Sedona Red Rock High School’s basketball teams knew they would have to beat the best to extend their seasons and garner seeds in the Division III state tournament.

But facing the best of the best in their opening games of the Section III tournament, which began Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Washington High School in Phoenix, proved too difficult for either the boys or the girls hoops teams to overcome.
Seeded No. 22 out of 24 teams eligible for the Division III state tournament coming into its sectional tournament, the Scorpions girls team [14-16] fell behind by 17 at the end of the first quarter and could not cut into the deficit against undefeated top seed Valley Christian, losing 73-38.

Sophomore guard Mara Kemmer led all scorers with 29 points and junior forward Ashley Koch added a
double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Trojans.

It was the Scorpions’ second straight loss after a 66-52 defeat in their home finale Feb. 7, at the hands of Mingus Union High School. It also marks the second-straight finish two games under .500 for second-year head coach Jackie Strickling. Having fallen to a No. 24 seed after the loss with sectional championships still to play through this weekend, the record casts any state playoff appearance in doubt when new Arizona Interscholastic Association power rankings come out Friday, Feb. 14.

For the full story, please see the Friday, Feb. 14, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.