Sophomore forward Hannah Ringel was named to the all-tournament team Tuesday, Dec. 30, to highlight a 3-1 performance for Sedona Red Rock High School at the Yvonne Johnson Memorial Shootout in Camp Verde.

“I was really able to see how everyone works and help them out,” Ringel said. “It was a good opportunity for the team to work together.”

Ringel’s free throws not only helped the Scorpions salt away Chino Valley High School, 30-29, they helped the Scorpions advance to, and ultimately win, the championship game of the tournament’s second-place bracket — consolation for the four teams who finished second in their three-team pool Monday, Dec. 29.

“She leads by example,” said Joe Donaldson, girls basketball head coach, after Ringel’s 15-rebound effort and scrapping for loose balls set the tone in a 51-32 win over Walden Grove High School of Sahuarita. “It’s that simple.”

Such simplicity saved SRRHS from losing Dec. 30 to CVHS after the Scorpions went up by 12 points with two minutes to play in the first quarter.

Once Donaldson rested Ringel and her four other teammates in the SRRHS starting lineup, however, the reserves could not hold the lead until there were two minutes to play in the game, when Ringel and the four other starters were re-inserted with the Cougars up two points.

“That was a team chemistry test on my part,” he said. “I attempted to put faith in their bench. I took a risk there, but I thought it was important for us to understand we play as a team.”

Ringel’s clutch shooting from the line is, to date, a well-kept secret, even in practice.

“To start every practice, we shoot 100 free throws,” she said. “I do better in games.”

It also typifies why Ringel is current team captain for SRRHS [6-3], as her play in all four games never filled up the scorebook but rather demonstrated a balanced, mature leadership.

For the full story, please see the Friday, Jan. 2, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.