Don Ketchum
Former Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Williams Field girls finally wake up, turn it around vs. PC

June 30, 2013 by Don Ketchum, AZPreps365


The alarm clock finally went off and the girls from Gilbert Williams Field woke up in time to defeat Phoenix Christian 32-14 for the championship of the Black Bracket on Sunday (June 30) in the 7th annual Desert Hoops Shootout at Glendale Deer Valley.

Williams Field spotted Phoenix Christian the first eight points of the game and then trailed 12-4 before outscoring the Cougars 20-2 the rest of the way.

Brent Carter, filling in as head coach for his son, Andrew, who had another work commitment, said the “first four minutes weren’t too good. Then we dropped into a half-court trap and were able to keep the pressure on.’’

Brent Carter, a former long-time coach and athletic director at Scottsdale Saguaro, is a volunteer coach at Williams Field. He and Taura Gardner, another volunteer coach, guided the team on Sunday.

Williams Field reached the Division II quarterfinals last season before falling to Chandler Seton Catholic.

Arianna Barnes and Shantelle Crespin led the the Black Hawks in the backcourt on Sunday with their passing and shooting and Gabby Guzman played well underneath the basket. All are juniors-to-be.

“The team is working harder and the players are starting to understand their roles,’’ said Gardner. “That helps them build confidence.’’

She added that some of the players also are involved in club ball, “but that doesn’t earn them a (starting) spot. They have to earn it.’’

Barnes and Crespin combined for 12 of Williams Field’s 18 second-half points.

Brent Carter said the players have a lot of physical ability, but must match that by being in the proper frame of mind, reminding themselves to stay aggressive.