Higley was the only Arizona team to reach a 2025 Nike Tournament of Champions final. 

But the Knights weren’t too thrilled with how their run ended Monday at Mesa’s Arizona Athletic Grounds.

The squad sputtered at times in the first half but never looked outmatched. That began to change, however, near the end of the second period and the start of the third, when Higley repeated mistakes that tripped the team sometimes in 2024-25.

Colorado Arapahoe took advantage and never looked back during its 69-51 win in the 16-team Mike Desper Division finale.

"With any season, you take steps forward and periodically you take steps back,” first-year Higley coach James Lefebvre said. "It’s just about making sure that we take more steps forward over the next couple of weeks than we took backward in this last game.”

When it's clicking, Higley’s up-tempo game is fun to watch.

That was apparent when it scored without the ball touching the floor to go up 15-9 early in the game. On the play, Sophia Moreira, Claire Greenwade and Leila O’Dowd quickly connected after a Moreira steal while their team pressured full court.

The lightning-quick Jayla Freeman and versatile post Cadence Murdough (14 points) also linked up at times for a Higley (9-2) team that possesses the pieces to make a postseason run. But the young Knights, with just two seniors on the roster, will need to execute if they want to go far. 

With 4:36 left in the second quarter and leading 25-24, Higley was outscored 20-2 until 4:43 was left in the third quarter. 

“We asked our girls to get up on them defensively, but they stopped doing so,” Lefebvre said. “That led to (Arapahoe) getting comfortable and making shots. The lack of pressure hurt us.”

Ava Budler also hurt Higley.

The 5-4 senior point guard made six three-pointers, including three in a row to start the third quarter.

Higley’s tenacious play reemerged in the fourth quarter, when Arapahoe (7-0) could afford to pump the breaks.

“Through the first three games, I was incredibly proud about how they played and fought,” Lefebvre said. "I think we played some top teams with Division I athletes and we held our own. So I commend them for that.”

Lefebvre, a former player for the University of Hawaii at Hilo, will return to his former home when Higley takes the floor next. 

The Knights will play Punahou High in the Honolulu Hoops Showcase on Jan. 8. 

Higley was the only Arizona team to reach a Nike Tournament of Champions final this season. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)