Seton Catholic junior guard Sasha Daniel sat on the middle of the court clutching the winner’s trophy.

Meanwhile teammates one by one climbed to the top of a ladder to help cut down the net moments after the Sentinels turned back a gritty team from Tucson Salpointe Catholic 70-62 in the 4A title game Saturday afternoon at St John Paul II Catholic School in Avondale.

It wasn’t anything unusual for the Sentinels (20-1). It was the 12th title and third in the last four years under the leadership of veteran coach Karen Self. This one was a bit more special because of what the team, like others, had to go through to get to the season, much less win the championship.

There was going to be a season, or maybe there wasn’t, because of the pandemic. There were protocols to safeguard everyone involved, including a requirement to wear masks during competition at one point. In the end, it was well worth it.

“I’m definitely emotional about this one,” Self said. “My heart is just exploding right now, just knowing what we had to do to even get here. Definitely makes it a very memorable and rewarding one.”

Seton was ranked No. 3 in the Arizona Republic’s final regular season Super 10 poll, Salpointe No. 8. 

The Sentinels, whose lone loss came to Hamilton (No. 1 in the final Republic Super 10) by a score of 42-30 on March 3, got 23 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals from Amanda Barcello, who went 10-for-12 from the line. Lexi McNabb added 21 points with Amelie Catagena grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.

Bella DiGiovanni and Daniel chipped in with eight and six respectively.

“Playing the schedule we did really helped us,” Self added. “We were able to make those free throws down the stretch, get those stops.”

The contest was tight from start to finish with Seton Catholic leading 29-25 at the half and 46-42 after three quarters.

The Sentinels led by as many as 11 at 40-29 only to have the Lancers  (19-2) scrap back behind the play of Jaya Nelson, who tallied 23 points. Two of those cut the deficit to 52-50 with 3:50 left.

But Seton Catholic answered at its end with Daniel converting a layup for a 54-50 advantage.

Salpointe got within four points four more times but each time Seton answered at its end, doing so for the last time when Barcello hit a free throw for a five-point lead at 66-61 with 35 seconds left. Seton held on from there.

“Words cannot describe this.  All the work we put in,” Barcello said. “Not knowing if we were even going to have a season. We all came together and did it.”

Also helping the Salpointe effort was Kylee Callahan who totaled 14 points, five assists and five rebounds. Tessa Hastings contribute nine with Bria Medina and Madeline Namanny each scoring eight. Namanny also snagged a team-high seven rebounds.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602 444-4783.  Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.

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