Red Mountain closed the first half of the girls basketball season the same way it began it.

The Lady Lions (10-4), who won the Moon Valley Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend, weren't champions of their Red Mountain Holiday Classic. No official champion is crowned in the tourney. But they posted a 4-0 record and only one other team could say that after play concluded Friday night.

"We played everybody today, and played well," Red Mountain coach Martin Appel said after his team toppled Ironwood Ridge handily, 54-17, on their home floor. "I really liked our passing. The first half we had 14 baskets and I believe we had assists on 11. We played well in the two tournaments."

Red Mountain won its first four games this season, lost the next four and has run off six wins in a row to take a 10-4 record to January. The Lady Lions want to improve in the power-ranking games, the most important ones, where they are 2-4 thus far.

Setting the tone in their fourth win of the tournament was Amaya West. The 5-foot-10 junior scored from all over. West sank a three from the top of the key in the first half,  got baskets in transition and made a block she turned into an end-to-end run for a layup to cap her scoring about midway through the second half. Amaya West was selected to the all-tournament team.

"She is so athletic," Appel said. "We can play her anywhere. She's a great weapon to have."

Sophomore guard Symone Humphrey added 13 points anchoring the perimeter game. She knocked down three 3s among her total.

Red Mountain only had trouble in the contest the first half of the opening half. After bolting to an 8-1 lead 2 1/2 minutes in, the lead shrank to 8-7 a minute later. West's 12-point first half helped open up the margin. An early rash of turnovers disappeared and by intermission the Lady Lions were comfortably in control, 35-14.

Red Mountain played 10 players in the first half and every player got at least three minutes. Reserve sophomore center Makenzie McCue netted eight points, a season high. Jenna DeMassa added six points, scoring all inside off nice assists from Humphrey and Meilani West.

Starting guard Jacquelyn Ries did not play in the second half and another starter, Sam Shoemake, was idled by injury. Their absences helped get extra looks for others in the getaway game of the first half.

Appel is looking forward to the second half of the season, which begins Jan. 5 with a region game against Brown Road rival Mountain View.