Erik Hansen
ASU Student Journalist

Pioneers continue to prove prosperous against Mountain Ridge

January 25, 2019 by Erik Hansen, Arizona State University


Pioneers talk things over during timeout. (Photo by Erik Hansen /AZPreps365))

Pinnacle enjoyed another pick-your-poison win over Mountain Ridge Friday, 57-30.

Sophomore Alley Stedman and senior Bryn Parker traded places as the game’s top scorers like it was a prize to be won. The duo combined for 29 points with Parker scoring 16.

Freshman Kennedy Basham added 10 points and five more blocks, which brings her impressive season total to 87.

Senior Shaila Mays continues to be the jack-of-all-trades for the Pioneers as she collected eight points, five steals and four assists.

Pinnacle’s bench also contributed. Sophomore Hayley Anderson had an impressive sequence in the fourth quarter when she made a three-point shot and immediately took the ball back.

The team seems very in sync. As Mays put it, “We’ve all known each other for a very long time.”

Mays leads the Pioneers (21-3) in assists and steals and is also most accurate shooter. Her playing mentality is “if I’m doing good, then my team’s doing good.”

The Pioneers boast talented underclassmen. “A lot more talent has come into the program,” Mays said.

One of the star underclassmen is Basham, who also is second on the team in points per game. She does not see the numbers as anything special. “When we’re playing together anyone can get their stats up” she said.

Stedman is also part of the young core but she prefers her shots outside of the paint. “Risk it for the biscuit,” she said. Those risks have paid off as she leads her team in points and three-point makes.

Stedman also has an eye for steals. She has collected more than 50. “I look for hesitation,” she said.

Their next opponent is Liberty Tuesday.