Flowing Wells junior Lyndsay Leikem says she loves playing defense because it helps fuel the offense. Not her offense, mind you, her team’s offense.

The Caballeros earned a hard-fought 62-50 victory over Prescott at home Friday night in the second round of the Division II state playoffs thanks, in most part, to Leikem’s 25 points and 20 rebounds.

In all, it was the third time this year the 6-foot-2 standout completed a 20-20 and her 13th double-double of the season so far. And, true to her word, 194 of her 290 rebounds came on the defensive end.

“The best players step up in the big games,” explained head coach Michael Perkins. “She could probably scored 20 and get 20 rebounds every night but she’s smart enough to know she needs to get her teammates involved.”

Prescott only had four players in the scoring column until the final moments of the game while Flowing Wells had seven involved in the action. It was clearly a team effort considering Leikem only had two points in the first quarter and six at the half.

Senior Liz Mata paced Flowing Wells early with five points but Prescott collected five from senior Kylie Holliday and junior Jay Sneeden to take a 14-12 lead into the second quarter.

With the score later tied at 16-16, junior guard Czarina Walker scored six straight points but Prescott responded in kind to stay close at 20-18 with 3:21 left in the first half but Flowing Wells went on a 9-3 run to close out the period to go in the locker room up 29-21.

Karina Walker scored in the opening moments of the third period to put Flowing Wells up 31-21 but Prescott battled back thanks to four points each from Autumn Childers and Holliday to cut the lead down to 33-31 with 4:17 left.

Leikem hit a couple of free throws and Czarina Walker hit two quick buckets to put Flowing Wells back up 39-31 with 1:25 left. Sarah Fermawi put the Caballeros up 41-34 with 11.3 seconds left but Holliday drained a three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left to make the score 41-37.

Leikem scored 15 points in the final period – twice taking the ball from one end to the other. Seven of her points came at the free throw line while Prescott desperately tried to stay in the game.

Prescott did make a minor run to get within five points (55-50) with 1:18 left but Flowing Wells pulled away to win 62-50.

Holliday led Prescott with 14 points and Sneeden, Childers and Brette Anderson scored 11 points each.

Leikem scored 25 followed by 12 by Czarina Walker, eight by Arie Wells, 7 by Mata and 6 by Karina Walker. Karina Walker also collected 9 rebounds in the game.

“I just focus on the next play and keep going from there,” said Leikem on how her game switched from a rebounder to scorer at the end of the game. “I love rebounding and defense is my favorite part of the game. We wouldn’t have anything on offense without our defense.”

A few parents asked me to mention the Flowing Wells freshman girls team ended their season undefeated at 18-0. The team members sported long sleeve shirts with their record proudly displayed on them.

(6) Flowing Wells will now play (3) Seton Catholic in a quarterfinal match at 4:15 pm next Tuesday. All Division II quarterfinal and semifinal games will be played at Grand Canyon University.

(7) Palo Verde hosted (10) Cactus and beat them 58-53 to advance to their quarterfinal game against (2) Saguaro at 6 pm. Flowing Wells and Palo Verde are on the same side of the bracket and could meet in the semifinal round.

Pusch Ridge’s season ended with a 40-36 loss at Liberty in the third D-II game of the night. It was a remarkable year for the Lions considering they jumped up two divisions in play this season.

Pusch Ridge will lose Caroline Roessler, Abby Maas, MacKenzie Colson and Sarina Scandaliato to graduation.

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Buena lost to Highland in the second round of the D-I girls bracket, 67-29. The Colts were the last local team in the division.

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The girls of Green Fields beat Scottsdale Prep in the second round of D-IV action and Desert Christian lost to Duncan. 47-37.

St. Gregory lost to Arizona Lutheran 45-32 in the other game involving local teams.

Desert Christian senior Madison Peddy scored a team-high 17 points in the loss while Kylee Jones led Duncan with 19.

(3) Green Fields will play (6) Joseph City at noon in the quarterfinals next Thursday in Prescott.

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(4) Thatcher will play (12) Rio Rico in the quarterfinal round of D-III after both teams won their second round games at NAU Friday night.

Thatcher knocked out (20) Tombstone 71-37 and Rio Rico upset (5) Window Rock 58-48. The quarterfinals will be held in Prescott on Monday.

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The top-seeded boys of Desert Christian beat (17) Phoenix Christian, 53-44 in D-IV action.

(3) Duncan beat (14) Orme, 72-66 in the other game involving a team from Southern Arizona. Desert Christian and Duncan will both move to the quarterfinals where they will face opponents to be decided on Saturday.

The quarterfinals will take place on Thursday in Prescott.

GIRLS

Division I

Second Round
Friday, February 17
(2) Highland 67, (15) Buena 29

Division II

Second Round
Friday, February 17
(6) Flowing Wells 62, (22) Prescott 50
(7) Palo Verde 58, (10) Cactus 53
(8) Liberty 40, (9) Pusch Ridge 36

Quarterfinals
Tuesday, February 21
Games at Grand Canyon

(6) Flowing Wells vs. (3) Seton Catholic, 4:15 pm
(7) Palo Verde vs. (2) Saguaro, 6 pm

Division III

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

Second Round
February 17 & 18
All games in Prescott

(3) Green Fields 59, (14) Scottsdale Prep 22
(8) Duncan 47, (9) Desert Christian 37
(2) AZ Lutheran 45, (15) St. Gregory 32
(10) San Miguel vs. (7) Ft. Thomas, 6 pm (2/18)
(12) St. David vs. (5) Joy Christian, 3 pm (2/18)

Quarterfinals
Thursday, February 23
All games in Prescott

(3) Green Fields vs. (6) Joseph City, Noon
(8) Duncan vs. , 6 pm

BOYS

Division I

Second Round
Saturday, February 18

(11) Buena at (6) Cesar Chavez, 7 pm

Division II

Second Round
Saturday, February 18

(3) Amphitheater hosts (14) Cactus Shadows, 7 pm
(8) Salpointe hosts (9) Saguaro, 7 pm
(10) Nogales at (7) Paradise Valley, 7 pm

Division III

Second Round
Friday, February 17
All games at NAU

(4) Thatcher 71, (20) Tombstone 37
(12) Rio Rico 58, (5) Window Rock 48
(1) Holbrook 67, (16) Safford 32

Quarterfinals
Monday, February 20

(4) Thatcher vs. (12) Rio Rico, 2 pm in Prescott

Division IV

Second Round
Friday, February 17
All games in Prescott

(1) Desert Christian 53, (17) Phoenix Christian 44
(3) Duncan 72, (14) Orme 66

Quarterfinals
Thursday, February 23
Games in Prescott

(1) Desert Christian vs. TBD, 7:30 pm
(3) Duncan vs. TBD, 1:30 pm

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