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home / Sports
Maricopa Hoops -- one finished, one moves on
Alice Shoaf
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Both varsity basketball teams recently vied for a spot in the AIA State quarterfinals for the 3A conference. The boys traveled to Winslow to a devastating defeat while the girls gutted it out at home for the first game in their new gymnasium.
Coach Andy Branchik has a talented group of boys but their consistency has been a problem all season. On February 21st they began and ended their quest for a shot at the state championship against the Winslow Bulldogs. The Rams dug in and kept it close through the first half but slipped in the third quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to build a solid lead that even a 27-point fourth quarter could not overcome. In the end, Winslow handed them a heartbreaking 71-78 loss and a long, long ride home.
The Rams finished the season with some pretty impressive statistics, however. Junior Terrance Motley was among the top five players in the state for steals, blocks, and overall scoring with an average of 15.5 points per game – and scored a whopping 302 points for the season. Junior Davon Snell also finished with a double-digit average with 10.4 points per game. Josh Gonzalez and Larson Arey finished hard on their heels with 8.6 and 7.0 points respectively. A lot of talent will be returning next season and Rams fans can look forward to the same hair-raising, nail-biting performances that they loved and lauded this year.
Meanwhile, the Lady Rams had their toughest week of the season just prior to their tournament game on the 20th. Point guard Brittany Parks sat out the week with an injured knee and two other players were out with strep throat for most of that all-important practice time in the new gym. They started out against Estrella Foothills with a strong first quarter but their timing was off and it showed. Fouls were also a big problem. “It was our first game in there,” said Coach Jenny Miller, “and it was a lot uglier than I wanted it to be. I almost had a coronary out there.”
Nobody who has watched the girls play can say they don’t have grit as well as talent. With an overall record of 19-3, they have proven themselves worthy of a shot at the State title, and even an ugly game is a sight to behold. Amanda Hamm set the pace with a pair of 3-pointers in the first few minutes and finished with a total of 16 points for the game. Brittainy Parks, obviously slowed by her sore knee, still managed to finish with 10 points. She missed much of the second half due to four fouls, but her ball handling skills in the fourth quarter helped the girls hang on. Post player DeAudra Streety was a force all her own at the glass, contributing 11 total points, consistent rebounds, and a solid performance. Erin Litchfield was as sharp and aggressive as they come and seemed to be everywhere. “That girl will sacrifice life and limb for the team,” said Coach Miller. “Every team’s gotta have one, and she’s ours.”
The Estrella Foothills Wolves turned in a performance that was at times brilliant. Coach Mike Arana devised an aggressive defensive strategy that appeared to boggle the referees sometimes, as well as the Lady Rams. Wing player Katie Payne was unstoppable and finished with a record performance of 28 points. But in the end, it was fouls that set the tone of the game. In the final two minutes it was a one-point game, and back-to-back fouls finished it. Wolves Center Kiah Washington missed her free throws, and right on her heels Lady Rams’ DeAudra Streety made both of hers, stretching their slim lead to 56-53 with just 3 seconds left. It was with a collective sigh of relief that Rams’ fans realized their dream team was going to the quarterfinals.
The next game will be Saturday February 28, again at Maricopa’s new gymnasium as second seeded Lady Rams take on the Chinle Wildcats, rated second in the 3A North conference. Chinle boasts a 17-7 overall season and finished off Wickenburg to earn their spot. The winner of that game will advance to the semifinals, scheduled to be held at Jobing Arena on March 6. However it turns out, the Lady Rams can be proud of an excellent season. But oh, how sweet it would be to see them go all the way!
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Alice Shoaf
Erin Litchfield lays one up.
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