Cesar Chavez rolls to 8th straight win
Laveen Cesar Chavez’s basketball team said goodbye to its two best players — junior guards TyTy Washington and Ricardo Sarmiento — last month and simply took off without looking back.
New roles defined, and players stepping up, Cesar Chavez won its eighth consecutive game Monday night, beating Tempe Corona del Sol 73-67 in the MLK Dream Classic at Tempe High School.
“We make that a motivation for us,” said senior power forward Nyjeir Andrews, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds. “We’ve been doubted since they left. So we want to make sure the doubters still know that we can win without them.”
Coach Gary Lee has never relied on one player in his coaching career, consistently turning out teams that go deep in the state basketball tournament. But, coming into this season, there was so much hype on Chavez and its dependency on Washington, maybe the most recruited player the school has had.
But after a post-game fight in which Washington was involved following a holiday championship game between second-ranked (6A) Mesa Skyline and Chavez in late November, Washington was gone.
He didn’t return to the team, and he ended up going to AZ Compass Prep, a national high school team in Chandler that isn’t part of the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA).
In late December, Sarmiento, Washington’s childhood friend playing on the same teams growing up, left for another national high school program, PHH Prep in South Phoenix.
Chavez has won 10 of its last 11 games with Andrews, freshman wing Roosevelt Washington, guards Tyraill Carrethers, twins Latrey and Latrell Robinson and Ravion Hodge all playing significant roles.
Roosevelt Washington had 15 points on Monday, and Latrey Robinson had 10 points. Robinson missed most of the first half after picking up two quick fouls.
“They put in a lot of hard work to get ready for the season,” Lee said. “They were in the mix. Now they’re really in the mix. Now they’re getting meaningful minutes. They’re taking advantage of it. Their energy is good. Their focus is good.”
Chavez (15-5), which entered the season as The Arizona Republic’s No. 1 team, came out flat Monday, falling behind by 12 late in the second quarter.
The Champions started the second half on a 13-4 run to take a 43-42 lead with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
After guard Eric Blackwell’s threepoint play gave Corona del Sol the lead, Washington scored inside and Andrews drilled a 3.
Washington’s layup, followed by a Hodge basket in the first 2 1/2 minutes of the final quarter gave Chavez a fourpoint cushion. Corona del Sol would get no closer than two the rest of the way.
Corona del Sol was led by Blackwell’s 24 points.
In other MLK Dream Classic games Monday at Tempe:
❚ Chandler Hamilton won its sixth straight game, beating Phoenix Mountain Pointe 63-57, behind Jamar Brown’s 16 points.
❚ Top-ranked (6A) Phoenix Desert Vista beat Mesa Red Mountain 83-53, behind guard Dasean Lecque’s 19 points and forward Osasere Ighodaro’s 18 points and eight blocked shots.
❚ In one of the biggest high school basketball rivalries, the MLK event concluded with Tempe McClintock defeating host Tempe 64-55.
McClintock (10-9) was led by sophomore wing Jaylen Wesley’s 21 points. Cameron Snyder had 19 points for Tempe (4-13).