Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Aubrie Sherwood (10) and the Pima Roughriders ran past the San Tan Charter Roadrunners 81-7 on Tuesday to improve to 3-0 on the season.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – In their quest to repeat as 2A State Champions, the Pima Roughriders (2-0 conference, 3-0 overall) girls basketball team has blown out its first three opponents by more than 40 points in each contest.
On Tuesday, it was the San Tan Charter Roadrunners’ turn, and the Roughriders eviscerated them, 81-7.
“When you get to play everybody that’s fun, but it’s hard to coach when you blow out a team like that,” said Pima head coach Roy Corona. “That was a good practice, I guess. But we’ve got Winslow coming up in the tournament, so that will be a tough one.”
All but one Roughrider scored, and the team hit nine 3’s in the game.
It all started right off the tip as Saydee Allred got the ball and hit the layup. Ashlie Sherwood then nailed a 3-pointer and Pima was up 5-0. The Roughriders’ defense was stout, denying any shots in the paint and forcing turnovers and fast-break opportunities. By the end of the first quarter, Pima was up 20-0.
San Tan did not have an answer for Allred all night as she poured it on for 15 of her game-19 in the first half. Allred hit eight field goals and one 3-pointer. Aubrie Sherwood also went for big in the first half, scoring 10 of her 14 points on the night.
After the game, Allred expressed her feelings about the team’s upcoming tournament games playing bigger schools in Flagstaff.
“I think we’ll be o.k.,” Allred said. “We just need to focus on rebounding and working well as a team and just making our shots.”
Pima ran it up to 46-0 before San Tan finally got on the board with a field goal by No. 2 – identified as “Bella” in the scorebook. That would be the Roadrunners’ only points in the half and Pima went into the break with a ludicrous 51-2 lead.
It was the Jayci McClain show in the second half as she led the reserves. McClain hit 12 of her 14 points in the second half, including four field goals and two 3-pointers. Other Roughriders who scored included Ella Wiltbank with 9, Maya Mattice with 8, Ashlynn Chlarson with 7, Ashlie Sherwood with 6, and Samantha Pippo and Maddie Gann both with 2 each.
The Roadrunners hit one field goal in the third quarter and one 3-pointer in the mercy-ruled shortened fourth quarter – both by No. 5, identified as “Jen” in the scorebook.
While Pima ball may not be exactly Rez-ball, the Roughriders certainly like to push the ball as much as possible and have a stable of speedy players who can handle the rock and facilitate the offense.
“It’s half and half, I think,” Allred said.
Pima will next play in the Pepsi Holiday Tournament hosted by Flagstaff High School on Dec. 9 – 11. The Roughriders’ first two opponents are the 3A East Winslow Bulldogs (4-0) on Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. and then the 6A Metro Alhambra Lions (0-2 conference, 0-3 overall) on Dec. 10 at 8:30 a.m.
“I’m glad we’re going to Flagstaff because that’s going to give us some tougher games up there,” Corona said. “We’ll see how it goes. We might lose some up there. You never know.
Click here to view the Gila Herald Photo Album from the game.
In other local prep basketball:
In 3A, the Thatcher Eagles (1-1) defeated the Safford Bulldogs (1-1) 53-21. Thatcher will next host the Window Rock Fighting Scouts on Thursday, Dec. 16, starting at 4 p.m. Safford will next play in the Round Valley Roundball Shootout Tournament on Dec. 9 – 11 hosted by Round Valley. The Bulldogs’ first three games will see them take on the 3A East Blue Ridge Yellowjackets (0-1) on Dec. 9 at 3 p.m.; the 1A Central Mogollon Mustangs (2-0) on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.; and the 3A East Holbrook Roadrunners (2-0) on Dec. 10 at 12 p.m.
In 1A, the Fort Thomas Apaches (2-0 conference, 3-1 overall) defeated the San Carlos Braves 74-39. Fort Thomas will next play in the Round Valley Roundball Shootout Tournament on Dec. 9 – 11 hosted by Round Valley. The Apaches first three games will see them take on the 2A North Valley Pirate (1-0) on Dec. 9 at 9 a.m.; the 1A Central Mogollon Mustangs (2-0) on Dec. 9 at 1:30 p.m.; and the 2A North St. Johns Redskins (1-0 conference, 2-0 overall) on Dec. 10 at 9 a.m.
