While the Sedona Red Rock Junior High girls basketball team did not win the championship, they did earn postseason recognition.

“The team as a whole was solid defensively and very disciplined,” Sedona coach Kirk Westervelt said. “If you work hard in life then you reap the benefits, and that is how it went as far as all-state selections.”

The Scorpions went 27-1 this season and finished third in the 2A and 3A Small Schools Tournament on Feb 9.

“All of the freshmen played with the eighth-graders last season so the girls should mesh well with the high schoolers,” Westervelt said. “They are going to have a pretty good bench and enough players to hold two teams next year.”

Helen Westervelt earned first-team all-state honors after averaging 17 points this season.

“Being ambidextrous allowed her to score from more areas on the court than most middle schoolers,” Westervelt said. “Most kids will not even attempt to use their off hand but she can get where she needs to on the hardwood.”

Westervelt said he believes the sky’s the limit for Helen’s potential at the high school level.

“It depends on her offseason, she is going to see things she has never seen in her life,” Westervelt said. “Helen can step right in and become a force if she puts her mind to it but I am supportive of whatever path she chooses.”

Mayra Parra-Landa-verde, Leah Pedersen and Macy Valdez earned second team honors to round out the Scorpions’ squad of all-state recipients.

“Mayra, Leah and Helen made our offense more versatile, as they can each drive or spot up on that end,” Westervelt said. “I do not care what level of basketball it is, stopping a well-executed drive-and-kick is no easy task to defend.”

Sedona’s offensive versatility allowed the Scorpions to exploit opponents who keyed in on Westervelt and Parra-Landaverde.

“We posted Helen up a lot but we also put her at point guard so teams could not game plan against her as easily,” Westervelt said. “Mayra and Leah are both capable enough ball-handlers to penetrate when Helen is down low.”

“Macy was a force on the glass and always gave it her all while on the court,” Westervelt said. “She is new to the game but was a great contributor all season long.”

Parra-Landaverde averaged 14 points this season and was a force to be reckoned with on defense.

“She has a knack for reading a defense and putting herself in the right position like a middle linebacker
does in football,” Westervelt said. “We let Mayra roam from sideline to sideline and I bet half of Mayra’s points came from our press.”

While Helen Westervelt served as Sedona’s primary scorer, Parra-Landaverde wreaked havoc on opposing offenses.

“We liked to put her at the front of the press because she takes every defensive assignment as a personal challenge,” Westervelt said. “Mayra is a bulldog at the front of the press and her teammates feed off her energy.”

Parra-Landaverde’s defensive superiority allowed the Scorpions to easily convert their defensive efforts into offensive opportunities.

When the Scorpions were not dominating during games, they were putting in work at practice to maintain their edge.

“I am more of a disciplinarian type of coach and they responded admirablyto my approach this season,” Westervelt said.
Westervelt said he believes the girls came a long way from their first practice this season.

“It was a project but you have to be dedicated and not get easily frustrated with the kids,” Westervelt said. “After three months, we whipped the kids into shape and they were giving solid contributions on the court.”

Despite the Scorpions’ competitive nature, the girls were very close both on and off the hardwood.

“We never had any friction to my knowledge and the girls always gave it their all,” Westervelt said. “The girls never missed a game for academics or disciplinary reasons and supported their teammates at every opportunity.”

“We had 18 girls on the A team and B team and not one of them complained all season,” Westervelt said.