Citizen Staff Writer
KEN BRAZZLE
kbrazzle@tucsoncitizen.com
Maybe the Salpointe Catholic boys basketball team is stepping up its game at just the right time.
With region tournaments starting around the state over the next week, Salpointe fine-tuned its game with a 74-60 win Friday night over Sunnyside.
“Hopefully, we can get it going into the regional tournament,” said Salpointe coach Sean Loomer.
Salpointe has clinched the No. 2 seed in next week’s 5A-I Southern Region tournament with two regular season games remaining.
“Louie Vasquez, who is a senior, has really stepped up lately and that has helped us a lot,” Loomer said. “Colby Weaver, a sophomore, has been there for us. He didn’t have his best game tonight but he has been very consistent.”
Weaver scored a team-high 16. Luis Vasquez added 12 points and Frank Kalil 10 for Salpointe.
“They were able to get some fast breaks on us,” Sunnyside coach Guillermo Mendoza said. “. . . In the second half, they continued to outrebound us. Things didn’t work out the way we wanted.”
Jose Gomez scored 13 points to lead Sunnyside. Richie Valerani-Knoblich contributed 10 points.
Sierra Vista Buena 58, Mountain View 33: At Mountain View, Cole Covin scored 18 to lead Buena. Aaron Anderson scored 17 for Mountain View.
Ironwood Ridge 53, Tucson High 47: At Ironwood Ridge, Brandon Duliakas led the Nighthawks with 22 points. Tucson High was led by Sama Taku’s 15 points.
Rincon/University 81, Casa Grande 69: At Rincon, Gilbert Tafoya had a team-high 23 points and Juan-Pablo Favela scored 21 for the Rangers.
Salpointe finds right time to fine-tune its game