Stokes and Simmons score hat tricks
by Andy Morales on Jan. 19, 2012, under SportsThursday roundup
GIRLS SOCCER
Jasmine Stokes collects yet another hat trick for Palo Verde. Well, she actually netted four goals.
Jasmine Simmons (2011). Andy Morales Photo.
The player of the year honors have been dramatically shifted to midtown, away from the northern suburbs, as Palo Verde (10-0) beat Catalina (5-4) by a score of 5-0. Catalina has to travel to Palo Verde on Tuesday for the rematch.
The Titans are now over two and a half power points ahead of everybody in Division III but there are still several big matches to take place in the Phoenix area and Tanque Verde (9-2) and Safford (9-2) will get an automatic bid at this point.
The top four teams will get to host the first and second round matches this year in the state playoffs so Palo Verde appears to be a lock for one of those spots.
The Titans will host a “Pink Out” on Tuesday night against Catalina in conjunction with activities sponsored by the girls basketball team to benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure effort.
Stokes now has 40 goals on the year, two shy of the school record of 42
Douglas (5-4) and Catalina have a very slight chance at an at-large bid.
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A major D-II shakeup as Sahuaro (6-3) beat Sabino (6-2) 3-1 on senior night.
Jasmine Simmons scored a hat trick for the Cougars. The power points haven’t been calculated yet but we should have seen this coming after Sahuaro performed so well at the Arizona Soccer Showcase over the winter break.
BOYS SOCCER
Catalina (9-0) defeated Palo Verde (7-3) in the marquee match of the night, 2-1 (5-4 penalty kicks).
The two teams are still in line for automatic bids in Division III action with Douglas (7-2) barely clinging to an at-large bid.
Douglas needs to beat D-II Nogales (7-1) Friday night to secure the bid because they finished with back-to-back games against Santa Rita (2-7).
Catalina and Palo Verde play again on Tuesday at Palo Verde.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cienega (8-2) fell to Douglas (12-0) in the big game of the night.
Brooklynn Oceguera scored 18 of Cienega’s 38 points but the Bobcats could not overcome a 22-11 halftime deficit where Cienega did not score in the second period.
Cienega outscored Douglas 15-8 in the final period but came up short, 41-38.
Karina Avechuco scored 15 points for Douglas.
Douglas has two losses on the year, a 45-36 loss to Sabino in the championship game of the Tombstone Shootout and a 55-49 loss to Green Fields at the Benson Holiday Tourney.
The Bulldogs are led by senior guard Nythzia Machado (13.1) and junior forward Avechuco (10.4).
Cienega gets a rematch on February 3. Expect a full house for a game that may decide playoff implications.
