62-34 to Idaho’s Pocatello Thunder Friday. Xavier lost six seniors following its championship season, including four starters, she said.

“We are young. I am not calling it a rebuilding year. I’m just calling it a learning year,” Gillom said.

Gillom was confident the team would work out its early problems and mesh for the upcoming season. She said the team at the Section 7 tournament has not had a single practice together, and that its games against New Mexico’s Sandia, which resulted in a 67-47 Gators’ loss, and its loss to Pocatello, were the team’s first time playing together.

“As soon as I get an opportunity to get in the gym and practice with them, it’s going to be a whole different story,” Gillom said.

Her goal is to have the team ready for its first season game in November.

A key returning player for the Gators is Irene “Noelle” Guiamatsia, who is ranked No. 36 nationally and was a key part of last year’s title team. At 6-4, she is looking to keep improving the next season, and her coach couldn’t agree more.

“She’s the 36th player in the nation right now. I want her to be at six by next year,” Gillom said.

Guiamatsia, as well as senior guard Lucy Sanford, are excited to see what the next season will bring. Both players echoed the same idea—that once they get in the gym, this young team won’t feel so young anymore.

They carried the same confidence that won them the state title just months ago onto the courts at State Farm Stadium, even after the two losses in the first day of play.

Hamilton falls to top team

Chandler’s Hamilton girls basketball team faced the nation’s No. 1 team as its first opponent Friday, the Etiwanda Eagles of California.

Etiwanda stayed true to its ranking at State Farm Stadium, routing the Huskies 85-25. Hamilton finished the game with 26 turnovers, only reaching a double-digit score with eight minutes left to play. Etiwanda played a smothering full court press throughout the game.

Etiwanda walked away from the 2023-24 season as the national champion. Head coach Stan Delus said tournaments like Section 7 put their ranking, and their championship title, to the test.

“We talk about being a team that’s just trying to work its way up to a new season,” Delus said. “We don’t look at the past state championships or national championships. We look at what this team is going to become and look to build our own identity.”

Hamilton finished the day with a loss against Peoria Centennial High School, 70-40.

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