Willow Canyon Earns First Open Division Playoff Win

Wildcats defeat Vail Cienega to advance in Arizona's top high school basketball tournament

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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The Willow Canyon High School boys basketball team earned its first-ever Open Division playoff win, defeating Vail Cienega 73-56 in the first round. The Wildcats, seeded 11th, pulled away in the second half after leading 37-24 at halftime. Senior forward Austin Cooper and sophomore guards Maurice Carter II and Jaydon Hayes led the way for Willow Canyon, which advances to face 6th-seeded Gilbert Highland in the second round.

Why it matters

Willow Canyon's victory puts to rest the disappointment of last year's early playoff exit and shows the team can compete with the state's elite programs in the prestigious Open Division tournament. The win also marks a milestone for the school's basketball program.

The details

Willow Canyon led by as many as 17 points in the second half, closing the third quarter on a run to take a 55-38 advantage and put the game out of reach. Cooper, Carter, and Hayes combined for 59 of the team's 73 points. The Wildcats' defense also limited Vail Cienega's scoring opportunities throughout the contest.

  • The game was played on February 18, 2026.
  • Willow Canyon will face Gilbert Highland in the second round on February 20, 2026.

The players

Austin Cooper

A senior forward for Willow Canyon High School.

Maurice Carter II

A sophomore guard for Willow Canyon High School.

Jaydon Hayes

A sophomore guard for Willow Canyon High School.

Levi Carter

A junior guard for Willow Canyon High School.

Gilbert Highland

The 6th-seeded team that Willow Canyon will face in the second round of the Open Division playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“We're just making sure that we don't repeat the same mistakes and keep our head straight on the goal as much as we can. With this being the first Open win our school has ever had, it was a really big moment for us. And it just proved to me that we can leave our mark before leaving, as seniors.”

— Austin Cooper, Senior Forward (yourvalley.net)

“Highland is a great shooting team and they execute well. They're able to run and they have great gap defense and help defense. They're an amazing team. I'm glad we get them again.”

— Maurice Carter II, Sophomore Guard (yourvalley.net)

“For me it was about finishing plays, making sure I execute and making sure I keep my teammates, my brothers, engaged. Emotions were kind of flying, so I wanted to make sure everyone was in the same head space.”

— Austin Cooper, Senior Forward (yourvalley.net)

“We did what we knew we should have done from the start of the game, gave them that intensity to blow them out. It opens up everything. We had all our nervousness and jitters from being in the Open, so we should go into the next game with a sharper focus.”

— Maurice Carter II, Sophomore Guard (yourvalley.net)

What’s next

Willow Canyon will travel to face 6th-seeded Gilbert Highland in the second round of the Open Division playoffs on February 20, 2026.

The takeaway

Willow Canyon's first-ever Open Division playoff win shows the team has the talent and composure to compete with the state's top high school basketball programs. After last year's early exit, the Wildcats have put that disappointment behind them and are now focused on making a deep run in the prestigious tournament.