Alyssa Haley goes for two against Queen Creek in another victory for Maricopa High School girls' basketball. Photo by Devin Carson

The Maricopa High School girls’ basketball team recovered from a rare week of setbacks by posting back-to-back blowouts.

The defending state champion Rams dropped from 14th in the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division II Power Rankings to 17th after getting humiliated by top-ranked Seton Catholic High School 76-36 on Jan. 6. Maricopa followed that with a close win over Desert Mountain High School (Scottsdale) 49-43, but the team still didn’t look crisp.

However, the Rams appear to be back in championship form after back-to-back wins by at least 30 points. Maricopa beat Campo Verde High School (Gilbert) 70-38 on Jan. 12, and followed it up with a dominant 80-40 victory over Queen Creek on Jan. 15.

“It was great to see the girls come together,” head coach Melvin Mitchell said. “Moving forward we just need to focus on the small things. We missed about nine layups in the first half, which is 18 points. That’s unacceptable. Against bigger and better teams we’ll have to work on that and make sure we make the layups we’re putting up.”

Senior Raegene Womack believes the Rams are good enough to make another run at the state title if they continue to play at a high level.

“I think I did well,” Womack said. “Not only did I play as an individual but I was also a team player. I think our chances are very good to not only go to state but have repeat (as champions).”

Maricopa’s schedule will get a bit easier in terms of opponents’ rankings, but each game becomes crucial for the Rams down the stretch.

Maricopa has climbed back into 11th place in the AIA rankings after last week’s show of force, but their 15-5 overall record, and 4-2 conference record, have them sitting in fourth place in AIA Division II Section VI. With six section games remaining, the Rams will have plenty of opportunities to improve their section standing.

“I’m pretty confident in my team,” Mitchell said. “If we all come together as one and play as one, I think we’re pretty good.”

Maricopa will return to action at home at 7 p.m. Tuesday night against Williams Field High School (Gilbert). The Rams will then hit the road on Friday to take on Westwood High School (Mesa), and stay on the road for their last non-section game against Betty H. Fairfax High School (Laveen) on Monday.

“I see Betty Fairfax as a key game,” Mitchell said. “They are a good school and a good program.”