Heritage boys’ basketball takes 2nd in CAA state

The Heritage Academy boys’ basketball team ended its debut season with a 16-4 record and a second-place trophy in the state tournament.

The Heroes’ season finished the same way it started, with a blowout loss to top-ranked San Tan Charter.

Playing in Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, San Tan ran rough-shod over Heritage for the 97-56 final in the Canyon Athletic Association Division 3 championship game Tuesday. The Roadrunners took off with a 35-19 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

When Heritage’s shots wouldn’t fall, San Tan started beating the Heroes at their own run-and-gun game. Heritage was visibly gassed and forlorn before the second quarter.

It was the Heroes’ third time losing to the quick and deft Roadrunners this year. The second-place trophy was little consolation directly after the game as they had to stand on court and watch San Tan celebrate, but the experience was already changing perspectives.

“We got a hunger. We have that want now,” said sophomore Logan Porter. “Before, we wanted the trophy, but we didn’t really want it. Now we really want it.”

While the result was just one game off-mark for coach Jim Deakyne’s goal of winning state in the first year of the program, Heritage was formidable much of the season. The title game was a snapshot of their challenge, with a team comprised mostly of sophomores going up against mostly juniors and seniors.

“We were a lot better than we were at the beginning of the year,” Porter said. “We’ve come a long way. We’ve got the brotherhood, and not even a loss like that could separate us.”

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