Bouncing back after a loss on the road to powerful Division I Phoenix Desert Vista, the Maricopa High School boys’ basketball team scored wins over Eloy Santa Cruz Valley and Casa Grande Vista Grande last week.
The Rams fell to Desert Vista, 78-33, Tuesday, but then easily defeated Santa Cruz Valley, 69-40, Thursday before winning a thriller at home over Vista Grande Friday, 72-70, in overtime.
“We trailed most of the game and were down by about 13 or 14 points with about three and a half minutes to go,” Maricopa head coach Andy Branchik said. “In a time out I told them that we had to do this together. We adjusted our press and it seemed to fluster Vista Grande. We never gave up and made some big defensive stops.”
But the biggest plays came from Nick Samuels who made three clutch free throws after being fouled on a three-point shot attempt near the end of regulation time to send the game into overtime. He then scored the winning basket in the extra period.
Branchik also had high praise for Marcus Lowe. “He did his usual great job on the boards and had some big put-backs.
Samuels wound up with 14 points and four steals, while Lowe added 17 points and seven rebounds and DeVaughn Elledge contributed 15 points. Daniel Cross chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds and two steals.The Santa Cruz Valley game was an easy win for the Rams who got to use their bench extensively.
Samuels scored 21 points in the win, while Lowe added eight points and eight rebounds and Cross scored eight.
The Rams, now 4-4, face a daunting task when the host unbeaten Phoenix Mountain Pointe, a top Division I team, Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the MHS gym.
