Ram boys 1 – 1 in Copa Classic so far

The Maricopa High School boys’ varsity basketball team picked up its first win in the Copa Classic on Wednesday afternoon against the Lynx of Tucson Academy.

Ram power forward Gabe Jenkins put the Rams on the board first with a bucket down low for two. Point guard Willie Rojas found Jenkins in the paint for another two points, and guard Clinton Teller followed up a Rojas miss with the put back lay-in, giving the Rams a 6 – 2 lead. Ram guard Steven Wess came off the bench and found forward Joe Zabawa in the lane for a three-foot turn around jumper.

Academy guard Josh Kevwitch knocked down a three-pointer from the wing, cutting the Ram lead to 11 – 7. The Ram bench came up big again when guard Sean Soliz knocked down a three- pointer, and forward Karlyle Stephens had a nice tip-in put back, stretching the Ram lead to 17 – 9 to end the first quarter.

Soliz drained a three-pointer from the wing to open up the second quarter, but Academy’s Kevwitch knocked down a short-range jumper in the lane. Stephens knocked down a jumper of his own in the lane to give the Rams a 22 – 11 lead, and guard Robert Parks came off the bench to knock down a three-pointer from the wing.

Academy’s Drew McKenna and Jason Randall each knocked down a three-pointer, but Academy still trailed 32 – 19. Zabawa made a turn-around jumper off the glass for two; then Rojas stole a pass and converted the fast break lay up, giving the Rams a 37 – 19 lead. Academy’s Randall drained a short-range jumper in the paint, but the Lynx trailed the Rams 39 – 22 at the half.

Teller made a lay-in to open up the second half. Ram forward Zabawa had a nice put back for two. Point guard Rojas had a nice floater in the lane for the two, giving the Rams a 45 – 22 lead. Rojas had a nice behind the back pass to Micah Foster who drained the 12-footer jumper from the left wing. The Ram bench continued to put points on the board as Parks drained a three-pointer from the baseline; Soliz knocked down a three-pointer from the wing, and swing man Stephens converted a fast break lay-in with time winding down giving the Rams a 62 – 26 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Zabawa knocked down a jumper from the free throw line, stretching the Ram lead to 65 – 26. Forward Kenny Klein had a nice put back for two, and swingman Stephens drained a 15-foot baseline jumper to seal the 77 – 31 victory for the Rams.

Karlyle Stephens, who had 13 points, led the Ram scoring, followed by Joe Zabawa with 12, Robert Parks with 12, Gabe Jenkins with 10, Clinton Teller with 8 and Sean Soliz with 9. Josh Kevwitch led the Tucson Academy scoring with 12 points.

Maricopa’s Karlyle Stephens (#21) drives to the basket amidst a swarm of St. Mary’s defenders Wednesday night.

Maricopa’s Gabe Jenkins (#42) leaps high above his defender for a clear shot in the second half of Wednesday’s game.

Rams stand tough, but fall short to Canadians

The Maricopa High School boys’ varsity basketball team, looking for its second win of the day in the Copa Classic, took on the St. Mary’s Crusaders from Ontario, Canada.

Before the game began, the Rams looked outsized, but that all changed when 6’0″ Ram power forward Joe Zabawa out jumped 6’9″ Mike Allison to win the game-opening jump ball.

Guard Steven Wess knocked down a three-pointer to put the Rams on the board first. Crusader Zack Angus drained a three-pointer to even the score. Clinton Teller knocked down a three-pointer giving the Rams an early 6 -3 lead.

The Crusaders looked to Allison early and often; he followed up his own miss with a put back and sank another one deep in the paint. Point guard Willie Rojas found Ram forward Kenny Klein down low for an easy two in the lane, and Teller sank a 12-foot jumper to even up the score 12 – 12 at the end of the first quarter.

Rams guard Willie Rojas (#12) puts some pressure on the St. Mary’s offense during the first half Wednesday night.

Maricopa’s Willie Rojas (#12) and Clinton Teller (#20) step up to play some defense in the first half Wednesday night.

Karlyle Stephens (#21) of the Maricopa Rams pulls down a rebound against St. Mary’s in the first half of Wednesday’s game.

The Rams had a great opportunity to take the lead on a three on one fast break opportunity, but swing man Karlyle Stevens failed to pass the ball to the open man on the break.

The Crusaders put together a nice scoring run as Pat Orvidas converted on the fast break lay-in while big man Allison caught the lob pass and dropped it in for two. Crusader guard Jamie Clem knocked down a three-pointer from the wing, giving the Crusaders a 23 – 12 lead.

Rojas dished to Robert Parks for an easy lay-in and drained a three-pointer from the baseline, cutting the Crusader lead to 23 – 17. Crusader Clem knocked down his second three-pointer in the quarter, stretching the lead back to nine. With time winding down in the second quarter Angus threw up a three-point prayer off the glass, giving the Crusaders a 29 – 20 lead at the half.

Teller drove the lane for a lay up to open the second half, and Rojas drained a three-pointer off the inbound pass, cutting the lead to 29 – 26. The Crusaders looked to Allison to stretch the lead, and he sank one down low off the glass, made a reverse lay-up and threw down a one-handed dunk to give the Crusaders a 38 – 29 lead.

Ram guard Parks knocked down his second three-pointer in the quarter, keeping the game close. Rojas drained two more three-pointers to cut the lead to 40 – 47. The Rams kept it close, but, every time they made a run, the Crusaders had an answer. The Crusaders went on to win 50 – 40.

Point guard Willie Rojas, who had 12 points, led the Ram scoring, followed by Robert Parks with 10, Sean Soliz with 9, Clinton Teller with 7 and Steven Wess with 5. Mike Allison led the Crusaders with 16, followed by Zack Angus with 10 and Jamie Clem with 11.

Team standings after day one:
Antelope 3 – 0
Push Ridge 2 – 0
St. Mary’s 1 – 0
Ajo 1 – 1
Maricopa 1 – 1
Phoenix Day 1 – 1
Tucson Academy 1 – 1
Tonopah 0 – 2
Cibique 0 – 3

Photos by Jeremy Knop