Joseph Colletti’s postgame assessment was spot on.

“I know we are the (Wild)cats, but we have a bunch of dogs who really like to play defense,” said Colletti after his program captured its biggest title so far in the coach’s seven-year tenure.

Willow Canyon completed its four game Judy Dixon Tournament undefeated run with a 84-56 triumph over Desert Edge at Greenway High School. Friday’s win left the Wildcats at 15-1, placing them in the 5A contender conversation.

With one of the better backcourts in the state, stalling Willow Canyon won’t be easy. That backcourt dazzled when Willow Canyon started to distance itself from Desert Edge and remained ahead by double digits in the second half.

The defense of guard Braylon Haman (33 points) and tournament MVP Kaleel Kelly helped generate the offense their team needed to pull away.

Braylon Haman scored a game-high 33 points in the championship game of the Judy Dixon Tournament Friday night. (Jose Garcia/azpreps365)

“I think we put our name out there (this week),” Kelly said. “We are going to try and do that every game.”

Willow Canyon's Kaleel Kelly earned Judy Dixon Tournament MVP honors. (Jose Garcia/azpreps365 )

Desert Edge was stuck in traffic due to an accident and didn’t arrive at Greenway until a couple of minutes before its game started.

But the Scorpions appeared ready to roll as soon as they stepped on the court. Guard Buay Dey found scoring lanes early in the game, allowing his team to remain in the game in the first quarter.

Despite the loss, 9-7 Desert Edge may have turned its season around during its 3-1 showing at the Judy Dixon Tournament. The team handed Mica Mountain its first loss of the year to advance to the tournament finale.

“I think what started clicking was that the boys finally stopped arguing with each other and started playing together,” Desert Edge coach Jason Wabbington, an Apollo alum, said. “That’s all I’ve been telling them. Just pass the ball and you’ll get it back. At first I feel like we were playing too selfishly, one-on-one. And adding (Desert Edge quarterback) Hezekiah Millender helps a lot.”

Desert Edge may have turned its season around during the Judy Dixon Tournament. (Jose Garcia/azpreps365)

Speaking of turnarounds, that’s what Willow Canyon has done this year after a 13-15 campaign last season.

The Wildcats will take a 12-game win streak into the second half of the season.

“We have elite guard play,” said Colletti, who won his 100th career game during the first half of the season. “We have five or six guys who can get downhill at any time. We can shoot it pretty well. We just have tough kids who finish around the rim. But there are some tests coming, and I think we’ll be ready for them.”

Willow Canyon will kick off 2024 with its biggest game of the season so far when it faces 5A Northwest Region perennial favorite Ironwood on Jan. 4 in their first of two region showdowns.

Judy Dixon All-Tournament Team

Kaleel Kelly, Braylon Harman Willow Canyon

Kijan Edwards, Hezekiah Millender Desert Edge

Nigel Anderson, Dysart

Dysart defeated Mica Mountain 71-53 Friday in the third place game of the Judy Dixon Tournament at Greenway. (Jose Garcia/azpreps365)

Isaiah Berg, Mica Mountain

Andy Saeva, Mountain Ridge

Tim Gorham, Eastmark

Nash Morrill, Poway

Wyatt Mackay, North Canyon