Girls basketball opens season with ‘so much potential’

Maricopa High’s girls basketball team begins the season with a new coach, two of the best players in the state and talent from a junior varsity squad that was 18-0 last season.

There’s buzz about the Rams contenting for a state championship. The girls lived up to that early by cruising to a championship in the Desert Edge Tournament on Thanksgiving weekend.

“We have so much potential; we’re excited for the season to start and for everyone in Maricopa to come and watch us play,” coach Kati Burrows said. “It’s a bonus coming onto a job like this.”

Seton Catholic coach Karen Self, who won her seventh state title at the Chandler private school last season, said the Rams will be “a top-five team without question.”

Maricopa will be challenging Phoenix South Mountain, Vail Cienega and Seton Catholic, among others, for the Division II crown.

Burrows comes to Maricopa after being an assistant at Phoenix St. Mary’s and Mesa Dobson high schools. She played college basketball at Montana State, where she won two Big Sky championships and ranks as the school’s fourth-leading scorer and seventh-leading rebounder of all time.

The coach inherited a team loaded with talent, including junior guard Danae Ruiz and junior forward Raegene Womack. They played on an undefeated middle school team in 2011-12, leading Desert Wind Middle School to a 13-0 record and the Pinal County championship.

Ruiz’s coach at the time, Willy Lange, said: “She’s just incredible; she makes everybody else look like they’re going in slow motion.”

Ruiz returns to Maricopa after playing her first two high school seasons in Albuquerque, New Mexico, giving the Rams a reason for high expectations. She’ll play point guard, even though she’s more of a shooting guard, Burrows said.

“She’s such a student of the game,” Burrows said. “She handles the ball really well. She’s excited about being back in Maricopa and playing with girls she’s known in the past.”

Womack averaged 13.8 rebounds a game as a freshman and plays relentlessly, the coach said.

“She’s a great rebounder and defender,” Burrows said.

The Rams made the playoffs seven of nine seasons under former coach Jenn Miller, so there’s a foundation for success.

At the Desert Edge tourney, Burrows said the team showed their strengths by pressuring the opponents and getting "easy buckets" in transition. "They are making really good progress," Burrows said. "I think we surprised a few people."

After taking the Desert Edge tourney in four games, defeating Prescott 56-46 in the championship, the Rams downed Coronado 56-11 in the MHS home opener Dec. 1.

Next they take on Coolige on the road Tuesday and then come home to face Seton Catholic Thursday.

The Rams’ speed and athleticism matches any team in the state, the Seton Catholic coach said.

“Anyone who is paying attention knows Maricopa is one of the best teams,” Self said. “Maricopa has a lot of athletic players and versatility.

“I would say, going into the season, that South Mountain probably would be the No. 1 team in the state. They return every starter except one from last season. It could come down to who has the fewest injuries. It’s going to be that competitive.”

Maricopa has not won a state girls basketball championship in school history, and that’s on Burrows’ mind.

“I feel we can be extremely successful and do something that Maricopa High School has never achieved in girls basketball,” Burrows said. “Our ultimate goal is to hang a banner at the end of the season and set the benchmark for future athletes.”

The Rams play in one of the most competitive sections in the state, Division II, Section 4, with traditional powers, but Maricopa finished 20-7 last season.

“We play in an extremely well-coached and competitive section, so every night we have to be ready to play our best,” Burrows said. “We won't be able to relax or coast through games.”

Burrows said she came into the job without watching Maricopa play on tape or looking at last season’s statistics.

“They have done great in the past,” Burrows said. “But we’re trying to raise the bar even higher. Everyone has a fresh start with a new coach.

“Everywhere I have coached and played, we have played at a high level,” she added. “I always have been part of contending teams. So we’re expecting to be good and welcome the chance to realize our ultimate goal.”

***ADVERTISEMENT***Not surprisingly, Ruiz has been the top scorer for the team so far and senior Tiara Edmonds "is just getting after people," Burrow said, which fits in with Maricopa's intensive style of play.

Other players on the roster include seniors Ashliegh Haley, Maria Montes and Kelly Paine and juniors Allyssa Haley, Jaleesa Rodriguez and Kelsee Keys.

Despite having two of the state’s best players, Burrows said she’s emphasizing teamwork, and they are focusing on defense.

“We are really focusing on playing as a team,” Burrows said. “There is a reason every single person on our roster is there. Everyone brings something different that will help us be successful.”

Raquel Hendrickson contributed to this story.

Home Basketball Games

Tipoff for varsity games is 7 p.m., JV 5:30 p.m. and frosh 4 p.m.

Dec. 1 Coronado
Dec. 11 Seton Catholic
Dec. 16 Williams Field (frosh only)
Jan. 7 Basha
Jan. 8 Queen Creek
Jan. 14 Combs
Jan. 16 Williams Field
Jan. 22 Campo Verde
Jan. 23 Yuma
Feb. 4 Apache Junction (JV 4 p.m., varsity 5:30 p.m.)*

* Senior Night