Sandra Day O’Connor didn’t solve its rotation riddle until its final regular season game.

Once they did, a title path for the Eagles was cleared.

The last team standing in SDO’s way, the well-balanced and coached Perry Pumas, were ahead in the third quarter Saturday. But the Eagles then took off and never looked back en route to a 54-46 6A championship victory at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

SDO did have to figure out another puzzle before pulling away, though. Perry’s high pick-and-roll game was leading to baskets, but once SDO made the assistant coaches’ suggested adjustments, the Eagles went on a 14-0 run.

SDO’s defense also did its part to bring home the program’s first state title in its first appearance. The Eagles had 17 points off of turnovers by the third quarter.

Offensively, the team received a balance performance, with Thalia Daniels (10 points), Bella Overlock (13 points) and Audrey Behesania (13 points) leading the way.

“No,” said SDO coach Charles Wilson when asked if it’s been this balanced this season. “Heck no. We just started clicking, I would say, probably at that Sunnyslope game, the last one at home. We started finding our grove. Our coaching staff found a rotation and were able to get everybody to buy in off of it.

“They had to be OK with it, because that was the best version of us.”

SDO won seven of its final eight games to finish its season with a 21-9 record.

Expect to hear more from 15-15 Perry, which will lose only one senior. Two of those players returning, sophomores Novelle McQuiston and Bella Burcar, scored 20 and 13 points, respectively.

The Pumas kept chipping away at the eventual champ’s 17-point second half lead. Late in the game is when some of SDO’s youth (Just three seniors on the roster.) started showing.

“Hats off to them and Curtis and that Perry team,” Daniels said. “They are a darn good team. They are all coming back, which is scary too. We’re going to see them again down the road. But our girls did a great job of adjusting.”

Along with Daniels, guard Taeja Bartee (28:28 minutes played) and Chloe Beckman are the only other seniors SDO will graduate.

“It means the world to me,” said Daniels about ending her high school career as a champ. “I don’t have words to explain it. It just mean so much. I wouldn’t have done it with any other group but this one.”

Expect the Perry Pumas to make another run at a title next season. (Jose Garcia)