Rams top Coyotes at home

Maricopa High School boys’ varsity basketball got a big win on Tuesday night at home against the Arizona Lutheran Academy (ALA) Coyotes.

Both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket for most of the first quarter, but Maricopa forward Joe Zabawa ended the scoring drought when he sank two free throws. The Ram defense held the Coyotes scoreless until 4:13 remained in the first quarter. Ram guard Seville Slater came off the bench to knock down a 15-foot jumper while fellow guard Clinton Teller grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up and in for two points. Slater found Gabe Jenkins in the lane for a five-foot jumper. At the end of first quarter the Rams had an 11- 3 lead.

Seville Slater (#13), Gabe Jenkins (#42) and Joe Zabawa (#24) defend against the inbound pass.

In the second quarter Ram forward Kenny Klein came off the bench and made a big impact defensively as he blocked two shots down in the paint. ALA’s Jeremiah Saizwedel got an easy lay in opportunity and sank a jumper from 15 feet out. The Coyotes found themselves down 14 – 7, but ALA went on a scoring run as forward Brian Mundstock hit a three-foot turn around jumper.

Then Ram center Jenkins found forward Chris Miller in the lane for an easy two points. A steal and pass by Jenkins led to an easy lay up for Karlyle Stephens, giving the Rams an 18 -16 lead at the half.

ALA’s Saizwedel sank a three pointer to start the second half, giving the Coyotes a 19 – 18 lead, but that lead didn’t last long as Ram center Jenkins drove the baseline, spun and laid the ball up and in for two. Teller got a nice rebound and put the ball back in for two. Zabawa got in on the rebounding act with a put-back lay in, stretching the Rams’ lead to 24 – 19.

ALA’s Saizwedel drove the hoop for two, but Teller answered with a nice lay in. Zabawa pump faked down in the lane and banked it in off the glass for two more. ALA kept the game close, but Ram guard Willie Rojas drained a three pointer to give the Rams a 34 – 27 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Guard Steven Wess knocked down a three pointer to open up the fourth quarter for the Ram offense. Stephens knocked down a 10-foot jumper from the baseline, stretching the lead to 39 – 31. Teller wasn’t done stretching the lead as he drained a baseline jumper of his own. Ram big man Jenkins drove the lane for a lay in, giving the Rams a 10-point lead. Slater sealed the victory for the Rams when he came up with a big fast break lay in. The Rams went on to win 48 – 35.

Gabe Jenkins and Joe Zabawa playing some defense in the lane.

Clinton Teller, who had ten points, led the Ram scoring, followed by Gabe Jenkins with eight and Joe Zabawa with seven. Jeremiah Saizwedel led the ALA scoring with sixteen points.

The Rams, 5 – 6 for the season, host Gila Bend Friday night.