By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The 3A South Pusch Ridge Lions and Pima Roughriders could only muster 5 points each in the final quarter of a defensive masterpiece Saturday, and the visitors left elated with the victory, 35-32.
Keegan Corona had tied the game up at 32-32 on a high pick-and-roll drive to the bucket. Pima was set up for the tie on the previous possession when Joel Mattice got the defensive rebound to Corona, who found sophomore Tanner Smith for a huge 3-pointer and the team’s only points of the quarter up to that point.
Santino Almazan (11 points on 5-14 shooting) got open on a back cut, and his shot gave Pusch Ridge a 3-point lead.
Pima got the ball down low to Preston Russell, but three Lions converged on him, and Ben Lambe (2 points on 1-5 shooting, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) blocked the shot to turn the ball over to the Lions with 10.9 seconds left in the game.
“They started to really collapse on our guys, and we need to recognize that and kick it out for open looks outside when that happens . . . Overall, I’m happy with our effort. I think that we need to make sure we get a higher percentage of the 50/50 balls. I think they got a few more than us in this game and that probably is the difference in the ballgame.”
Pima had one last shot at it, but Keegan Corona’s half-court shot was short, and Pusch Ridge was victorious, 35-32.

“We tell our guys all the time we hold teams in the 30s we’re gonna get a win, but not tonight,” said Pima head boys basketball coach Cliff Thompson. “It was scrappy down to the end. They made a few more plays than us down the stretch.”
Pima (6-1 conference, 19-3 overall) was led by Preston Russell, who scored 6 of his team-high 10 points in the first quarter to help Pima to an early 8-7 lead heading into the second.
Charlie Richardson was the top man that quarter, hitting for 6 of his 7 points on the night. But Isaac Hardeman (10 points on 3-9 shooting) hit the first of two 3-pointers on the night for Pusch Ridge, and the Lions took a 21-17 lead into halftime.
Pima fought back in the third with an opening jumper by Russell, but Space X’s got nothing on Hardeman, who launched a deep 3 from the parking lot that found its way home.
The Lions were looking for more, but Russell had a good defensive position and told the charge (one of four Pima took as a team). He then casually sunk both free throws to make it a one-possession game with Pusch Ridge up 30-27 heading into the defensive fourth that ended with a 35-32 Lions win.

“I think it’s a good game for us to play,” Thompson said. “It had a state playoff game feel, and that’s always good to have.”
Other scorers for Pima included Keegan Corona with 5 points, Joel Mattice with 4, Tanner Smith with 3, Rhett Hughes with 2, and Wyatt Bingham had 1 point.
Pima starts a three-game road trip on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Gilbert Classical and will visit Miami on Friday, Jan. 24, and Arizona Lutheran on Saturday, Jan. 25. All games are set to begin at 7 p.m.