PHOTOS: http://andymorales.smugmug.com/

Tucson High seniors Tracy Valdez, Raja Moreno and Holly Bolen scored in double figures in their first round game at home against Xavier Wednesday night but it was not enough.

On any other night, or against any other team, their combined effort might have earned a victory but too many turnovers and too many missed opportunities led to easy baskets at the other end and Xavier junior standouts Katie Werner and Annie Dolan were more than happy to cash in on any opportunity that came their way.

Xavier scored the first six points of the game and the tempo was already set. It was going to be a fast-paced game with Werner and Dolan taking turns scoring underneath.

6-foot-1 Werner scored eight points to fuel a 12-6 lead and then Dolan took over and scored eight of her own points. Had it not been for Moreno’s eight points in the first quarter, the margin would have been far worse than 21-13.

Xavier took a 19-6 lead but Bolen hit a three-pointer and Moreno scored the last four points to cut Xavier’s lead going into the second quarter.

Dolan and Werner took turns scoring again to open up the second quarter but Erica Cebreros hit another three-pointer to cut the lead back but Ashley McGinn responded with her own three-pointer to take momentum back.

Xavier outscored Tucson 17-5 in the quarter to go up 38-18 at the half. Xavier would eventually take its biggest lead at 52-28 with 7:20 left in the game but Valdez scored seven of her 14 points down the stretch and Bolen added six to cut the lead down to 56-43 with 1:55 left.

Werner and Dolan remained in the game and scored three points each to end the comeback and preserve the win.

Valdez and Bolen scored 14 points each and Moreno added 11 for Tucson.

Werner scored 23 points and Dolan added 15. Jasmine Hotchkins scored 8 and Katie Worley scored 6.

Worley and Dolan are the only seniors of note for Xavier but Tucson loses Valdez, Moreno, Bolen and Elizabeth and Erica Cebreros.

________

The Cienega girls also lost in Division I action. Bobcat senior Brooklynn Oceguera scored 10 points in her last game and fellow senior MoNique Hardy scored 8 but Valley Vista’s Alyssa Camacho scored an uncharacteristic 19 points to lead her team.

The usual leader is Maraja Johnson but she still managed to score 16 points and her teammate Lacey Viselli added 16 more.

Cienega sophomore Gabby Banales scored a team-high 13 points and junior Jade Scott scored 12.

________

Buena was the sole D-I team to survive the first round. Denesia Smith scored 18 points to lead the Colts over Cibola 48-37.

Their reward is a trip to two seed Highland on Friday night.

Highland sports all-star junior guard Olivia Lucero.

________

Pusch Ridge was the only team to survive D-II girls action Wednesday night.

Cholla lost at Cactus and Douglas lost at home against Prescott.

Flowing Wells and Palo Verde had first-round byes and will host games on Friday night.

Pusch Ridge defeated Sahuaro at home 40-30 to move to the round of 16 where they will travel to Liberty on Friday night.

Cougar junior Chelsey Hunsaker scored a game-high 12 points in the loss. Gabrielle Courtney led Pusch Ridge with 11.

Sahuaro seniors Brianna Hicks scored 9 and Olivia Harden scored 5 in their last game.

________

Benson fell in D-III action, leaving Safford and Thatcher as the only Southern Arizona teams left.

GIRLS

Division I

First Round
Wednesday, February 15

(15) Buena 48, (18) Cibola 37
(17) Xavier 62, (16) Tucson 47
(11) Valley Vista 70, (22) Cienega 51

Second Round
Friday, February 17
(15) Buena at (2) Highland, 7 pm

Division II

First Round
Wednesday, February 15

(9) Pusch Ridge 40, (24) Sahuaro 30
(22) Prescott 64, (11) Douglas 57
(10) Cactus 60, (23) Cholla 38

Second Round
Friday, February 17
(6) Flowing Wells hosts (22) Prescott, 7 pm
(7) Palo Verde hosts (10) Cactus, 7pm
(9) Pusch Ridge at (8) Liberty, 7 pm

Division III

First Round
Wednesday, February 15
(21) Chinle 64, (12) Benson 48

Second Round
Saturday, February 18
All games at NAU

(4) Safford vs. (13) Camp Verde, 3 pm
(5) Thatcher vs. (21) Chinle, 1:30 pm

Division IV

First Round
Saturday, February 11

Second Round
February 17 & 18
All games in Prescott

(3) Green Fields vs. (14) Scottsdale Prep, 10:30 am (2/17)
(8) Duncan vs. (9) Desert Christian, 1:30 pm (2/17)
(15) St. Gregory vs. (2) AZ Lutheran, 7:30 (2/17)
(10) San Miguel vs. (7) Ft. Thomas, 6 pm (2/18)
(12) St. David vs. (5) Joy Christian, 3 pm (2/18)

BOYS

Division I

First Round
Thursday, February 16

(11) Buena hosts (22) Chaparral, 7 pm
(14) Ironwood Ridge hosts (19) Mountain Pointe, 7 pm
(21) Rincon at (12) Mesa Mountain View, 7 pm
(24) Cienega at (9) Brophy, 7 pm

Division II

(3) Amphitheater, bye
(8) Salpointe, bye

First Round
Thursday, February 16

(10) Nogales hosts (23) Casa Grande, 7 pm
(15) Catalina Foothills hosts (18) Queen Creek, 7 pm
(20) Douglas at (13) Sunnyslope, 7 pm

Division III

Second Round
Friday, February 17
All games at NAU

(4) Thatcher vs. (20) Tombstone, 3 pm
(12) Rio Rico vs. (5) Window Rock, 1:30 pm
(16) Safford vs. (1) Holbrook, 7:30 pm

Division IV

Second Round
Friday, February 17
All games in Prescott

(1) Desert Christian vs. (17) Phoenix Christian, 3 pm
(3) Duncan vs. (14) Orme, Noon

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 at 11:44 pm and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.