The Big Park Coyotes beat the West Sedona Wildcats for the first time in four years in boys basketball on Thursday, Dec. 20, in front of a full crowd in the Big Park gymnasium.

The Coyotes [5-2] took the early lead at home and had a shooting advantage over the Wildcats [4-4], allowing them walk away with a 61-27 victory.

“A lot of the boys high school team was there to cheer them on. That was so cool,” said Amy Parrella, Big Park Community School’s head coach. “The boys just loved that. I love the whole town spirit.”

The boys, who one day soon will be teammates, took the court as enemies, ready to battle for Sedona middle school supremacy.

Big Park won the tipoff, and Luke Doerner made a layup from it. Randy Rodriguez, demonstrating awesome basketball skills, added seven points with two layups and a 3-pointer. Neil Smith got a score before West Sedona’s Dawson Stevenson sank a 3-pointer.

West Sedona showcased excellent passing, but Big Park played tough defense, particularly Scotty Beyer who plays tough man to man and 6-foot Chaz Rescigno, who made it difficult for West Sedona to set up big plays.

Rodriguez scored before Austin Cottle of West Sedona made a basket with an assist by Stevenson. Stevenson, Dawson Barber and Sean Sullivan all played strong defensively, breaking up passes, blocking shots and rebounding, but the Wildcats had a difficult time getting the ball in the hoop.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Dec. 26, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.