Late 3 lifts Pusch Ridge over Pima

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Pusch Ridge sophomore Nicole NJoroge (22) goes up for 2 of her game-high 14 points as Pusch Ridge squeaks out a victory over Pima, 49-47, on Saturday night.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

PIMA – Pusch Ridge sophomore Noell Sunukjian (12 points) scored all her points from beyond the arc against Pima on Saturday night, sinking four 3-pointers, including the game-winner late in the fourth quarter. 

With Pima up 2, Sunukjian did a spin move, crossed up sophomore Hanna Ashby to free some space, and then nailed the long ball to give the Lions a 1-point lead. 

After a change of possession, the Lions’ Chloe Rogers was fouled and made 1-2 free throws to put Pusch Ridge up 49-47 with 12. 4 seconds left. 

Pima (7-0 conference, 16-4 overall) inbounded, brought the ball downcourt and swung it over to Ashby, whose potential game-winning 3-point attempt was just short and clanged off the rim as the Lions held onto the victory.  

“They hit the big shot; we didn’t,” said Pima head girls basketball coach Roy Corona. “That’s what it came down to.”

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Kelsi Brimhall prepares to shoot a free throw. Brimhall led Pima with 13 points.

Pima started out hot, with senior Kelsi Brimhall hitting two 3-pointers and going 2-2 from the line in the first quarter. Ashby dialed in a 3-pointer and had another field goal to contribute 5 of her 7 points on the night, and Pima was up 16-9 after the first quarter. 

The tide changed in the second quarter due partly to Pusch Ridge senior Hannah Johnson’s shooting prowess from the free throw line. Johnson went 7-7 in the quarter alone (9-9 for the game) to score most of her 11 points from the charity stripe. 

Sophomore Nicole NJoroge went off for 6 of her game-high 14 in the quarter, and Pusch Ridge took a 23-20 point lead into halftime.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Sadie Richardson (22) prepares to jump against Tabitha Orr (44).

“Both teams were really good defensively,” Corona said. “That was a good game for us to have to get better. It’s fun to play a team like that. It’s fun for us to have a good game and (having) the crowd into it – that’s awesome.”

Pima fought back in the third, and when Brimhall hit a 3-pointer with 3:23 left in the quarter, Pima retook the lead, 31-30. But Push Ridge answered back with 3’s from Sunukjian and Mikayla King (6 points) to put the Lions back up 40-34 heading into the final quarter. 

Pima fought back and gave themselves a chance as Ashby hit a fast-break layup, and Hoopes (9 points) drove hard to the bucket for the score. After Hoopes was fouled, she made two free throws to make it a 1-point game. 

Pusch Ridge then scored to go back up by 1. Sadie Richardson (11 points) snagged a rebound put back to give Pima a 1-point lead, and then Hoopes went 1-2 from the line to make it 47-45 Pima before Sunukjian hit her game-winning 3-pointer.

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Adysen Hoopes (43) catches her breath. Hoopes went for 9 points in the game.

Other scorers for Pima included Morgan Russell with 5 points and Cheyanne Alder with 2 points. 

 “The girls played their tails off,” Corona said. “I’m so proud of them – the way they played tonight. We got down like seven in the fourth quarter, and they fought back. I was happy for them.”

Pima was ranked No. 7, and 3A Pusch Ridge was ranked No. 8 in the Copper Division 1A-3A Open rankings. The top 16 rated teams in the 1A-3A conferences qualify for the Copper playoffs, which is new this year and is an open division for small schools. 

According to coach Corona, the competition was good for Pima to experience, as they have a date set with region leader Miami on Jan. 24 at Miami and a big home game on Jan. 31 against San Carlos. 

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Sadie Richardson takes a moment to survey the scene. Richardson finished with 11 points.

Miami is ranked No. 3 in the Copper Division, and San Carlos is No. 6. They are No. 1 and 2 ahead of Pima in the stacked 2A East Region. 

Pima will first next travel to face Gilbert Classical (6-4 conference, 9-9 overall) on Tuesday, Jan. 21, with tip-off set to start at 5:30 p.m.