Lady Rams drop first regional game–now 5-1 in 2A West

The Maricopa High School girls’ varsity basketball team hosted regional rival Yuma Catholic on Friday night.

Both teams came out firing but struggled to find the basket early. The scoring drought came to an end when Shamrock freshman point guard Ashley Wirtzberger knocked down a free throw with 5:31 remaining in the quarter. Shamrock post player Paige Hodges caught an inbound pass under the basket and laid it off the glass for two.

The Lady Rams got on the board with 3:51 remaining in the quarter, when Ram point guard Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid drained two from the charity stripe. Nuguid knocked down a 15-footer from the wing, but the Lady Rams trailed 7-5.

Shamrock post player Ashley Aitken found Hodges in the paint for an easy turn around lay in, giving the Shamrocks a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Shamrock Zanae Facio found Hodges in the lane for two. Lady Ram Lindsey Valles found guard Vanessa Aguirre on the baseline for an open jumper, and Nuguid picked off a pass, driving to the hoop for an easy lay in and cutting the lead to 17-11.

Yuma’s Wirtzberger dished to Facio on the break for an easy lay in and then banked a three-pointer off the glass from the top of the key, giving the visiting Shamrocks a 26-12 lead.

Lady Ram Nuguid was fouled on the inbound pass, putting her at the charity stripe where she converted on both attempts. Unforced turnovers missed free throw attempts and post player Jessica Schwanbeck in foul trouble helped the Shamrocks hold on to a 33-22 lead at the half.

Lady Ram Jessica Schwanbeck (#34) comes up with the jump ball at the start of Friday’s game against Yuma Catholic.

Head Coach Jen Miller discusses team strategy with her players Friday night against Yuma Catholic.

Shamrock forward Facio was fouled on the lay in and converted the old fashioned three-point play, giving the Shamrocks a 37-22 early in the third quarter. Lady Ram Valles fired a sweet full court pass to Nuguid in stride for an easy lay in, but Shamrock forward Facio, off the inbound pass, drained an easy bucket in the paint.

With Ram forward Kayla Valisto and Schwanbeck on the bench the Lady Rams struggled down low on both ends of the floor although they continued to play hard and didn’t give up. Lady Ram guard Sarah Scofield found Nuguid on the inbound pass down low for two, but the Lady Rams trailed 52-37 at the end of the third quarter.

Yuma’s Facio converted back-to-back fast break lay ups to open up the fourth quarter while her teammate, forward Lindsay Gregston, with the rebound and put back down low, gave the Shamrocks a 58-40 lead early in the fourth quarter. Lady Ram Nuguid found Schwanbeck in transition for an easy two. Shamrock Wirtzberger was fouled on the jumper attempt and converted both free throws.

Ram forward Schwanbeck fouled out, so Nuguid tried to take on the scoring load with a nice put back, a baseline jumper and a baseline drive for two, but it was just too much as the Shamrocks converted on several free throw opportunities. Wirtzberger had a nice floater down the lane, giving the Shamrocks a 71-48 lead.

Ram guard Scofield grabbed the rebound and put it back up for two. On the next procession Nuguid drained a three-pointer from the wing, but the Lady Rams dropped their first regional game 78-54.

Maricopa’s Brittany Parks, who had 19 points in the JV game and suited up for the varsity game, attempts a jumper deep inside the key during the second half against Yuma Catholic Friday night.

Lady Ram Yvonne”Yo” Nuguid (#33) charges into the lane for two in the last quarter Friday night against Yuma Catholic.

Ram point guard Yvonne “Yo” Nuguid, who had 34 points, led the Ram scoring, followed by Kayla Valisto and Sarah Scofield with five points a piece.

Forward Zanae Facio, who had 27 points, led the Shamrock scoring attack, followed by freshman point guard Ashley Wirtzberger with 21 and Paige Hodges with 17.

The Lady Rams are now 5-1 in regional play and are still in the driver’s seat in the 2A region.

Come out and support the Lady Rams at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 30, when they take on the Phoenix of Tonopah Valley and again on Feb. 2 when they go up against Baboquivari (also at 7 p.m.).

The road to the 2A West League title will go through Maricopa.

Photos by Jeremy Knop