The Maricopa High School girls’ basketball team had a lot to celebrate Friday night, both at its Senior Night basketball game and then, hours later, when it learned it had received a berth in the AIA Division II Sectionals.
The Rams, (17-10) seeded eighth in the Sectional, will travel to Tucson Amphitheater High School Tuesday night to take on top-seeded Tucson Flowing Wells (25-2) at 7:30 p.m.
The Rams wasted no time in taking care of visiting Casa Grande Vista Grande on Senior Night, 67-26, scoring the game’s first 17 points and cruising from there.
The easy win made for an enjoyable evening during which seniors Paige Ellis, Shay Bedonie and Cecily Peters played their final home game, and possibly the last of their careers. Having a chance to continue playing didn’t look particularly hopeful prior to the game, and to a certain extent, even afterward.
“We did our job tonight,” said head coach Jenn Miller, when asked whether her team had a chance to reach the playoffs. “Now we have to wait around and see what everybody else does.”
The reason for the guarded feelings was that Maricopa entered the contest 10th in the AIA Power Rankings in Section I, with only the top eight earning a spot in the post season.
However, late in the evening, the Rams received word that they were in. They squeezed by Nogales in the power rankings, 72.5685-72.0861.The Senior Night game itself was no contest.
After beginning on a 17-0 run, MHS led at halftime 40-10. Then, to put an exclamation point on the result, the Rams poured in the first 15 points of the second half.
“It was a good way for the seniors to finish. They all got good minutes,” Miller said. “I’m proud of them. They did what they were supposed to do tonight.”
Derona Mitchell paced the Rams with 20 points, while Brianna Estrada added 12.
Among the seniors, Ellis scored eight, Bedonie six and Peters four.
The winner of the Maricopa-Flowing Wells game will face the survivor of a game between Pusch Ridge (No. 4) and Cholla (No. 5), which will be played at Amphitheater at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. Meanwhile, At Flowing Wells Tuesday, Palo Verde (No. 3) meets Sahuaro (No. 6) and Douglas (No. 2) faces Queen Creek (No. 7).
