MHS girls’ basketball splits games on the road

Facing the team they defeated for the state championship last year, Maricopa High School girls’ basketball team suffered a 40-point loss Jan. 6. They followed up with a close victory Friday night again on the road.

It wasn’t just an early injury to starter Sydni Callis that took the Rams off their game in the Seton Catholic gym.

“They were making a lot of mistakes,” head coach Melvin Mitchell said. “They were making mistakes they don’t make against anybody else.”

The Rams put up only four points in the first quarter and were down 44-13 at the half. By the end of the game, the clock was under the mercy rule for the 76-36 conference loss.

Seniors Kayla Kagutkiewicz and Raegene Womack led Maricopa scoring with 11 points each. Callis turned an ankle midway through the first quarter. Starter Tyra Williams also remains on the bench with an injured finger.

The Sentinels had a familiar approach, with the tall Wirth sisters up front in double-digit scoring and sure-shot sophomore Sarah Barcello leading with 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Rams exposed the weaknesses but could not take advantage of them. Seton Catholic is 15-1 (3-0).

Friday, the Rams won the non-conference game against 39th-ranked Desert Mountain 49-43. Maricopa is now ranked 17th in the state with a 13-5 (0-2) record.

Tuesday they have a conference game at Campo Verde High School (6-10).