By Don Ketchum

Scottsdale Saguaro boys basketball coach Bob LaRue wasn’t sure he wanted senior guard Jack Connors to handle the ball so much and take over the team’s Class 4A Division I semifinal game against Peoria on Thursday night (Feb. 24).

But when both teams struggled, LaRue changed his mind. He needed Connors to make something happen.

Connors did. He scored seven of the team’s 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-pointer and two free throws with 14.6 seconds left, as the Sabercats slipped past Peoria 36-33 at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

Saguaro (23-8) advances to the championship game on Saturday (Feb. 26) at 4 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena against the winner of a late Thursday night game between Glendale Raymond S. Kellis and Nogales.

Connors, who finished with 12 points, said he wasn’t nervous when he first went to the foul line with a one-point lead.

“I had been waiting for that moment my whole life,’’ he said.

Said LaRue: “It was a battle from the first possession. Both teams fought to the very end. We feel fortunate to come out with a win.’’

Saguaro had defeated Peoria somewhat handily 66-50 a few weeks ago, although Peoria did not have its top offensive threat, guard Dewayne Russell, who had to sit out the game for disciplinary reasons.

Russell was back on Thursday night, and looked in the early going if he might take over the game.

He scored five of the eight first-quarter points for the Panthers (22-7), including a three-pointer, but turned cold after that. He finished with 11 points.

The game was tied at 31 with 1:55 left in the fourth quarter.

D.J. Bluhm hit a free throw and Arthur Martinet hit two with 52.4 seconds left. Peoria called timeout with 49.7 seconds left. Peoria’s Goch Ajak scored on a putback with 26.1 seconds left.