By Jon Johnson
PIMA – The Pima Roughriders turned the home gym into their personal playground Wednesday night, dominating the paint and pulling away for a convincing 73-51 victory over the Sahuarita Mustangs in Game Two of the 62nd annual EA Holiday Boys Basketball Tournament.
Pima wasted no time asserting control, jumping out to a 19-9 lead after one quarter behind a balanced attack and hot shooting from beyond the arc. Senior Isaac Thompson set the tone early, burying a pair of three-pointers and adding a bucket inside to pour in eight points in the opening frame – nearly matching Sahuarita’s entire team output. Stratton McRae twice converted high-low looks off feeds from Joel Mattice, while Charlie Richardson drew contact for an and-one finish.
The Roughriders kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, stretching the advantage to as many as 20 points. Keegan Corona ignited transition with a coast-to-coast layup and a half-court assist to Thompson, while Richardson took over inside, repeatedly scoring through contact as teammates continued to feed the big man. Sahuarita showed signs of life late in the half, with Daniel Durazo converting in the lane and Gabe Epling finishing off a steal to trim the margin to 33-22 at the break.
Sahuarita came out firing in the third, as Armani Bennett spun through the lane and later cleaned up a steal for quick buckets, cutting the deficit to seven. But Pima had answers every time the Mustangs threatened. Corona splashed a deep three against the zone, McRae dazzled with a reverse layup and multiple easy finishes, and Mattice powered through for scores and rebound putbacks. A controversial Zach Myhre bucket that appeared to strike the support structure behind the backboard was allowed to stand, but it hardly mattered as the Roughriders closed the quarter on a surge to lead 53-35.
The fourth quarter was all formality. McRae and Richardson each earned and-ones in the paint, Corona sliced for another, and Pima’s interior duo of Mattice and Richardson proved too physical for Sahuarita to contain. A late Durazo triple provided a brief highlight for the Mustangs, but the outcome was never in doubt as the Roughriders cruised to the 22-point win.
Scoring Summary
Pima Roughriders (73)
Charlie Richardson – 17 points
Joel Mattice – 14 points
Keegan Corona – 13 points
Stratton McRae – 13 points
Isaac Thompson – 12 points
Nash Bodily – 3 points
Haydn Wilkins – 1 point
Sahuarita Mustangs (51)
Gabe Epling – 13 points
Daniel Durazo – 13 points
Armani Bennett – 10 points
Zack Myhre – 7 points
Ruben Villalba – 5 points
Ryler Hinkle – 2 points
Josh Levelle – 1 point
With the win, Pima advanced in the bracket of the holiday classic and defeated St. John’s 58-32 in their first game on Friday, held at Guitteau Gymnasium at EA. Their next game is scheduled against Sabino at EA, starting at 7:30 p.m.
