There was no question that Sedona Red Rock High School’s third-seeded girls basketball team would be well rested entering its first round playoff game with No. 14 Arete Prep on Wednesday, March 10. But coming out of an extended quarantine and having only two days of practice, the question was, would rust be an issue? It didn’t take long to answer that.
Any concerns that the Scorpions might be rusty going into the game with the Chargers were alleviated early. Sedona dominated from the outset, taking an 18-3 lead after the first quarter. The 18 points the Scorpions scored in that quarter would match their opponent’s total output on the night, as Sedona crushed Areta Prep 59-18 to move on to the state quarterfinals.
“I feel like the layoff was more of a blessing,” sophomore guard Helen Westervelt said. “We each got to work on our individual strengths. We worked out by lifting weights or going on runs. I think that made us better as players, putting in the work. And I feel like we’re more connected now.”
Westervelt was the driving force offensively for the Scorpions on the night. She scored the game’s first nine points and finished the game with more than the entire Chargers team, finishing with 24. But it wasn’t a one-woman show. Freshman center Rachel Roderick had 13, junior forward Stephanie Medel had eight, while junior guard Nyah Valdez and freshman guard Annabelle Cook both had seven.
That meant that all five SRRHS starters outscored anyone from the other team, as Arete Prep was led in scoring by junior guard Mariah Dominguez and junior forward Alissa Kassebaum, who both had five. While Sedona coach Kirk Westervelt knows that the games will only get tougher, he also knows that the balance isn’t a fluke, as all five Scorpions starters were named either First or Second Team All-Region in the 2A Central Region.
“On Saturday it could be Nyah or Annabelle with 20,” coach Westervelt said. “We’re pretty darn balanced. I’ve never had a team where every girl is pretty much in double-digits.”
The lopsided win also gave Westervelt a chance to empty his bench. That meant getting the team’s only senior, Lesly Suarez, some playing time.
Suarez was scheduled to start on Senior Night on Friday, Feb. 26, but that game had to be canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test, which sent both the boys and girls teams into quarantine. Following the win over the Chargers, Suarez was honored in a Senior Night Ceremony.
“I knew I was going to cry — it meant the world to me,” Suarez said. “Not only that but being 2A Central champs is amazing. It really just meant the world to me.”
Next up for Sedona is another home playoff game. They’ll host Scottsdale Christian on Saturday, March 13, at 7 p.m. in the 2A state quarterfinals. The No. 11-seeded Eagles upset No. 6 Benson 49-44 to earn their spot in the final eight. The two teams didn’t play this season but met twice last year. The Scorpions won both meetings, winning 42-31 in the regular season and 48-40 in the state play-in game.
That will be the final home game of the season for SRRHS no matter what, as the semifinals and finals would be played at neutral sites on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20.
“We’re ready for whatever comes in our way,” Helen Westervelt said. “I know what we’re capable of. I know we’re strong and we can take it all the way as state champions.”
As was the case for the game against Arete Prep, there are a limited number of tickets available for Saturday’s game against Scottsdale Christian. Tickets can be purchased online at: gofan.co/app/events/272745.
