Arizona Boys Basketball Championships: Westwind Prep Wins 2A State Title

Westwind Prep won the Arizona 2A state championship, the first in school history, by defeating Thatcher High School 82-63 with forward Demarquise Johnson leading the way.

“My goal was just to win at the end, and that is what we did,” Johnson told the Arizona Republic after the game. “Last year we were in the locker room, and everyone was mad and upset. This feels great.”

Johnson, a 6-foot-6 junior, scored 26 points to lead Westwind including 19 points in the second half to give the team it’s first state championship under head coach Gary Trousdale after they lost in the championship game last season to Phoenix Scottsdale Christian.

Trousdale told SB Nation’s Adam Zagoria last week that Johnson’s NBA comparison would be a young Paul Pierce. According to Zagoria’s article, Johnson has already drawn offers from Minnesota, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, San Diego State, New Mexico, Oregon State, Providence and Louisville.

“We had a goal that we weren’t leaving Prescott (Valley) without a championship,” Trousdale said after the game. “We were focused on that, and we had a lot of success this season.”

Westwind, who finished their season with a 30-2 record, also received solid contributions from 5-foot-11 senior point guard Juwan Moody, 6-foot-3 senior guard Enoch Rhemadji and 6-foot senior guard Stephen Topercer.