Despite a plethora of opportunities and being ahead most of the game, the Sedona Red Rock High girls basketball team couldn’t pull off the upset and lost to Mingus Union High on Nov. 19, 58-45.

Despite a plethora of opportunities and being ahead most of the game, the Sedona Red Rock High girls basketball team couldn’t pull off the upset and lost to Mingus Union High on Nov. 19, 58-45.

“We had our opportunities but just couldn’t cash them in,” Sedona head coach John Cunningham said.

With the loss, Sedona drops its record to 0-1 [0-0] on the season.

In the first quarter both teams attempted to shoot the basketball but to no avail as the basket itself seemed to move constantly or had a lid on it, thus not allowing the leather ball to grace its nylon net.

At the end of the first quarter Sedona led the high-scoring affair, 6-5.

Sedona finally broke the spell and put up 17 points in the second quarter to take a 23-17 lead into the locker room.

“We were intimidated at first but we pulled it together,” senior forward Courtney Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick put a nice game together scoring seven points and pulling seven rebounds while adding two blocks and two steals.

In the second half Mingus woke up from their slumber and blistered the Sedona defense for 46 points which led the Marauders to victory.

Sedona was actually down 40-35 going into the fourth quarter but missed free throws and the continued inability to put it in the basket didn’t help the cause.

For the game, Sedona was 12-32 from the free-throw line and shot a ghastly 29.6 percent  from the field.

“We had to make more of our free throws to get the win and we just didn’t do it,” sophomore forward Katie Adams said.

Adams continues her sophomore stud status after scoring 12 points and adding four rebounds, one assist and one steal.

“Katie [Adams] played pretty well, I was pleased with her effort,” Cunningham said.

Another reason Cunningham said the Scorpions lost the game was because of foul trouble in the fourth quarter.

Sedona had to go zone to try and combat the big girls Mingus possesses inside. Once the Scorpions did that, it was all over as Mingus is a better team against a zone.

“We got in foul trouble and had to go zone. Once that happened Mingus ate us up inside,” Cunningham said.

Another standout included junior point guard Breanne Cunningham who had 13 points to go along with her game-high eight steals. She also added five rebounds and two assists.

Losing by 13 points to a 4A-II school is nothing to look down on Cunningham said, especially since Mingus beat Sedona 77-29 last season.

Mingus was a solid 17-12 [4-6] last year and should compete for a 4A-II Grand Canyon regional crown this year as well.

The girls were in action again on Tuesday, Nov. 27, against Williams High.

Results were not available at press time.

Next up, Sedona travels to the Fountain Hills High Invitational Tournament on Friday, Nov. 30, and Saturday, Dec. 1.

Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 131, or e-mail to bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com