As the 2024-2025 high school basketball season heats up, two teams stand out in Arizona’s competitive landscape: Casteel High School and Xavier College Prep. Both teams have demonstrated strong performances and are currently vying for top spots in their respective divisions. Here’s a closer look at their season records, team statistics, and how they compare as the season progresses.

Team Records & Standings

Casteel (24-25)

• Overall Record: 6-4
• Region Record: 0-1
• Home: 1-0
• Away: 3-2
• Neutral: 2-2
• Win Percentage: .600
• Region Win Percentage: .000
• Points For (PF): 447
• Points Against (PA): 397

Casteel’s record shows a solid start with an overall win percentage of .600. Despite a tough region opener, their balance between home, away, and neutral-site games has been a strong point, allowing them to remain competitive.

Xavier College Prep (24-25)

• Overall Record: 6-3
• Home: 2-1
• Away: 1-2
• Neutral: 3-0
• Win Percentage: .667
• Points For (PF): 528
• Points Against (PA): 350

Xavier College Prep has been slightly more consistent, with a higher win percentage of .667. Their undefeated neutral-site performance and solid home record have given them an edge, though their away games have proven more challenging.

Scoring Averages & Team Stat Comparison

Both teams have their strengths, but one thing stands out: Xavier College Prep has been significantly more potent offensively.

Casteel Scoring Averages:

• Q1: 5.0
• Q2: 7.0
• Q3: 6.0
• Q4: 3.0
• Final: 44.7 points per game

Casteel’s scoring is more spread out, but they tend to slow down in the latter stages of the game, as seen by their lower points per quarter in the fourth.

Xavier College Prep Scoring Averages:

• Q1: 14.0
• Q2: 9.5
• Q3: 14.0
• Q4: 7.0
• Final: 58.7 points per game

Xavier, on the other hand, has displayed impressive scoring consistency throughout all quarters, with particularly strong performances in the first and third quarters. Their final points per game (58.7) far outpaces Casteel’s.

Team Leaders

Both teams are led by standout players who make significant contributions in various categories.

Casteel’s Standout Players:

• Points Per Game: #52 Irene (Noelle) Guiamatsia (19.9)
• Rebounds Per Game: #52 Irene (Noelle) Guiamatsia (9.5)
• Assists Per Game: #1 Lucy Sanford (4.6)
• Steals Per Game: #52 Irene (Noelle) Guiamatsia (3.4)
• Blocks Per Game: #52 Irene (Noelle) Guiamatsia (0.8)

Irene Guiamatsia is Casteel’s dominant player, leading the team in scoring, rebounds, steals, and blocks. Her all-around game is essential for the team’s success.

Xavier College Prep’s Standout Players:

• Points Per Game: No standout player data provided
• Rebounds Per Game: No standout player data provided
• Assists Per Game: Lucy Sanford (4.6)
• Steals Per Game: No standout player data provided
• Blocks Per Game: No standout player data provided

Xavier College Prep’s Lucy Sanford is a key player, contributing to the team with strong assists. While no single player is as dominant as Guiamatsia, the team’s success comes from a more balanced effort.

Common Opponents

Both Casteel and Xavier College Prep have faced off against common opponents, but their records against these teams differ slightly.

Casteel’s Results Against Common Opponents:

• Mountain Ridge (W): 64-32 on 11/20/24
• Boulder Creek (W): 54-26 on 12/10/24

Xavier College Prep’s Results Against Common Opponents:

• Mountain Ridge (TBA): 1/7/25
• Boulder Creek (TBA): 12/12/24

While Casteel has already secured victories against both Mountain Ridge and Boulder Creek, Xavier College Prep is yet to face these teams in the upcoming matches.

Record Breakdown

• Casteel: 6-4 overall, with a 4-1 record in non-league games.
• Xavier College Prep: 6-3 overall, with a 2-3 record in non-league games.

Casteel has played a more challenging non-league schedule, which might explain their slightly lower win percentage. Xavier College Prep, on the other hand, has been more consistent in their region play.

Conclusion

Both Casteel and Xavier College Prep have had strong performances this season, but each team has areas where they excel. Casteel has a more balanced attack, particularly through the efforts of Irene Guiamatsia, while Xavier College Prep’s high-scoring games and impressive performance in neutral-site games give them an edge. As the season progresses, their head-to-head matchup will be one to watch closely, as both teams continue to compete for dominance in Arizona high school basketball.