The Sedona Red Rock High School boys basketball team won the Joy Christian Winter Start Tournament with a 46-33 victory in the championship game over Trivium Preparatory Academy on Dec. 22 at Joy Christian School.

Scorpion junior forward Wyatt Gregson was named tournament MVP after the championship game.

The Scorpions avenged a previous 61-55 loss to the Knights during group play. 
Red Rock opened group play on Dec. 20 with a victory over Catalina High School by a score of 64-55. Senior forward Dawson Stephenson led with 17 points.

Following the win the team faced off with fellow Division 2A foe Trivium Prep, falling to the Knights 61-55. The Scorpions found themselves in a big hole early on, down 20-2, but managed to get to within four with one minute remaining.

On Dec. 21 Red Rock completed a sweep, first taking down Paradise Honors High School’s JV team 66-37. Sophomore guard Chase Saczalski led with 13 points.

In the quarterfinal, the Scorpions defeated the host Eagles 77-51 in the best game Red Rock has played all season, according to head coach Kirk Westervelt.

In Wednesday’s semifinal against divisional opponent Glendale Preparatory Academy, the Scorpions earned a 63-30 victory fueled by defense.

In the final, Red Rock slowed down Trivium Prep’s bigger inside players, who had scored the majority of their points during the first round loss. In that defeat, the Scorpions were down 25-6 after the first quarter.

At halftime of the final the Scorpions led 18-10.

“That’s what led to good games offensively, was having a good game defensively,” Saczalski said. “We were really unselfish and that’s what led to our wins.”

Senior guard Randy Rodriguez led with 14 points in the final, and senior forward Walker Cox poured in 13, including three three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

“This is good for their self-esteem, but we have more work to do,” Westervelt said.

“We just keep working hard and staying humble,” Saczalski said.