Josh Johnson looks for an opening against Valley Christian. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

After winning 10 straight games to start the second half of the season, the Maricopa High School boys’ basketball team has lost three straight and dropped outside the top 24 in the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division III Power Rankings.

The Rams climbed up to 22nd in the rankings following their tremendous 10 game stretch, but losses to Show Low High School, Scottsdale Christian Academy and Valley Christian High School over a five-day span dropped Maricopa to 27th.

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs this season,” MHS boys’ basketball head coach Jacob Neill said. “My goal coming into the season was to compete every night, and we’ve been in every single game at the end with a chance to win.”

The Show Low loss was particularly harmful to the team’s hopes as the Rams had the higher ranking. The 81-68 loss to second-ranked Scottsdale Christian was not a surprise. A similar result was expected when the Rams hosted sixth-ranked Valley Christian, but Maricopa pushed the Trojans hard. The Rams held a lead in the second half, but a third-quarter scoring frenzy by Valley Christian allowed the Trojans to pull away and hold on in the fourth for their 62-50 victory.

Maricopa’s final week of the season is crucial to their playoff hopes. The Rams will host Poston Butte High School (San Tan Valley) Tuesday night for their final game of the season. Maricopa is unlikely to overcome Poston’s third place positioning in AIA Div. III Section V, but a win nearly guarantees the Rams a spot in the section tournament. A loss could potentially end Maricopa’s season.

“One of our goals (throughout the season was) to qualify for the sectional tournament in which the top six teams in our section qualify for,” Neill said. “There are a lot of quality teams in our section. If we qualify for the sectional tournament it gives us a good shot at qualifying for the state tournament.”

If Maricopa qualifies for the section tournament, they will have another opportunity to qualify for the state playoffs. A section championship would guarantee the Rams a playoff spot, but a strong performance could boost their ranking as well.

The section tournament is set to take place Feb. 9-11 at Valley Christian High School in Gilbert.

Adam Wolfe
Adam Wolfe
http://inmaricopa.com
Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams. Adam was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but spent the majority of his young life in Lakeside, Arizona. After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. He has been working in the field of journalism since 2010. Adam has worked in a wide range of fields including professional sports and international media relations. He has also been a breaking news reporter, sports columnist, government reporter and community reporter. He spent a year in Denver, Colorado before coming to Maricopa in 2015. In his spare time, he will often be found enjoying the great outdoors. If he isn’t hiking or fishing, he is likely hopelessly cheering on his Arizona sports teams.
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