Rams outlast the Monsters at home, 63 – 46

The Maricopa High School boys’ varsity basketball team picked up its second home win Friday against the Monsters of Gila Bend.

Gila Bend got on the board first when guard Jonathan Baldridge knocked down a 15-foot jumper from the wing. Ram forward Joe Zabawa double clutched on the lay in to even up the score. Ram guard Clinton Teller sank a jumper from the wing, and Ram guard Seville Slater found Zabawa in the lane for an easy lay in, giving the Rams a 6 – 2 lead.

Clinton Teller (#20) pulls up for a jump shot in the first half against Gila Bend.

Joe Zabawa (#24) shoots a free throw in the first half of Friday’s game. Zabawa led the Rams in scoring with 12 points.

The Rams had an opportunity to stretch the lead, but Slater had back-to-back turnovers in the paint. Gila Bend’s Luis Rodriguez was fouled in the process of shooting, putting him at the free throw line where he converted both attempts. Teller drained two more jumpers from the outside; then Ram guard Steven Wess found forward Kenny Klein in the paint for an easy two. Teller continued to light it up from the outside as he hit another jumper although Gila’s Rodriguez knocked down a jumper from the free throw line. The Rams led at the end of the first quarter, 14 – 8.

Gila’s Baldridge knocked down a 12-footer to open the second quarter. Ram point guard Willie Rojas found forward Chris Miller down low for an easy lay in. Wess converted on a short jumper in the lane, but Gila’s Baldridge converted on the lay in attempt. Ram big man Gabe Jenkins found Zabawa with the bounce pass across lane for an easy two points.

Gila’s Baldridge continued to put points on the board as he sank another jumper from the outside. Ram guards Slater and Rojas found themselves at the line, but each only made one of two from the line. Zabawa fouled Baldridge on the shot attempt, putting Baldridge at the free throw line where he sank both free throws. Maricopa led 22 -18 at the half.

Chris Miller (#44) posts up near the baseline as Rams guard Sean Soliz (#32) takes an outside shot during the first half of the Rams game with the Gila Bend Monsters.

Willie Rojas (#12) shoots a three pointer over his defender in the first half of Friday’s game.

Clinton Teller (#20) shoots a three pointer in the first half of the Rams victory over Gila Bend.

In the third quarter Rojas followed up his own shot with a put back off the glass for two. Jenkins was fouled down low, putting him at the free throw line where he converted both attempts from the charity stripe. Gila’s Ed Gonzalez knocked down a short-range jumper, and Jenkins once again found himself at the free throw line knocking down one of two. Teller got back into the scoring mix as he converted one of two from the charity stripe and made a baseline jumper to stretch the Ram lead.

Gila’s Baldridge knocked down a three pointer, but the Monsters still trailed the Rams 32 – 25. Jenkins bounced a shot off the glass for two and followed it up with put back for another two points in the lane. Jenkins got into the assist act as he found Zabawa for a three-foot jumper. With time winding down in the third quarter Slater converted on the put back, giving Maricopa a 40 – 29 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Slater nailed a 12-foot jumper from the baseline to open up the fourth quarter, but Chevy Sandoval drained a three-pointer for the Monsters. Rojas got a three-pointer of his own, stretching the lead to 45 – 33. Klein was fouled on the lay in, putting him at the line for a three-point play opportunity, but he missed the free throw attempt. Gila’s Rodriguez knocked down an eight-foot jumper in the lane.

Kenny Klein (#40) takes a jump shot inside the key in the second half of the Rams 63 – 46 victory over Gila Bend Friday.

Wess continued to get his teammates the ball as he dished to Zabawa down low for two. Miller was fouled on the put back, putting him at the foul line for a three-point play opportunity, but Miller couldn’t convert from the line. Ram guard Sean Soliz found Miller in the lane for two and, on the next Ram procession, sank a turn around jumper. Klein knocked down a jumper from the free throw line, and Ram guard Robert Parks drained a three pointer from down town to seal the 63-46 victory for the Rams.

Zabawa, who had 12 points, led the Ram scoring, followed by Teller with 11, Rojas with 9, Jenkins with 7 and Miller and Klein with 6 each. Baldridge led Gila Bend’s scoring with 20 points.

The Rams, 6 – 6 for the season, travel to South Pointe tonight.

Scoring:
Maricopa: Joe Zabawa 12, Clinton Teller 11, Willie Rojas 9, Gabe Jenkins 7, Chris Miller 6, Kenny Klein 6, Seville Slater 5, Robert Parks 3, Sean Soliz 2, Steven Wess 2

Gila Bend: Jonathan Baldridge 20, Luis Rodriguez 6, Yarmayne McEloroy 6, Chevy Sandoval 3, Billy Rodriguez 3, Ed Gonzalez 3

Photos by Jeremy Knop