By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The No. 14 Alchesay Falcons brought the heat Wednesday and packed Pima’s new, new gymnasium with a boisterous crowd disoplaying plenty of energy, but the Riders withstood a second-half run to easily vanquish their foes.
The Pima Roughriders girls basketball team kicked off their Copper Division playoff run in style, securing a convincing 58-43 home victory over the Alchesay Falcons in the opening round on Wednesday. Pima will now face No. 6 Window Rock on Thursday, Feb. 12, starting at 7 p.m. While Pima is the higher seed, concerns over fan space led the Arizona Interscholastic Association to move the game to Safford’s Norma Bellamy Gymnasium.
The No. 3-seeded Roughriders, playing on their home court, showcased their defensive intensity, sharp shooting, and family synergy to overcome a feisty Falcons squad that refused to go quietly.
Alchesay brought the crowd, and their fans were loyal and vocal throughout, creating an intense playoff atmosphere and leaving this reporter’s ears ringing for the rest of the night.
The Ashby clan — sisters Page and Taylor with cousin Hanna — were at the heart of Pima’s attack, combining for 32 points in a display of sibling chemistry that thrilled the home crowd. Page Ashby led the way with 11 points, Taylor Ashby matched her with 11 (including a pair of corner threes that earned her the nickname “Trey Trey” among fans), and Hanna Ashby added 10 while also contributing assists, steals, and coast-to-coast drives.
Morgan Russell anchored the interior with a game-high 12 points, while Macy Allred chipped in 7 points, including timely buckets in transition. Cheyanne Alder and Jacey Tilley rounded out the scoring with 3 and 4 points, respectively.
Pima wasted little time asserting control, building an 18-10 lead after the first quarter behind three of their five total three-pointers in the game — including early splash shots from Page Ashby (off a cousin connection with Hanna), Macy Allred, and Cheyanne Alder. The Roughriders’ full-court pressure-breaking ability neutralized Alchesay’s aggressive press, and defensive stands — like Hanna Ashby’s steal and layup — kept the momentum rolling.
Alchesay battled back with strong interior play, led by Kamare Classay’s 11 points in the paint. Alyssa Jim, Kylie Mansfield, Kioni Nashio, Leeya Lupe, Peyton Parker, and Imonie Beach all contributed, helping the Falcons trim the deficit in spurts, including a third-quarter surge when the Roughriders went cold. The Falcons cut the lead to single digits after Pima endured a scoring drought of nearly seven minutes.
But Pima responded each time. Jacey Tilley’s teardrop ended the third-quarter slump, and the Roughriders exploded in the fourth with transition baskets and inside finishes. Page Ashby cleaned up rebounds for putbacks, Hanna Ashby scored on a stylish reverse, and Morgan Russell rejected a shot before assisting on a fast-break capper to Page Ashby.
For Alchesay, Classay’s effort kept them competitive, with Lupe (6 points), Parker (5), Mansfield (5), Nashio (4), Jim (4), Beach (4), and others contributing in a valiant road effort.
No. 3 Pima will now host No. 6 Window Rock from the 3A North. Due to the expected crowd size, the game was announced to be held in Safford at the Norma Bellamy Gymnasium to accommodate more fans. The game is scheduled for Thursday, starting at 7 p.m.
In other local Copper Playoffs action, No. 4 Valley Christian defeated No. 13 Fort Thomas 81-47; No. 5 San Carlos defeated No. 12 Yuma Catholic 51-42; No. 2 Tuba City defeated No. 15 Round Valley 56-50, and No. 1 Snowflake defeated No. 16 Pusch Ridge 55-29.
