News Summary

The Desert Vista girls basketball team showcased their skills at the Section 7 tournament in Arizona, facing top teams and gaining invaluable experience. With a promising season ahead, key players like Zaire Hatter and Kolbi Brooks are set to make their mark, attracting attention from college scouts and demonstrating a strong team spirit focused on growth and competition.

Desert Vista Girls Basketball Team Shines at Prestigious Section 7 Tournament

Mesa, Arizona – The Desert Vista girls basketball team recently took to the court at the highly regarded Section 7 basketball tournament held on June 13-14 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds. This tournament is well-known for showcasing some of the best high school talent in the nation, and it certainly didn’t disappoint this year! With competitive teams from all over the country, it attracted hundreds of college scouts eager to see the next big stars.

Facing the Giants

Opening the tournament, the Thunder squarely faced off against one of California’s top teams, Etiwanda from Rancho Cucamonga. Not backing down, Desert Vista was prepared for the challenge. Later in the tournament, they upped the ante by taking on Carondelet from Concord, the reigning California Division I state champions. Talk about a way to test the mettle of the squad!

The following day brought two more matches, where Desert Vista faced Sage Hill and endured a nail-biting one-point loss to Oakland Tech High School. Although the results weren’t exactly what they were hoping for, the head coach stressed that the experience gained is priceless, contributing to both individual player growth and elevating the level of Arizona girls basketball as a whole.

A Glimpse Back at the Recent Season

Looking back at the previous season (2024-25), Desert Vista finished with a record of 16-13 overall and 3-5 in the 6A Central Region. They made an admirable playoff run as the No. 14 seed, defeating Perry and securing victory over No. 3 Gilbert with just two points to spare. They also took down No. 6 Sunnyslope in the Open Division bracket before ultimately facing Millennium in the semifinals—an eventual champion—losing by a narrow margin of 50-45.

Rising Stars on the Court

One player who caught attention is Zaire “Cherri” Hatter, a rising sophomore and already a standout basketball player. Following an impressive freshman year where she was honored on The Republic’s All-Arizona Girls High School Basketball Team and finished fourth in scoring in 6A, she continues to attract interest from colleges, with offers from schools like Alabama and Maryland. The exciting prospect of her upcoming visit to Florida has her buzzing about the future.

Meanwhile, the team is also welcoming incoming freshman point guard Kolbi Brooks, a promising talent who is already drawing attention in the recruitment world, with offers from prestigious colleges including Arizona and Florida. Despite the flurry of interest, she is focused on improving her game, thanks to wise advice from her father. Both Hatter and Brooks have expressed excitement about playing together and supporting one another on the journey ahead.

Developing Identity and Team Spirit

As the team continues to grow, Coach O’Bryan’s emphasis on gaining experience through high-level competition is apparent. She believes it is essential for young players like Brooks to develop not only their skills but also their understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest levels. With the addition of Brooks, the dynamics of the team are looking strong, especially as both players share a tenacious work ethic.

The team as a whole recognizes the importance of the Section 7 experience in establishing a solid identity as they approach the 2024-25 season. Moving forward, Desert Vista is determined to keep pushing themselves, growing stronger with each game in their quest to be among the best, not only in Arizona but nationwide.

As the Thunder continue their journey, fans are eager to follow their progress, and one thing is clear: Desert Vista’s spirit is unyielding, and they are ready to make an impact in the future of girls basketball.

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