Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Pima’s Ashlie Sherwood goes up for 2 of her team-high 16 points. Four Pima players scored in double figures en route to a 67-39 victory over visiting Bisbee on Tuesday night.
By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The Pima Roughriders girls basketball team utilized a 25-point third quarter to turn a 1-point halftime edge into a 28-point victory over the visiting Bisbee Pumas on Tuesday night, 67-39.
“They’re a good team, but I think we wore them down,” said Pima head coach Roy Corona. “They tried to hang with us but a lot of teams have been struggling with that because we’re used to running.”
Pima had four of its five starters score in double figures, led by Aubrie Sherwood with 16 points, Ashlie Sherwood and Ashlynn Chlarson with 15 points each, and Saydee Allred with 13 points. Other scorers included Jayci McClain with 5 and Samantha Pippo with 3 points.
Bisbee (2-2 region, 3-3 conference, 11-3 overall) was led by Gabriella Lopez with 17 points, followed by Yanitza Romero with 13, Alexia Lopez with 7, and Jacklyn Cronin had 2 points.
The Pumas hung with the Roughriders throughout the entire first half. Every time Pima began to pull away, Bisbee would claw right back with either a big 3-pointer from Romero (she hit three in the second quarter) or by gutsy play by Gabriella and Alexia Lopez.
After Pima built a slight, five-point lead after one quarter, continued toughness from Gabriella and the deep ball from Romero brought the Pumas to within one point at the half, 28-27.
“I’m glad we had that one-point lead because it challenged our girls,” Corona said. “And in that second half, they proved to me that whatever comes our way we can take care of it.”
To start the third, Pima began feeding Ashlynn Chlarson down low and Bisbee simply was in a mismatch it couldn’t overcome as Chlarson went for 8 in the quarter.
Additionally, while Bisbee had handled Pima’s press defense in the first half, it struggled to do so in the second, opening the way for fast-break opportunities from the Roughriders.
Couple that with the Roughriders raining 3’s in the third quarter (Allred had two and McClain had another) and it resulted in a 25-7 quarter for the Roughriders.
Ashlie Sherwood kept the long-ball party going in the fourth with a couple more for good measure and the Pima starters finally played during the fourth quarter together after having so many mercy-rule blowouts prior. The bench was finally cleared in the final minute of play, and Pima finished with a 67-39 victory.
Pima will next travel to Morenci on Thursday, Jan. 27, to take on the Wildcats, starting at 5:30 p.m. and will travel to face this same Bisbee team on Tuesday, Feb. 1, starting at 5:30 p.m. The Roughriders will finish out their regular-season home games against Scottsdale Christian on Feb. 5 and Tombstone on Feb. 7.
Click here to see the Gila Herald’s photo album of the game.
In other local girls hoops action:
In 3A, No. 2 Thatcher (5-0 region, 11-1 conference,15-5 overall) extended its win streak to nine in a row by defeating Florence 55-22. The Eagles will next host the ALA-Ironwood Warriors on Friday, Jan. 28, starting at 5:30 p.m.
The Safford Bulldogs (3-3 region, 3-5 conference, 8-9 overall) fell short in a tough match on the road against region opponent Sabino 42-49. The Bulldogs will next host the Pusch Ridge Lions on Friday, Jan. 28, starting at 5:30 p.m.
In 2A, No. 11 Morenci (2-1 region, 3-2 conference, 11-4 overall) defeated Willcox, 63-12. Morenci will next host Pima on Thursday, Jan. 27, starting at 5:30 p.m.
In 1A, No. 1 Fort Thomas (3-0 region, 12-0 conference, 21-3 overall) defeated No. 15 Duncan (2-2 region, 7-5 conference, 10-9 overall), 57-25, on Monday, Jan. 24. The Fort will next travel to face the Hayden Lobos on Thursday, Jan. 27, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Duncan defeated Valley Union on Tuesday, 30-22, and will host Tombstone on Wednesday, Jan. 26, starting at 5:30 p.m. for its third game in as many days.
