Sabino's Cesar Saenz (4) drives to the basket against American Leadership Academy's Dyson Lighthall (32) Talil Jamison (2) during their Class 3A Championship game at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Sat, Feb 29, 2020. Darryl Webb/Special for the Arizona Daily Star

 Darryl Webb / Special for the Arizona Daily Star

PHOENIX โ€” Queen Creek American Leadership Academy had a goal once the calendar year flipped to a new decade: Don't lose a game.

The Patriots moved to 20-0 in 2020, with 6-foot-7 guard Devon Brooke igniting the offense and 6-9 center Dyson Lighthall clamping it down defensively late in a 54-42 victory over Sabino in Saturday night's Class 3A state title game at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.ย 

It was the first time ALA-QC reached the state final in basketball, as it followed the football team to claim the 3A boys basketball state championship, as students came out in force to support them.

The school's football team captured the 3A state title in the fall.

Sabino's Jackson Campbell (12) and Pablo Gutierrez (24) play tough defense against American Leadership Academy's Tyler Holmes (1) during their Class 3A Championship game at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Sat, Feb 29, 2020. Darryl Webb/Special for the Arizona Daily Star

"Defense is what won us the game," said Lighthall, a 6-foot-9 senior who didn't make a field goal in eight tries, but made eight free throws, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots to go with three steals. "Twenty-game win streak. We haven't lost in 2020. That's amazing basketball right there. I can't say anything more."

ALA-QC (26-7) took its lumps early, losing five of its first six games, including losses to 6A playoff teams Chandler Hamilton and Gilbert Highland.

"The kids really bought into what we were trying to accomplish," coach Ryan McCurdy said. "We challenged them early on. We struggled a little bit. But we stayed with it and the kids got it done."

McCurdy felt the turning point came after the Christmas tournament, where the Patriots lost to 6A semifinalist Chandler and host Gilbert Williams Field.

They talked about those losses, and figured it out. They relied on their size with Lighthall and Brooke, who led the Patriots on Saturday with 17 points, including 3 of 9 3-pointers.

"We got on a winning streak and didn't look back," Brooke said. "We had faith. Faith over fear."

It started with defense and guard Ben Strong, who held Cesar Saenz to seven points, forcing seven turnovers. Saenz, Sabino's top player, made 3 of 10 shots and only 1 of 5 3-pointers.

Download PDF Sabino e-edition

Sabino, which upset Surprise Paradise Honors in the semifinal and got past No. 1-seed Page by three points in the semifinals, shot only 35.4 percent in the game โ€” including 8 of 28 3-pointers.

"If you hold them to 42, you're going to win that game," Brooke said.

Tyler Holmes had 14 points and four assists for the Patriots, who won despite making only 29.5 percent of their field goals.

They forced Sabino into 17 turnovers and outrebounded the Sabercats 39-27.

"That was our strength, our size," McCurdy said.

Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.