Lady Rams clinch another regional victory

The Lady Warriors of San Pasqual hoped to steal a regional win on the road against Maricopa after forward Laura Montague tied a team high-score record with 38 points leading them to a 77-71 victory against Baboquivari, however, the Lady Rams weren’t intimidated as they pulled out a 62-56 victory Friday night.

Lady Ram Jessica Schwanbeck, with 19 points for the night, fired up the team when she drained a jumper in the lane, tying the game at 10-10. Lady Ram point guard Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid bounced a sweet pass to Schwanbeck in the lane for two, giving the Lady Rams a 12-10 lead.

Guard Virginia Montague brought the Warriors back out front when she drained a three-pointer from the wing. Lady Warrior Montague grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled on the put back, putting her at the free throw line where she converted the old fashioned three-point play.

But, Lady Ram guard Danielle Heidema wasn’t leaving the first quarter so easy as she found Brittany Parks in the lane for an easy lay in, tying the game 16-16 at the end of the first quarter.

Maricopa’s Jessica Schwanbeck (#34) shoots a jumper during the second quarter Friday night against San Pasquel.

Starting the second quarter, Lady Ram Nuguid found Heidema in the lane for an easy two, giving the Rams an 18-16 lead. Lady Ram Parks was fouled on the lay in attempt, putting her at the freethrow line, where she converted both attempts.

Parks continued her glory story on the receiving end of a Nuguid half-court pass under the hoop for an easy two giving them a 22-16 lead. But, Lady Warrior Virginia Montague answered with a three-pointer from the wing.

Montague’s back-court running mate Lorena Joaquin drained two three-pointers from the wing, but the Warriors trailed 27-28. Lady Ram 3-point specialist Nuguid answered back sinking one from the wing and drove to the hoop for an off-the-glass bucket at the half for a 37-27 lead.

The third quarter opened when Warrior forward Montague drained a turn-around jumper from the lane. On their next possession, Virginia Montague grabbed the rebound and put it back up for two from down low, cutting the Ram lead to 37-31.

Lady Ram Kayla Valisto (#44) fights to get off a shot in the second half Friday night against San Pasquel. Valisto did score on the play.

Lady Ram Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid (#33) drives in for a 2-pointer against San Pasquel in the first half Friday night.

Nuguid reminded the Warriors whose court they were on as she knocked down an 18-foot jumper and came up with a steal on the defensive end. Nuguid then she found Kayla Valisto in the paint for an easy lay in. In case the Warriors hadn’t taken her seriously yet, Nuguid drove the next possession through the lane for a lay in off the glass, giving the Rams 45-34 lead.

Nuguid proceeded to show her dominance with a drive for two and a jumper from the lane, ending the third quarter with a 49-38 Rams lead.

In the fourth quarter, Lady Ram Schwanbeck grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for two off the glass. Lady Ram Nuguid suffered an ankle injury and left the game with 7:30 remaining.

With Nuguid on the bench, the Warriors were looking to make a run as Laura Montague drained a jumper down lowering their deficit to within 12. However, Lady Ram Valisto pushed back with a bounce-pass feed across the lane to Schwanbeck for a lay in.

The Lady Warriors converted on three consecutive offensive possessions, when Laura Montague kissed one in off the glass and Janyse Collins-Solorio converted two buckets down low, cutting the Lady Ram lead to 56-49.

Lady Ram Brittany Parks (#11) shoots from the free throw line Friday night in the second half against San Pasquel.

Maricopa’s Sarah Scofield (#13) shows no fear in driving to the basket amidst a swarm of San Pasquel defenders in the second half Friday night. Scofield, who was fouled during the play, tumbled into a summer salt.

Lady Ram guard Heidema dished to Valisto in the paint for two. Valisto knocked down another bucket down low, giving the Lady Rams a 60-51 lead with 2:16 remaining in the game.

Lady Warrior Laura Montague drained a turn around jumper in lane bringing the game with in seven points with 2:00 remaining in the game. The Lady Warriors tried to cut into the Ram lead, but offered up the charity stripe to the Rams.

Lady Ram Sarah Scofield was fouled putting her at the freethrow line where she iced the game by sinking both buckets, giving the Lady Rams a 62-56 win.

Lady Ram forward Jessica Schwanbeck, who had 19 points, led the Ram scoring, followed by Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid with 17, Kayla Valisto with 8, Sarah Scofield with 6, Brittany Parks with 6 and Danielle Heidema with 4.

Lady Warrior forward Laura Montague, who had 17 points, led the Warriors scoring, followed by her sister Virginia Montague with 10 points, Janyse Collins-Solorio with 9 and Kim Dura with 9.

The Lady Rams are 7-2 in 2A west regional play. They have two home games remaining. They face Tonopah Valley Jan. 30 and Baboquivari Feb. 2. Both games are at 7 p.m.

Photos By Jeremy Knop