After an undefeated regular season, the Sedona Red Rock Junior High girls basketball team focused its attention on the postseason.

Sedona improved to 25-0 as the Scorpions defeated Dilcon Community School 44-20 on Thursday, Feb. 7. Last year, Dilcon handed the Scorpions a tough 33-31 loss in the championship game.

Helen Westervelt led all scorers with 18 points while Mayra Parra-Landaverde added 12 points.

Leah Pedersen and Sonia Buck both registered four points.

After enacting revenge on Dilcon with the double-digit win, the Scorpions lost 25-19 to Kaibeto Boarding School on Friday,
Feb. 8.

With the loss, Sedona dropped to 25-1 on the season.

“We were outplayed by a better team,” Sedona coach Kirk Westervelt said. “Kaibeto is always tough as they feed into two perennial 3A contenders in Page High School and Tuba City High School.”

Parra-Landaverde led Sedona with eight points while Westervelt accumulated six.

“I told them we are going to go out with a 27-1 record because we will not lose three in a row,” Westervelt said.

The loss was Sedona’s first since the 2018 state championship against Dilcon 33-31 on Feb. 10. 2018.

“Cinderella almost made it to midnight,” Westervelt said. “We only lost one game this season but it is what it is.”

The Scorpions avenged their loss to Kaibeto by beating Mountain View Preparatory 24-14 on Saturday, Feb. 9.

Westervelt led the Scorpions with 16 points and Pedersen added four.

The Scorpions took home the third place trophy after defeating Little Singer Community School 44-23 on Saturday, Feb. 9.

Westervelt scored 27 points while Parra-Landaverde added 11 points.

Pedersen scored six points for Sedona.

Sedona’s win was their fifth of the season over MVP as the Scorpions ended the season at 27-1.

Though the Scorpions did not complete the perfect season, Sedona’s campaign was a success in Kirk Westervelt’s eyes.

“Half of the girls had never played basketball before and quickly developed as the season progressed,” Westervelt said.

“Initially they could not dribble with their left hand but by midseason, they were confident in their left-handed dribbling and layups.”

For the coach, honing the players’ skills was as crucial to Sedona as winning.

“Even if we had lost more games this season, it was more important that the players developed their skills on the hardwood.”

While the Scorpions are losing the eighth graders, Westervelt said he hopes the girls continue playing together.

“It is amazing what three months can do so hopefully this group of girls will continue as teammates,” Westervelt said. “In one or two years, they have the potential to compete in the playoffs in high school.”
If the departing Scorpions stay committed, then the sky is the limit at the high school level.

“Championships are won in the offseason so they have to put in the time between now and October,” Westervelt said. “If they stay committed, there is no reason they cannot achieve success at the high school level.”

“The girls have a lot of talent but it is about keeping them disciplined
and focused,” Westervelt said.

Westervelt said he would describe this year’s Scorpions squad as a tough, disciplined unselfish bunch on and off the court.

“They did not care who scored, the girls passed well and loved sharing the ball,” Westervelt said.
“It was amazing to see the players mature and become more confident in their abilities.”

“Confidence is the main thing in regards to performing against tougher opponents instead of wilting,” he said.

For Westervelt, avenging the Scorpions’ losses from last season was his most memorable moment.

The Scorpions dubbed this season “the revenge tour” after losing to Beaver Creek and MVP last year.

“We got revenge from last season as we beat Dilcon in the first round, MVP five times and Beaver Creek every time we faced them,” Westervelt said. “How the girls competed and showed that they could beat anyone is my favorite memory.”

With many Sedona players moving onto the high school ranks, Westervelt said he is stepping
down as the Scorpions’ coach.