Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: From left, Sam Pippo and Aubrie Sherwood are all smiles on the bench with assistant coach David Allred during a recent blowout win over San Tan Charter. The Roughriders have won both their opening games of the Pepsi Holiday Tournament in Flagstaff.
FLAGSTAFF – The Pima boys and girls basketball teams are performing well at the Pepsi Holiday Tournament in Flagstaff.
Pima Girls
On Thursday, the Roughriders defeated a tough 3A East Winslow Bulldogs team that was undefeated going into the game. Pima (5-0) came out swinging and outlasted Winslow (4-0 conference, 5-1 overall) 55-44.
Saydee Allred led the Roughriders with a game-high 23 points, followed by Ashlynn Chlarson and Ashlie Sherwood with 10 each; Maya Mattice and Aubrie Sherwood with 5 each, and Samantha Pippo with 2.
The Roughriders then had to get up and do it again Friday morning, as they had an 8:30 a.m. scheduled start to their game against 6A Metro Alhambra Lions (0-2 conference, 0-5 overall). Pima easily dispatched Alhambra 52-18.Â
The Roughriders held the Lions scoreless in the first quarter and jumped out to a 12-0 lead. Pima was led by twins Aubrie and Ashlie Sherwood, who had 13 points each. Other Roughriders who scored included Maya Mattice and Ashlynn Chlarson with 8 each; Saydee Allred and Ella Wiltbank with 4 each; and Samantha Pippo with 2.
The Roughriders play again this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. versus the number two team in Pool B, 4A Paradise Honors.
Pima Boys
On Thursday, the Roughriders (2-0 conference, 4-1 overall) battled hard in a defensive game against the defending 4A State Basketball Runners’ Up Paradise Honors Panthers (1-2 conference, 7-2 overall). Unfortunately, the Panthers managed to hold Pima off, 47-37, and give the Roughriders their first loss of the season.
Pima brushed that off and went right back to business Friday morning with a 59-34 victory over the 4A Mingus Union Marauders (1-4 conference, 2-9 overall).
The Roughriders will play again this evening at 8:30 p.m. versus the number one team in Pool B, 2A Arizona Lutheran Academy (5-0), which beat the host school Flagstaff, 53-42.
