Cool, calm and collected is what you’d call freshman Deotis Nunn Jr. The 5-foot-11-inch guard from South Mountain High displayed no panic when his fellow starting guards fell into foul trouble against a tough Camelback team. 

After a blowout game the week before, South Mountain found themselves in a much closer game Tuesday. But Nunn Jr. and the Jaguars stepped up for a 55-49 victory. 

“I knew I was going to have to step up but our second players are pretty decent, too,” Nunn Jr. said. 
Nunn Jr. played with a smooth demeanor, especially when his team faced adversity. He doesn’t play like a freshman. 

“I don’t see like any age whenever it's at varsity. If you are here that means you’re the best. So, I play like it,” Nunn Jr. said. 

South Mountain came out aggressive on both sides of the court and needed that calm demeanor late in the game. They were in control most of the game, building   a double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter.

But foul trouble kept Camelback in the game and late in the fourth, the Jaguars lead fell into single digits.

Coach Jeremy Soria did not like what he was seeing and throughout the game stressed staying discipline even with a big lead. “Once we started playing the scoreboard, oh were up, lets get ours and we got selfish there at times,” Soria said. 

He added: “We got undisciplined, we’re not that selfish of a team. Instead of just locking in and sticking with the game plan, they wanted to try and win the game themselves.”

Soria preaches a philosophy of five to one, with each player on the court moving as one. For most of the game that is what South Mountain displayed except for a brief stretch that gave the Spartans an opportunity for a comeback. 

“We’re not a big team but we got to get more physical, our guards can’t leak out. We got to rebound,” Soria said.

With only four games left in the season and the playoffs nearing, South Mountain (10-4) not only hopes to be at the big dance but also host a playoff game. The Jaguars are ranked second in their region.

“We want to end four strong right here and go four and zero. Possibly get a bye and a home game,” Nunn Jr. said. 

South Mountain plays Metro Tech at home for senior night Friday at 7 p.m.