Girls' Mensendick Tournament

Parents and student athletes,

The Girls' team will be selected Monday, February 2nd at 3:15PM. Shortly after, we will conduct a brief 45 minute walkthrough/practice. Tuesday at 3:15 PM after school, we will have another short practice and the ladies will be released at 4 PM.

Our game is at 5:40 PM that evening. Please bring your student athlete to the Glendale YMCA located on 59th ave. just south of Greenway. We will not have a bus because this is a non-district game. Our contest is against Terramar.

Desert Palms vs Santa Fe District Tournament Game 1

The Boys started their district tournament run against Santa Fe at 10:30 AM on 1-24-09. Santa Fe started the see-saw contest scoring baskets to take a small lead with DP answering shot for shot. DP was able to take a slim lead: 17-16 at the half.

Michael Gallardo had an outstanding game leading ALL scorers with 24 points and controlling the tempo. Michael Reed added 11 points and Isaac Joya and Isiah Lewis added 2 each.

Santa Fe scored a basket with seconds left, but Michael Gallardo, Desert Palm's 2008-9 Most Valuable Player, sank a basket with one second left. Santa Fe was unable to answer at the buzzer.

Final score: Desert Palms 39 Santa Fe 38.

Canyon @ Desert Palms Boys 1-21-09

Last night the high scoring Desert Palms Boy’s basketball team hosted Canyon Elementary on Eight Grade Appreciation Night. Michael Gallardo was honored as the teams Most Valuable Player for the season, Wyatt Garner earned “Mr. Hustle”, Connor Higgins earned “Most Improved”, Jon Foltz was “Mr. Ironman”, and Elija Cox “Mr. Rebound”. Canyon had difficulty making jump shots and was only allowed a few inside shots by the Boys tough defense. Tommy Beebe led all rebounders controlling the boards on both ends. David Rodriguez controlled the offense setting up plays so Jerome Frazier could score eight points and Connor Higgins six. The final score: Desert Palms 48 and Canyon 32. The Boy’s record for the regular season: 4 wins and 2 losses. Next up: the boys play Saturday against Santa Fe in the District Tournament. Tip-off is at 10:30 AM at Kachina.

Desert Palms @ Marshall Ranch 1-15-09

Last night the high scoring Desert Palms Boy’s basketball team traveled to Marshall Ranch for a battle of first place. Both teams entered district play with three wins and one loss.The game started off low scoring with both teams hustling to lose balls, and collecting rebounds on both ends. The lead see-sawed throughout the 1st half and the stage was set for an exciting rivalry.Desert Palms was led in scoring by Michael reed with 13 points, five off of free throws. Michael Gallardo followed with 10, and Elija Cox scored nine. Jon Foltz collected the most rebounds while adding 6 points as well.With 38 seconds remaining in the contest, Michael Gallardo sunk a three-point basket tying the game at 43, sending a packed gym into a frenzy, but Marshall Ranch was able to shoot a handful of free-throws in the remaining seconds.Final score: Marshall Ranch 50 Desert Palms 43. Next up: the boys play Friday against Challenger Charter School in the YMCA Tournament. Tip-off is at 4:00 PM.

Desert Palms Boys @ Santa Fe 1-7-09

The Desert Palms Boy’s Basketball team traveled to Santa Fe with a 2 and 1 regular season record without Josh Brooks who had to sit out due to an ankle injury. Wednesday night’s game was a re-match of two hard fought contests from last year in which Santa Fe won both, including the district playoffs.The boys struggled to score buckets in the first quarter until Isiah Lewis stepped up with several key shots. The score remained close when Sante Fe sank a long shot to take the lead 17-15 at the end of the first half.Desert Palms was led in scoring by Michael Reed with 19 points followed by Michael Gallardo with 14 and Isiah Lewis with 11. Jon Foltz controlled the backboards with a ferocious intensity, leading all rebounders, while scoring 4 points as well. Conner Higgins closed the lanes, holding Santa Fe’s best player scoreless in the second half.Santa Fe chipped away at the Desert Palm’s 12 point lead, sinking a handful of three point shots closing the game to within a single basket, but the team effort on defense by Reed, Gallardo, and Lewis stopped Santa Fe cold.Final score: Desert Palms 51 and Santa Fe 45.Next up: the boys play Wednesday, January 14 at Marshall Ranch. Tip-off is at 4:30 PM. Both teams enter the contest with a three win, one loss record setting up a huge battle for 1st place!

Desert Palms @ Greenway Tournament

The Desert Palms Boy’s basketball team entered the Greenway Basketball Tournament with a 2 and 1 regular season record which included a two game win streak. Thursday night’s game was a match-up of a tough rebounding Ira Murphy team against the fast-paced offense of Desert Palms. Greenway’s wide and long high school court presented a challenge for both teams.The boys grabbed a quick 4-2 lead and then the battle began. Ira Murphy trapped the boys, slowing down their offense. The score see-sawed for the remainder of the half.Desert Palms was led in scoring by Michael Gallardo with 8 points followed by Michael Reed and Isaac Joya with six each. Elija Cox had another strong game bringing down over ten rebounds. The boys employed four different defenses in an attempt to break Ira Murphy’s attack on their basket.In the end, Desert Palm’s speed broke through and the boys were able to smash out with a ten point lead which the second team held. Elija Cox and Effron Garcia tallied four points each to lead the relief squad.Final score: Desert Palms 37 and Ira Murphy 25.Next up: the boys play tonight against Cholla in the Greenway Holiday Tournament. Tip-off is at 5:00 PM sharp. Please support your exciting Boy’s Firebirds Basketball team at Greenway High School tonight!

Kachina @ DP 12-17-09

Last night the high scoring Desert Palms Boy’s basketball team hosted Kachina in a one-sided game. Isiah Lewis grabbed the tip-off and DP set the tone quickly. With a barrage of jump shots and lay-ups, the boys ran the score in the first quarter to twenty to two.Kachina was unable to mount any form of attack and was paralyzed by the relentless defense of Jon Foltz, Jerome Frazier, Michael Reed, and Michael Gallardo. With the game out of reach so early, the first team sat and the second team roared into action. The boys were led by Elija Cox with 14 points, followed by Michael Gallardo with ten, and Jon Foltz with 8. Isaac Joya also added seven.Kachina was only able to put a meager twenty points on the board making the final score Desert Palms 61 and Kachina 20. The boy’s record after three games: 2 wins and 1 loss.Next up: the boys play tonight against Ira Murphy in the Greenway Holiday Tournament. Tip-off is at 7:00 PM sharp. Please support your exciting boy’s firebirds at Greenway High School tonight!

Heritage @ DP 12-03-08

Heritage wins a thriller!

The Desert Palms Boys basketball team played a thrilling game yesterday that came down to the final shot in front of a packed house in the multi-purpose room. Michael Gallardo led the team with 16 points. Michael Reed also scored 12 and Isaac Joya dished out 7 as well. Elija Cox led the team in rebounds with Michael Reed collecting nearly as many.
With less than 20 seconds left, the team set up the tying shot which was stopped by Heritage’s tough defense. The final score was Heritage 44 and Desert palms 41. The team plays at Sahauro Ranch next Wednesday at 430 PM.

12-3-08 First Game of Season

Our first Basketball game is this Wednesday at 430 PM. We need all students and parents supporting athletics at Desert Palms. Hope to see you there!Join Coach Helmer and cheer on the boys as they battle Heritage here in the Multi-Purpose room at Desert Palms. Wear your maroon and gold and shout "Protect the nest!"