PRESCOTT VALLEY – The Pima High basketball teams both overcame sluggish starts on Friday evening at Bradshaw Mountain High School to win their opening round games in the 2A State Tournament.
In the early game, the #3 Pima Lady Roughriders relied on the inside presence of Ashlynn Chlarson to beat Benson 54-29. Chlarson had 28 points and 13 rebounds. Pima led 22-14 at halftime and Chlarson had scored 20 of the team’s 22 first half points. Lea Llamas had the only other first half bucket for Pima.
After halftime, the team shook off the nerves and cruised through with a 25-point victory. The Lady Riders will play St. Johns today at 2:30pm in the quarterfinals.
In the nightcap, the #2 Pima Roughriders used defense to move past Veritas Prep, 58-38. The Riders held the Falcons to just 8 first half points and led 25-8 at the halftime break. Seth Russell led Pima in the first half with 6 points.
Pima’s size and strength proved too much down the stretch with the combination of Russell and Garrett Curtis who combined to finish with 27 of Pima’s 58 points. Russell had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Curtis finished with 14 points.
Pima will play #10 Trivium Prep today at 4pm in the quarterfinals. The Roughriders beat the Knights at home on December 9th, 59-33.
