The Sedona Red Rock High girls basketball team showed just how good they could be when things are clicking Friday, Jan. 9, when they destroyed lowly River Valley High in front of a good home crowd, 69-38.
Sedona was without their head coach, John Cunningham, who was out of town on family business, but the Scorpions didn’t skip a beat and showed no weaknesses on the court on Friday night.
Assistant head coach Don Adams took the top spot on the sideline, leading his Scorpions past a Dust Devil team that has won only one game all year.
By Brian Bergner Jr.
Larson Newspapers
The Sedona Red Rock High girls basketball team showed just how good they could be when things are clicking Friday, Jan. 9, when they destroyed lowly River Valley High in front of a good home crowd, 69-38.
Sedona was without their head coach, John Cunningham, who was out of town on family business, but the Scorpions didn’t skip a beat and showed no weaknesses on the court on Friday night.
Assistant head coach Don Adams took the top spot on the sideline, leading his Scorpions past a Dust Devil team that has won only one game all year.
“It’s fun when you have a stud team out there. I didn’t have to do anything, just call time outs, sub players in and out and make sure they were focused on what they were doing,” Adams said.
Adams’ daughter, junior forward Katie Adams, couldn’t have been more focused against River Valley if she tried, missing the celebrated triple-double by only one steal as she scored 23 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and had nine steals.
Others put their stamp on the game, showing River Valley who was boss as senior point guard Breanne Cunningham scored 17 points while adding five steals and five assists in the game.
Junior guard Rita Clancy wasn’t too far behind her teammates in performance as well with 16 points and five steals while junior Ashley Lo Duca had eight points and six steals.
“When Rita [Clancy] gets it going we are unstoppable. It’s tough to guard three or four kids who can score and make things happen,” Adams said.
Sedona forced over 40 turnovers on River Valley’s part with its full court pressure defense which started from the very beginning.
In the first quarter Sedona jumped out on top 22-7 before allowing a few quick buckets to make it 22-11 going into the second quarter.
Cunningham, Clancy and Lo Duca continued to apply pressure up front and River Valley kept coughing up the ball like it was a virus waiting to be killed.
The steals turned into layups for Sedona as the Scorpions didn’t take anything for granted on Friday night, outscoring River Valley 17-8 in the second period to take a 39-19 lead at halftime.
“Our defense came to play on Friday against River Valley,” Adams said.
In the second half Adams made the decision to not apply pressure as much and the Scorpion offense suffered a bit scoring only 10 points while allowing eight points to River Valley as they led 49-27 after three.
Sedona worked on its pressure in the fourth quarter with plenty of bench players getting some much needed experience, something that usually doesn’t happen.
The Scorpions outscored River Valley 20-11 in the fourth quarter to go on and win, 69-38.
With the victory, Sedona improves its record to 10-5 overall on the season including a perfect 2-0 start in 3A-West regional action to begin the new year.
If everything goes right for the Scorpions this season, the girls from Sedona could hang a 2008-2009 3A-West regional championship banner.
It is basketball and anything can happen, but there are a few things going Sedona’s way with a little over four weeks to go in the season.
Sedona is currently ranked No. 16 in the state according to the Arizona Interscholastic Association power points.
With 28 teams in the 3A conference, only Wickenburg High and South Pointe High are ranked in the top 15 as the Wranglers are No. 15 in power points and South Pointe is No. 12.
Estrella Foothills High is No. 18, Chino Valley High is No. 19, River Valley is No. 27 and Parker High is dead last at No. 28.
“You still have to go out and take care of business,” John Cunningham said.
The Scorpions traveled south to Phoenix to play South Pointe on Tuesday, Jan. 13, but results were unavailable at press time.
Sedona will get a chance at continuing to improve itself this coming week as the girls travel to Chino Valley on Friday, Jan. 16.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 131, or e-mail bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com
