Despite injuries, a young lineup and one of the toughest schedules, the Perry Pumas persevered.

For doing so, they booked a trip to the 6A final Tuesday after defeating another young and talented squad, Cesar Chavez, 69-56, on the road.

“All of the above,” responded Mike Curtis about the obstacles his 15-14 team overcame this season. “It was hard. It was hard on and the off the court. But they turned it around. When we came back (after the Hamilton loss on Feb. 2), we challenged them to be better. To be better people. To be better players. And they are doing that.”

That 63-34 loss to Hamilton was the turning point.

Since then, the team has won a season high four games in a row. There to support Curtis’s squad Tuesday was Sammy Duane Jr., the basketball coach for Perry’s boys, and NAU men’s basketball coach Shane Burcar, whose daughter Bella (16 points) plays for Perry.

Bella, a sophomore transfer from Flagstaff High, will get a chance on Saturday to repeat as a champion but with a different team. Like its season, Perry was down early but not out against Cesar Chavez, whose go-go-go pace pushed it ahead 12-6 early in the game.

But Novelle McQuiston came off the bench to help shift the momentum to her team’s side. The 5-11 sophomore guard can shoot or drive and stay in control, which makes her hard to defend.

McQuiston’s first attempt was a made three, sparking a 9-0 run, with her scoring all the points to put her team up 15-12. The sophomore tallied 14 of her 23 points in the first half.

“They were face guarding Bella and Sage Henry, and (McQuiston) stepped up and took advantage of those lanes that she was given,” Curtis said. “We think we’re the deepest team in the state. That’s what we’ve been relying on. All 12 of us can really make a difference.”

Besides Bella and McQuiston, sophomore Henry (14 points near or around the basket) also was instrumental in helping Perry reach the final for only the second time.

“I’m so excited,” said McQuiston, who moved in from Montana. “I’ve never been to a state championship. So the emotions are out of control.”

The quick and undersized Cesar Chavez Champions kept battling throughout the first half, when they trailed just 33-30 after the first 16 minutes.

But Perry took command in the second half, when it led by as many as 18 points. Despite the loss, don’t expect Cesar Chavez’s success story to stop.

The program won at least 20 games for the third consecutive year and reached a state semifinal for the first time. The Champions will only lose two seniors.

One of those talented youngsters who’ll return is freshman Alex Ballard, who scored 19 points Tuesday.

“I’m really proud of our girls,” Cesar Chavez coach Joe Lee said. “They’ve come a long way since when I started here three years ago. The girls are extremely talented and play super hard. It’s the hardest working team I’ve ever coached. Our (lack of) size is a detriment, but we use our speed to help us out.”