By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The Pima Roughriders (2-0 conference, 9-1 overall) had little trouble with the Safford Bulldogs (0-2 conference, 2-8 overall) at home on Tuesday night, sending the Bulldogs packing, 66-29.
Pima had it all working against Safford on Tuesday as the Roughriders hit from inside and out, in the half-court and on fast breaks.
Safford’s freshman Trae Gaines drilled a 3-pointer to cut Pima’s early lead in half, 10-5, but Pima came right back with back-to-back treys from Keegan Corona and Rhett Hughes, and Safford would never come as close again.
Pima came back from a 43-19 halftime lead and held Safford to just 2 points in the third quarter to initiate a mercy-rule running clock fourth quarter.
Joel Mattice led the way for Pima with 16 points – all in the paint – followed by Corona with 14, Charlie Richardson with 10, and Hughes with 9. Preston Russell was good for 8 points; Wyatt Bingham finished with 4; Daxton McRae scored 3 points, and Keaton Bryce had 2.
For Safford, Gaines led the way with Cole Goodman, and each scored 9 points. Nick Yentsch scored 4 points, Cole Yentsch scored 3, and Grady Lackner and Jace Jameson scored 2 points each.
Pima and Safford will play in the 61st annual Eastern Arizona College Boys Holiday Basketball Tournament from Thursday, Dec. 19, to Saturday, Dec. 21.
In other local prep basketball action:
The Thatcher Eagles fell on the road to the Coolidge Bears, 36-47. Thatcher will next play in the EAC Holiday Tournament versus St. David and Apache Junction on Dec. 19 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.
