Glendale, AZ – On the night the Lady Firestorm celebrated the final regular season home game for their seniors, they were also able to celebrate their first ever GSAC regular season championship by defeating Park-Gilbert 81-56.  The team was led in scoring by Alyssa Alvarez and Graciela Roybal who scored 14 points apiece, and Emily Till who scored 10 points, and had 15 rebounds.
 
The evening started with the team honoring their five departing seniors: Alvarez, Roybal, Lauren Gunn, Halle Payne, and Kayla Clark.  All five seniors started the game, and it was Roybal and Gunn who would get the team off on the right foot scoring 8 points and 6 points respectively helping the Firestorm race out to a twelve-point lead.  Park-Gilbert though, found their shooting touch from long range and hit back-to-back three pointers late in the period to cut a twelve-point Firestorm lead in half.  A lay up just before the buzzer by Alana Washington helped the team reach the end of the first quarter up eight points.
 
In the second period it was Alvarez's turn to come alive.  After Park-Gilbert had cut the lead to three points at the 4:27 mark, Alvarez responded with a lay-up while being fouled for a three-point play, and then the very next possession hit a three pointer to extend the lead to nine points.  After assisting a Taylor Schwab jump shot, Alvarez stole the ball and passed ahead to Alana Washington for a layup to give the team a thirteen-point lead.  Two minutes later, another Roybal three pointer just before the buzzer would give the team its largest lead of the game heading into the half at fifteen points.
 
The third period saw more Alvarez who scored six points and was a defensive disrupter with two steals.  Alana Washington came off the bench and pulled down five rebounds and scored the final five points of the third period on a three-point play followed by a fast break lay-up.  The team finished the period up twenty-one points and never looked back.
 
Thoughts from Head Coach Rusty Rogers
"What a great way to honor our five seniors! The ladies played inspired and disciplined basketball and that is what takes to take down a team like Park-Gilbert.  Coach York has done a tremendous job with his squad in a short period of time; I have so much respect for what they are doing there.  Winning the conference title was one of our goals coming into the season so now we're on to the next goal!"
 
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