Yuma High girls hoops earns first win in over 4 years
Last Criminals victory came on Dec. 13 of 2016
The streak is finally over.
After 1,508 calendar days and 69 Arizona Interscholastic Association games, the Yuma High girls basketball team is once again victorious.
Yuma High defeated Buckeye Union, a team that finished inside the top10 in 4A last year, 43-38 on the road.
“The girls have been close all season,” Yuma High coach Shawn Jones said. “We just kept the same intensity and pulled it off in the fourth. It’s refreshing for these girls (to get that win). All the hard work they’ve put in and see it pay off on the road against a great team, shows them they hang and play with the best.”
The win comes one night after Buckeye beat Yuma High by 10 points.
“To bounce back and win, shows their fortitude and shows the fight they have in them and we need to keep the momentum going,”Jones said.
Leading the way for the Criminals was Kamariah Hawkins as she produced 18 points, 15 rebounds, eight steals and six assists in the win.
“She’s been consistent this year,” Jones said. “She gives the team a calming factor...We’re still a young team, but she’s a calming factor and those kids feed off her energy.”
The Criminals will face Youngker next week in hopes of building off Thursday’s win.
Boys basketball YC 72, Kingman 20
This game was over in the opening minutes as the Shamrocks improved to 3-1
Leading the Shamrocks in their second straight 30-plus point victory was senior Rori Martinez. She’s a matchup nightmare for opponents and her length certainly played a factor in Thursday’s win.
“She’s our go-to person inside,” McGalliard said. “Rori is kind of a do-everything player. Offensively, she can hit the perimeter shots, post up and she runs the floor well.”
Martinez finished with a game-high 15 points on 6-of10 shooting to go along with six rebounds, five steals and four assists.
Her ability to shoot a high percentage from the floor is credited to her teammates facilitating the basketball with a purpose. The Shamrocks turned down good shooting opportunities, for even easier looks.
“We share the basketball really well,” McGalliard said. “We don’t really care who scores for us. We spread the wealth in this offense. Even in the halfcourt sets, we don’t want to settle for just one look. I think the kids did a really good job of that tonight.”
In all, the Shamrocks assisted on 16 of the team’s 23 made shots. Rian Martinez contributed with a teamhigh five assists to go with her eight points, five rebounds and four steals.
Reese Sellers had 13 points, four steals and three assists, while Isabel Torok added 10 points, eight rebounds and a steal in the win.
The Shamrocks travel to Marcos de Niza, a team that’s been outscored 28849 this year, next week as they eye their first 4-0 start since 2018-2019.