Sunnyslope's 4th-Quarter Rally Helps Them Claim First Boys Basketball Open Division Title

After being one or two wins away so many years in a row, the Sunnyslope Vikings now sit atop Arizona high school basketball after beating the St. Mary’s Knights 60-51.

Sunnyslope head coach Ray Portela said it feels amazing to finally hoist that trophy.

“It feels great because we have been here three of the last four years and lost two of them,” Portela said. “We had to battle to get this one.” 

The Vikings would rely on their five-star big man to get the game rolling. 

Sunnyslope junior center Darius Wabbington would get a quick two buckets to open up the game. 

After trailing early, it would be St. Mary’s turn to rely on their star player. 

St. Mary’s senior center and Duke signee Cam Williams would start to get his shot going. 

Williams would get a physical and one basket and then follow up by splashing a three-pointer.

The Knights would take a slight lead at the end of the first quarter. 

The lead wouldn’t last too long, however, as the Vikings would storm on a run. 

Leading the run was Sunnyslope senior guard and Colorado signee Rider Portela, who scored eight straight points.

He would get a three-pointer to fall and would then start attacking the rim. 

Portela noted that when Williams wasn’t in the game or not guarding the paint, that’s when he was able to start attacking. 

“Once he wasn’t in (Cam Williams), or once he was out on the perimeter, I knew it was my chance to do whatever I needed to do,” Portela said. “I think it really showed.”

Getting one more basket before halftime, Portela was able to finish the second quarter with 10 points. 

The Knights would close the gap, though, as Williams once again began to hit shots from deep. 

Sunnyslope led 25-24 over St. Mary’s after the first 16 minutes. 

Bringing his first-half momentum into the third, Williams again continued to dominate on the floor. 

St. Mary’s junior guard Mick Riordan, who is coming off a buzzer-beater shot over Millennium, would also be a sniper from long range, nailing a couple of threes. 

At one point during the third, St. Mary’s held an eight-point lead. 

Just like they did before, though, Sunnyslope would make sure to keep an arm's reach within the Knights.

One of the standouts in the third quarter was Sunnyslope senior guard Jaylen Ideran, who made a tough three-pointer. 

The Knights would be the ones to lead heading into the final eight minutes of the season. 

Sunnyslope would rally and come back for the final time in the game. 

Even though he fouled out in the fourth, Sunnyslope junior guard Delton Prescott made timely shots. 

Prescott would see a three-pointer fall as well as pulling up for a midrange that was nothing but net. 

One of the plays of the game was Portella flying out of nowhere to get a put-back layup to go in and give Sunnyslope the lead late. 

From that point on, Sunnyslope was able to hit their free throws down the stretch and ultimately close out the game. 

A main reason that Sunnyslope won this season was that they played together. 

“They just play together,” Coach Portela said. “They believe in each other; it just showed tonight. I’m ecstatic they got it done.’ 

This was the year for Sunnyslope, the year they overcame previous adversity and prevailed. 

“It’s been four years, three out of the four years we’ve been here, and two we lost,” Rider Portella said. “This is finally ours.”