Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Ashlie Sherwood defends St. David’s Halee Deskins while Saydee Allred (22) prepares to assist. Allred and Sherwood led the Roughriders offensively with 16 and 14 points, respectively, in a 69-25 win over St. David.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The defending 2A State Champion Pima Roughriders girls basketball team has been on a tear this year and their latest victim was the 1A St. David Tigers. Pima (2-0 conference, 8-1 overall) won the matchup of southeastern Arizona teams on Tuesday, 69-25.
St. David (2-0 conference, 7-4 overall) won the tip and went right down and scored. The lead lasted only a few possessions, however, and 4-2 would be the last lead of the night for the Tigers.
Midway through the quarter, Pima went on a 15-0 run the final 4:30 to lead 23-7 after the first quarter. Defense that led to fast-break opportunities sparked the run. Pima is big with size down low and at its guard positions, but it is also very fast and yearns to push the pace as much as possible.
The first quarter run was bolstered by the offensive finishes at the rim by Ashlie Sherwood, Saydee Allred, and Samantha Pippo. The second quarter was a repeat of the first with the addition of the long-range game from Ashlie and Allred, who hit two and three 3’s for the game, respectively. Ashlie led the way in the first half with 11 of her 14 points for the game (including a buzzer-beater 3-pointer at the half), while Allred had 8 of her game-high 16 in the first half.
“We’ve been working really hard in practice on rebounds and layups and putbacks and it just really paid off tonight,” Ashlie said. “It really helps when you have great teammates to push you in practice and it really shows in games.”
Ashlynn Chlarson was a handful in the paint, snatching rebounds and scoring at will. She and Aubrie Sherwood both finished with 12 points each. Other Pima scorers included Jayci McClain with 8 and Pippo with 7.
Even with a mercy-rule running clock in the fourth, the Roughriders scored in double figures in each quarter and held St. David to single digits, including only 3 in the final quarter.
Mayla Trejo led the Tigers with 11 points, followed by Anissa Jacquez with 6, Taylee Jacquez with 5, and Halee Deskins with 3.
Pima will next host the Safford Bulldogs (1-0 region, 4-3 overall) on Thursday, starting at 5:30 p.m. Both teams will then play in the 46th annual Eastern Arizona College Holiday Tournament on Dec. 18-21. Safford will face Fort Thomas as its first opponent on Dec. 18, starting at 1 p.m., and Pima will face Willcox.
“I’m really excited for the rest of the season,” Ashlie said. Hopefully, we’ll make it to the championship again and we’ll go two times.”
St. David will return to the Gila Valley on Dec. 18 for its first game of the 46th annual Eastern Arizona College Holiday Tournament against Morenci, starting at 2:30 p.m. Morenci defeated St. David on Dec. 6, 56-52.
Click here to view the Gila Herald’s Photo Album from the game.
In other local prep girls basketball action:
The defending 1A State Champion Fort Thomas Apaches (3-0 conference, 10-2 overall) defeated the Cibecue Wildcats 56-37 on Tuesday night.
The Apaches will next play in the EAC Holiday Tournament.