By Don Ketchum

The threes were fallin’ for Collin Woods.

The senior guard for Phoenix Horizon pretty much single-handedly got his team back in the game with a remarkable third-quarter performance on Friday night (Dec. 17) against Anthem Boulder Creek.

He hit six three-pointers and scored 22 of his team’s 32 points in the third quarter. He finished with eight treys and 35 points as the Huskies advanced to the championship game of their own MidFirst Horizon Boys Basketball Invitational with an 81-75 victory.

Boulder Creek player Josh Braun approached Woods afterward and said, “Don’t you ever miss?’’

Well, no. Not on this night.

“I just kept shooting, taking what the defense was giving me,’’ said Woods, who has signed a letter of intent to play collegiately at the University of California-Irvine.  “I’ve had a few games like this before. It’s a great feeling.’’

Woods had a pair of threes in the first half, but boulder Creek (5-3) had a 33-29 lead at the half. It would have been 33-26, but Horizon’s Matt Lee hit a three at the buzzer.

Lee’s three gave Horizon (7-1) momentum that carried over to the third quarter. Woods flipped the switch.

“Randy (Walker, Boulder Creek coach) likes to play man (-to-man defense) and they were running two or three guys at him (Woods),’’ said Horizon coach Paul Long. “Boulder Creek is a scrappy team and they have reloaded quickly (after losing a few key players from their Class 5A Division II state championship team).’’

Boulder Creek still was in the game through most of the fourth quarter.

Weston Newell stole the ball from Woods and was fouled by Woods with 2:46 left in the game, but only could convert one of his two free throws as Horizon held onto a 71-66 lead.

The Huskies then went on a 7-2 run and led 78-68 with 45.5 seconds left. That left no doubt about the game’s outcome.

Lee had 12 points for Horizon. Newell led a balanced effort for Boulder Creek with 17 points. Ryan Zettle and Joe Simpson each scored 14 and Braun had 13.

Horizon will face Tempe Marcos de Niza on Saturday night (Dec. 18) for the tournament title. Tipoff is 6 p.m.

Marcos de Niza advanced with an 85-75 semifinal victory over Glendale Deer Valley.

T.J. Burke scored 30 points and Cedric Warren 20 for Marcos de Niza. Connor Cotterman led Deer Valley with 23 points and Devante Kyle had 17.

Boulder Creek will meet Deer Valley for third place at 4 p.m. Phoenix Scottsdale Christian will face Phoenix Greenway for the consolation championship at 2 p.m. and Phoenix Shadow Mountain will play Peoria Centennial for seventh place at 12:30 p.m.