Top 4 seeds make semifinals
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – In a gritty, physical showdown at Safford’s Norma Bellamy Gymnasium on Thursday, Feb. 12, the No. 3 Pima Roughriders girls basketball team outlasted the No. 6 Window Rock Fighting Scouts 48-42 to advance to the semifinals of the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Copper Division (1A-3A) State Playoffs.
The victory extends Pima’s winning streak to five games and improves their season record to 25-4, while Window Rock will now head to the 3A State Playoffs, where they have been given a No. 1 seed. They will face the winner of No. 8 Monument Valley and No. 9 Payson in the 3A State Playoffs opening game, which begins Feb. 18.
Pima’s game, played on the neutral court of the Safford Bulldogs to accommodate anticipated fans, was a true dogfight from tip-off, featuring intense defense, momentum-shifting runs, and clutch plays down the stretch. Pima, showcasing their top-tier 2A prowess, overcame an early deficit and halftime hole against the scrappy 3A North contenders from Window Rock.
The Scouts seized control early, building an 11-6 lead after the first quarter thanks to Kourtney Bitselley’s buzzer-beating deep 3. The Fighting Scouts extended their advantage in the second quarter, with Bitselley hitting a runner to push the lead. Pima, trailing by more than double their score at one point, desperately needed a spark. Cheyanne Alder delivered with a contested 3-pointer over Naomi James, igniting a 13-0 Roughriders run.
Morgan Russell fueled the surge with a rebound putback and an and-1 play (though she missed the free throw), tying the game. Jacey Tilley’s block and recovery kept the rally going, while Hanna Ashby scored a layup, and Macy Allred drained a 3 off a Page Ashby screen. Window Rock stemmed the tide with Bitselley’s jumper and Tiana Edison’s coast-to-coast bucket, followed by Leilani Williams’ score off a scramble to tie it late. Bitselley then struck again with a deep 3-pointer a little before the halftime buzzer, giving the Scouts a 22-19 edge.
Pima clawed back in the third quarter, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and steals. Russell’s rebound led to Hanna Ashby’s baseline jumper, and Hanna Ashby’s steal set up her own coast-to-coast layup to retake the lead. The teams traded buckets in the third, with Edison finding Kelly James for a bucket, Bitselley splitting defenders for a layup, and Alder answering with an open 3 against Window Rock’s zone. Late in the period, Hanna Ashby drove through traffic to tie it at 30, but after a Scouts’ free throw and James’ baseline jumper, Alder hit her third 3 of the game to knot the score at 33 entering the fourth.
The final quarter belonged to Pima’s defense. Behind a boisterous crowd, the Roughriders forced an offensive foul on Taylor Largie for the turnover. Taylor Ashby scored an easy bucket off an inbound to tie it at 37, and Hanna Ashby took it coast-to-coast for the lead. Bitselley’s drive fell short, and Alder’s rebound led to Page Ashby’s contested layup. Taylor Ashby’s strip and Page’s recovery and score pushed the lead to six, as Pima held Window Rock scoreless for nearly five minutes.
The Scouts kept it up in the air until nearly the end as Naomi James hit a shot off an airball save, and Edison drew a controversial foul on Hanna Ashby (fans argued for a jump ball). Edison made 1-of-2 free throws, cutting it to 44-42 with 16.8 seconds left. Russell sank two free throws after being fouled, and after James’ drive was rebuffed, Taylor Ashby grabbed the rebound and iced the game at the line.
Hanna Ashby paced Pima with 14 points, including key drives, blocks, and assists. She was also extremely valuable as a ball handler by beating Window Rock’s press defense. Cheyanne Alder added 12 points with timely 3s. Russell contributed 9 points and tough rebounding, Allred had 5, and Taylor and Page Ashby each scored 4 in a balanced attack.
For Window Rock, Bitselley led all scorers with 16 points, featuring multiple clutch shots. Edison tallied 12, Naomi James 7, Williams 4, and Kelly James 3.
With little time to celebrate, Pima now prepares for a semifinal clash with No. 2 Tuba City on Saturday, Feb. 21, starting at 6 p.m. at Winslow High School. The Roughriders aim to leverage their defensive intensity and clutch execution to pursue a spot in the Copper Division championship.
The No. 3 Roughriders enter as underdogs against a powerhouse Warriors squad ranked No. 2 in the Copper Division and currently boasting a 26-3 record (including an 11-1 mark in the 3A North region, where they finished first).
Tuba City has been dominant this season, showcasing strong defense and balanced scoring en route to the semifinals. In their quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, the Warriors dispatched No. 7 St. Johns 59-43, building on an opening-round 56-50 win over No. 15 Round Valley. The Warriors’ recent form includes an 18-game winning streak earlier in the season.
The Warriors will have a potential home-like advantage in the neutral-site semifinal at Winslow. In the other Copper Division semifinal, No. 1 Snowflake will face No. 3 Valley Christian at 3 p.m. at Winslow High School.
