Sedona Red Rock High School held an end-of-season award ceremony for the varsity, junior varsity and middle school basketball teams on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 13. The girls’ team under the leadership of first year Head Coach Becca Serenity had a record of 2-14, with both its wins coming in region play, where their record was 2-6.
The boys’ team had a record of 5-14 for the season and 1- 8 in region play under Head Coach Pedro Ortega Sr.
“I’m proud of the way that the girls played and I’m proud of the way that they bought into the program and how they showed up,” Serenity said. “We had little issues in the beginning, but it cleaned up. We started living up to our values, both on and off the court. So I’m very proud of the way that we finished from a rebuilding of the program standpoint.”
Serenity added that she will be continuing as coach next season, and said that the biggest challenge in her inaugural season was getting players to “buy in” to the program.
“Towards the end of the season, even if we were down, the mentality was high, and we were still fighting to the end. Did we win all the games? No. Is the game all about winning? No,” Serenity said. “But a lot of leadership and character was developed, and I’m looking forward to further developing that, and further developing their skills as the next season comes.”
Maria Saldana was named most valuable player, Karina Diaz Rodriguez received the team’s sportsmanship award and Milana Ovcharenko received the award for most improved player.
“I improved a lot in my sportsmanship and my mindset throughout the season,” Saldana, a junior, said. “At first, I [had a] very loser mindset. But the more I played and worked with Coach Serenity, it helped me to be more positive.”
Saldana said that the hardest matchup of the season was an away game against Joseph City High School on Jan. 7 where the Scorpions lost to the Wildcats by 14 to 78.
“My favorite game was the last game of the season,” Saldana said, referring to a Feb. 5 game against Madison Highland that was one of the team’s two wins. “Because I got a chance to play, not only with varsity, but with my JV girls, and it was a lot of fun.”
Saladana said that working on shooting ahead of her final year on the team was her biggest priority.
“It was those last three games where from the beginning to the end, [Saladana] had a winner mindset … just a determination to believe in yourself to the very end,” Serenity said. Rodriguez earned the sportsmanship award and was also named “Culture Player of the Week,” a new award, three times during the season.
“Not only did [Rodriguez] win three of those throughout the season, which, as the girls know, they’re really hard to win,” Serenity said. “You got to beon time, you got to be doing the right things, you can’t make a single mistake. She was always that person that was encouraging everybody else, even when everybody was negative. She already has a winner mindset, and it shows with everything she does outside of the sport. She has a 4.0 GPA, she works a part time job. She’s a hustler, and she’s a phenomenal teammate.”
This was the first season that Ukrainian exchange student Ovcharenko played basketball, and her rapid progress earned her the award for most improved player.
“The first day she showed up to practice, we had to teach her to shoot a layup,” Serenity said. “[But] she was disciplined in practice and asked great questions every week. She came back better … One of my most exciting moments outside of her last game, which she had over 22 points and like 17 rebounds against Madison Highland, but it was our last home game when she did the first dropstep to dribble finish, which is a post move that she had struggled picking up, but she was able to get it by the end of the season.”
This was the final season for Victoria Lindsey, the assistant varsity coach and head coach for the junior varsity team. Lindsey coached for SOCSD for the last four years and will also coach the track and field team this spring before she relocates to Phoenix.
“I am applying for Phoenix Police Department,” Lindsey said. “I’m most proud of getting the girls to realize what they’re playing for,” Lindsey said. “Skills come. I think purpose and learning what you want to do and why is more important, too … These girls, I’ve coached them since they were in seventh grade, and I moved up with them, so we gained a lot more basketball IQ.”
Ortega was not present at the awards ceremony but sent a written message.
“Thank you for allowing me to be your basketball coach this past season.” Ortega wrote. “Your work ethic and dedication was excellent throughout the Season. Some special highlights of the season: Getting stuck on the bus coming home from Wickenburg … Nicholas Herman’s 40 points, including 12 three-pointers. Ben Metzger’s 32 points versus Grand Canyon. Jayden Amodeo’s tremendous defensive game versus Grand Canyon. Seeing players like Steel Sturgeon … with his work ethic and excellent sportsmanship.”
Ben Metzger was named most valuable player and Steel Sturgeon most improved player and Nicholas Hermen received the sportsmanship award.
