This year’s state basketball finals will have a Southern Arizona flair.
Flowing Wells and Salpointe Catholic’s girls teams both won their state semifinal games on Wednesday night, securing their places in next week’s state finals in Phoenix.
The two teams join Salpointe’s boys, who advanced to the Class 4A finals on Tuesday night with a win over Phoenix Deer Valley. The Lancers boys will play Gilbert Mesquite at 8 p.m. Monday in Phoenix.
Wednesday night was about the girls’ teams. Syndey Lomeli-Capen scored 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting and Leamsi Acuña added 15 points as Flowing Wells defeated Gilbert 55-48 in the 5A state semis, securing a spot in Tuesday’s finals against third-seeded Goodyear Millennium. The 5A girls championship game will start at 6 p.m.
Salpointe’s girls, meanwhile, won their home semifinal game against Chandler Seton Catholic on Wednesday, 42-29. Senior Tessa Hastings led the way with 15 points. The Lancers will play Flagstaff, which beat Phoenix Shadow Mountain in Thursday afternoon’s semis. The 4A girls finals is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at Phoenix Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Photos: Flowing Wells holds off a determined Gilbert 55-48 to advance to the state 5A championship, high school girls basketball
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Sydney Lomeli-Capen (42) stuffs Gilbert's Meisha Caserio (5) on her drive to the bucket in their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Nazary Viramontes (12), left, Alenna Flores (44), Nevaeh Urenda (3) and Gertie Munoz (13) celebrate the Caballeros 55-48 win against Gilbert in their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Nevaeh Urenda (3) gets just enough separation to get a shot over Gilbert's Morgan Evenson (11) during their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Leamsi Acuna (1) just beats Gilbert's Meisha Caserio (5) to the ball along the sideline in the first quarter of their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Gilbert's Nicole Evenson (12) blocks Flowing Wells' Nazary Viramontes (12) in the paint in the first quarter of their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Navine Mallon (20) tries to muscle her way to the basket past Gilbert's Maliyah Ross (4) in their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Leamsi Acuna (1) can't quite scoop her way to basket around Gilbert's Nicole Evenson (12) in their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Navine Mallon (20) eyes the basket with Gilbert's Maliyah Ross (4) on her back at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Sydney Lomeli-Capen (42) gets a short range basket against Gilbert in the state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' bench enjoys a Caballero basket against Gilbert in the state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Kayla Bailey (21) gets pushed into an off balance shot by Gilbert's Nicole Evenson (12) during their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' head coach Michael Perkins jumps as the Caballeros get a defensive stand against Gilbert in the fourth quarter of their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' bench rushes the court to Sydney Lomeli-Capen (42) in celebration after dropping Gilbert 55-48 in their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
Flowing Wells Caballeros vs Gilbert Tigers
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Flowing Wells' Nadine Cunes (14), left, Nazary Viramontes (12) and Milyana Salcido (2) dance on the floor just after the final buzzer of the Caballeros 55-48 win over Gilbert in their state 5A semifinal girls basketball game at Flowing Wells High School, Tucson, Ariz., February 23, 2022.
