Some games mean a little more than others, and this was the case for Mesquite on Thursday night.

The third-ranked Wildcats were anxious to avenge a controversial one-point loss two weeks ago to No. 2 Seton Catholic, and they were able to do so with a hard-fought, 40-37 victory over the Sentinels in a 4A Desert Sky showdown at Mesquite.

Junior Navae Guidry led the Wildcats with 16 points in the first three quarters before her teammates helped shut the door in the fourth quarter.

"We won as a team tonight," an emotional Guidry said afterward.

"We just played within one another and we were confident in eachother. We had looked forward to this game because the way things ended the first time around never should've happened."

Guidry was referring to Seton Catholic's 35-34 win two weeks back, when the Sentinels inbounded and scored to win on the final posession, but the clock never seemed to run, as Mesquite claimed the clock would've run out before the final basket.

Regardless, after two close battles that have gone down to the wire, it's clear that Mesquite (20-3) and Seton Catholic (17-6) are both capable of 4A championship runs should they not end up in the Open bracket.

Neither team ever led by more than four, and Mesquite never led by more than two points until the final seconds, when Skylie Gonzales hit a free throw giving the Wildcats a 40-37 lead with 17 seconds remaining. Seton Catholic's Carmella Gallardo had a decent look at a three pointer as time expired but was unable to connect.

Gallardo and the Sentinels knocked down five three-point field goals in the first half, with Gallardo (eight points) and Raigan Gregston (10 points) each hitting two and Sophie Morales adding another, as Seton Catholic led 22-20 at halftime. 

The third quarter saw Guidry continued to see Guidry succesfully drive to the basket, as she scored six of her 16 points, and the score was tied at 30 heading into the final quarter.

"I've been working for a long time on getting stronger and it's helped me get to the basket with a lot of success," Guidry added.

But it was the fourth quarter which showed Mesquite could pull out a close win as a team. Lucy Fisher and Pippa Krieger combined for seven of Mesquite's final 10 points, while the defense clamped down.

Rebekah Udall had a steal which she converted to a layup, giving Mesquite a 32-31 lead early in the fourth. Fisher would add two field goals to give the Wildcats a 37-35 lead with 3:45 remaining.  Gallardo tied it for Seton Catholic with 1:00 remaining, but Mesquite's defense would not allow another point.

Fisher scored eight points for Mesquite and Krieger added six.

Sophie Morales had nine points for Seton Catholic.

Seton Catholic will host Marcos de Niza on Friday night, and Mesquite hosts Arcadia next Tuesday evening.