(GILBERT, Ariz.) Gilbert Christian wrapped regular season play with a 73-62 senior night victory over ALA-Ironwood. The Knights were unbeaten in 3A Metro games this year, going 12-0 to claim the 2024-25 regional title. 

"Last night was a great celebration of our seniors," Head Coach Jason Pasquariello said. "They not only showcased their individual skills but also highlighted their chemistry. This group is special, they play for each other and are able to pick each other up. It is also a blessing to have a group of seniors that actively works at bringing the young guys into the group, not just at practice but outside of basketball including them in building the culture of the team."

The spotlight was on the GCHS seniors in Thursday's game, and they shone from the get-go. Tyler Burr sank the Knights' first 3-pointer of the game, and classmate Rydan Barth followed suit, stroking one of his own to put Gilbert Christian out front early. Half-way through the period, Barth struck again, connecting on another deep ball from the top of the key to make it 9-5. The Warriors narrowed the margin, but could not contain the duo, as Burr nailed another to send the Knights into the second quarter with an 18-17 advantage. 

Senior Logan Lucero continued the streak in the second, opening the period with a trey before freshman Colin Burke got in the action, scoring a pair of lay-ups for the Knights in transition. After a bit of a stalemate, Burr put the crowd in a frenzy, beating his man on the baseline to finesse a reverse lay-up of his own. The next bucket belonged to senior Jace Olson, who flew by his defender to give GCHS a seven-point lead at 29-22. Not to be outdone by his senior comrades, Owen Fermoyle turned on the jets, finishing a drive above the rim to send the Knights into the break with a 31-26 edge. 

ALA-Ironwood struck first in the third to bring the game within three, but Olson promptly answered, finding an open lane to reclaim Gilbert Christian's five-point lead. On the Knights' ensuing possession, Barth splashed his third from 3-point land, opening the floodgates for Olson who connected from NBA range on the next trip. 

Down 39-28 with 4:30 to play in the quarter, the Warriors' coaching staff signaled for a timeout. The break was effective for ALA, and the momentum quickly shifted, with the Knights' lead dwindling to three (39-36) in the span of a minute. 

Olson had seen enough, driving to the hole for the 'and-1' at the 3:30 mark, before Burr took another to the basket, finishing in traffic to give GCHS some breathing room. The five-point lead wasn't enough for Lucero, who then launched a 3-ball over the top of a pair of Warriors' defenders, increasing the spread.

Ironwood, to its credit, kept fighting, once again managing to come within three (47-44) after some sharp-shooting of its own. With just a minute remaining in the third, it looked as though the fourth would come down to the wire. Fermoyle had plans of his own, however, unleashing in the final 20 seconds to score two quick buckets, giving GCHS seven points of padding.

In the fourth, the senior class continued to hold the reins, outscoring ALA 21-19 to log the win. Lucero and Burr sank two more from deep, and Fermoyle rattled off nine by way of a 3-pointer, a mid-range jumper, and a pair of athletic drives. Burke was the only underclassmen to score in the quarter.

Fermoyle finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. 

Lucero posted an incredible 13-point, 10-assist double-double, hitting three-of-three from behind the arc, while managing to grab five off of the glass for GCHS. 

Barth was also perfect from 3-point range, sinking a trio from deep to post nine points in the match-up. 

With three additional 3-pointers, and 13-points and six rebounds of his own, Burr had ice in his veins for the Knights, coming up clutch for Gilbert Christian throughout the affair.

Olson scored 12 on the night, dished four assists, and snagged five rebounds against the Warriors. 

Burke led all players with three steals. He registered 10 points and five assists in 26 minutes on the floor. 

"We finished the season at 17-1, and we will go into the Copper tournament with the number two seed," Pasquariello said. "This season, our theme verse, 1 Timothy 4:10, has been very appropriate, 'for to this end we toil and strive...' At times it has been more toil, but the guys have stayed committed to each other, and we are looking forward to the playoffs."

Copper basketball brackets are scheduled to be released over the weekend. State tournament games are scheduled to begin on February 12th.

-GO KNIGHTS-