Mick Riordan's Buzzer-Beating 3-Pointer Lifts #3 St. Mary's Past #2 Millennium for Spot in Open Title Game

Going into the open division playoffs, many Arizona HS basketball fans and even some media members felt that it was a forgone conclusion that we would have Round 3 of Sunnyslope vs Millennium in the title game.

That assumption did not come to fruition.

Even in the quarterfinals, there was some doubt starting creep up as St. Mary's trailed #6 Highland at halftime, Millennium trailed #10 Higley after 3 quarters, nearby rival #8 Brophy gave Sunnyslope an absolute dogfight, and then #5 O'Connor went to the wire against #4 Basha.

Last Friday's 4 quarterfinal games as a whole was probably the best basketball we've seen in the Open Division era.

The semifinals were somehow even better. In the first semifinal, Millennium and St. Mary's were scratching and clawing all night long with the Knights having the stronger first half and the Tigers having the stronger second half.

With only eight seconds remaining in the game, St. Mary’s needed the best possession of the year.

'27 G Mick Riordan came off a screen, set his feet, and knocked down the biggest shot of his life.

The three-pointer at the buzzer officially put St. Mary’s in the Open Division Championship game.

As soon as the ball left his hands, there was no doubt in Riordan’s mind that it was not going to fall through the net. 

“I work on that shot all the time,” Riordan said. “I knew it was going.”

Before the mayhem that ensued the electric buzzer-beater that ended a game to remember, you could feel the energy in the sold-out Chaparral HS gymnasium from the opening tip.

The Knights would get out to a lead early in the first quarter. 

St. Mary’s senior center and Duke signee Cam Williams would set the tempo. 

Right out of the gate, Williams threw down a dunk and had five early points. 

It would give the Knights an 11-8 lead halfwaythrough the first.

The Tigers would have a slow start, but eventually would get their rhythm going. 

Millennium sophomore guard Adan Diggs began to take over. 

In the first quarter, Diggs would have nine points that included two ferocious dunks to end the quarter. 

In the second quarter, St. Mary’s would get their largest lead of the game. 

Once again, it's Williams getting things going for the Knights as he started the quarter with a couple of layups. 

St. Mary’s junior guard Mick Riordan and sophomore guard Carter Bagley would also hit crucial three-pointers. 

Trouble started to hit for Millennium as senior guard and Arizona signee Cameron Holmes got into foul trouble and would need to find production elsewhere. 

The Tigers would lean on Diggs again to get the tempo rolling as he got bucket after bucket. 

At halftime, St. Mary’s led 39-31 over Millennium. 

Tides started to shift in the third quarter, though as Millennium got out and running to take the lead.

Millennium sophomore forward Trey McKinney had three early slams in the third quarter to get the Tigers rolling.

Helping the run for the Tigers was Holmes, who came alive in the second half, finishing with eight points in the third quarter and leading the charge.

Millennium led 55-49 heading into the final eight minutes. 

Even after losing their lead, the Knights would fight in the fourth. 

Riordan would come up big early in the quarter after hitting a fadeaway midrange jumper. 

Continuing to dominate on both sides was Williams, who hit a three-pointer and swatted a shot away, but also got himself into foul trouble. 

The Tigers held the lead with only two minutes remaining. 

A man on a mission, Diggs continued to fire shots and hit a long-range three-pointer late in the game. 

Needing to go on a run, Williams would take over as he hit back-to-back shots to put the Knights within two points. 

Those 5 points in a 1-minute span and great team defense in crunch time is what set up St. Mary's with the ball with eight seconds remaining before Riordan's buzzer-beater.

St. Mary’s head coach Damin Lopez says there is a reason why Williams is the #2-ranked player in the country.

“He hit a big three in the corner that kept us tight,” Lopez said. “That’s what he has been doing all year, he makes plays.” 

St. Mary’s will enjoy their dramatic win tonight, but it is on to the biggest stage at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where they will face Sunnyslope. 

They can compete with anyone in Arizona and have what it takes to hoist the trophy Saturday night. 

“We’re a tough team, we know we can beat anyone,” Riordan said. “It’s onto the next one and try to win it all.” 

Next up: St. Mary’s will face Sunnyslope at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the Open Division title.