BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: Cienega girls to semifinals; 6 Southern Arizona teams advance

February 18, 2017 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


Pusch Ridge adavnces to the quarterfinals.
(Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

No.7 Cienega upset No. 2 Arcadia Friday night in 5A action to advance to the semifinal round to be played next Wednesday, Feb. 22 at Grand Canyon University. Cienega (18-6) is the only 4A to 6A team from Southern Arizona to survive the night. Tucson (6A), Marana (5A), Ironwood Ridge (5A), Pueblo (4A) and Canyon del Oro (4A) all lost in the various quarterfinal rounds.

The Bobcats led 40-28 after three periods but the Titans finished out the game on a 13-5 run only to come up short. Lauren Green led the Bobcats with 15 points and Keva Mack had nine.

Cienega will face No. 3 Sierra Linda (27-2) in the semifinal round. The Bulldogs lost in the Division II semifinals last year.

No. 14 Tanque Verde ended a successful season in 3A action while No. 5 Pusch Ridge beat No. 12 Yuma to advance to the second round to be played on Monday in Prescott Valley. The Lions (26-2) will face No. 4 Holbrook (25-5). Holbrook beat No. 13 Winslow 47-39 to set up the game.

Pusch Ridge was led by 16 points from Bree Olson, 13 from Angel Addleman and nine from Rachel Hess. Ava Addleman and Cherish Gotcher scored six each.  As a team, the Lions hit seven 3-pointers.

Yuma Catholic was held to 10 points in the first half and 12 in the third quarter with no points in the fourth. Emily Rowlinson, Jordyn Martinez and Marieja Rios scored four points each for the Shamrocks.

“We had the right offense to go against their defensive plan,” Angel Addleman explained. “We need to work on defense and getting through screens for our next game because they will be good shooters.”

The Shamrocks finished 20-8 on the year.

No. 13 Benson lost in 2A play while No. 3 The Gregory School beat No. 14 Duncan 34-22 in 1A action.

The Hawks (20-7) will face No. 11 Anthem Prep in the quarterfinal round on Saturday morning at Yavapai. Immaculate Heart, St. David and Baboquivari all lost.

On the boy’s side, St. Augustine and Santa Cruz lost in the 2A playoffs while No. 1 The Gregory School, No. 5 St. David and No. 7 Baboquivari will advance to the 1A quarterfinals to be played Saturday at Yavapai. Immaculate Heart and Patagonia lost in the first round.

Nick Rosquist scored 33 points to lead The Gregory School. Rosquist is now the third leading scorer in Tucson history with 2,115 points.