By Don Ketchum

They gave it every bit of energy they had, but Phoenix Sunnyslope’s little green munchkins could not overcome the taller, stronger and more talented Glendale Raymond S. Kellis team on Friday night (Feb. 18) in a Class 4A Division I boys basketball quarterfinal game.

Raymond S. Kellis (22-3), the No. 1 seed, advanced to the semifinals with a 65-52 victory at home.

Fifth-seeded Nogales will serve as the opponent on Thursday (Feb. 24) at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, just down the street from Kellis. Tipoff is 8 p.m. In the other semifinal, second-seeded Peoria will meet No. 3 Scottsdale Saguaro at 6:30 p.m.

Due to the inside presence of 6-foot-8 junior Kenny Martin and 6-5 junior Jarvis Lewis, eighth-seeded Sunnyslope (16-12) had to take its chances by shooting from long range. The Vikings connected for six three-pointers, while Raymond S. Kellis had just one.

But the Vikings misfired badly on some shots. Martin rejected several others, from the outside and closer to the basket.

Raymond S. Kellis coach Curtis Green said it might have been his team’s best defensive effort of the season.

“We played a great game, did a great job defensively on their shooters, going at ‘em. Our intensity level was there,’’ Green said. “The thing we didn’t do quite as well was box out under the basket. You can’t afford to give a team two, three, four opportunities.

“They (Sunnyslope) are a smart, disciplined team and we knew they would keep after us,’’ Green said.

Sunnyslope, under the leadership of first-year coach Ray Portela, stayed close throughout the first three quarters, and even managed to grab a 40-39 lead with 3 ½ minutes left in the third. But Raymond S. Kellis’ only three-pointer, by Desmond Ross, and two free throws by Ross, allowed the Cougars to score the final five points in the period.

Sunnyslope couldn’t quite get over the top in the fourth quarter, as Raymond S. Kellis began a parade to the free-throw line. The Cougars were 13 of 23 from the line in the fourth quarter.

Bikonzi Moise led Raymond S. Kellis with 17 points and Lewis had 15. Martin had seven points, including a monster follow jam about midway through the third.

Steven Pisciotta and Eric Scott each scored 14 points to top Sunnyslope.

Most of Raymond S. Kellis’ key players are juniors, and they continue to be involved in the learning process.

“As sophomores, they lost their composure at times but now they are doing a lot better,’’ Green said. “We’re going to need to keep our composure the rest of the way.’’