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Top-Ranked Braves Remain Hot
The top-ranked San Carlos boys’ basketball team won its first three games after the holiday break, including a one-point victory against Globe on Jan. 12.
The Braves easily defeated Duncan and No. 13-ranked Ft. Thomas last week, but the Tigers gave the No. 1 team in the state all it could handle Tuesday night in the 74 – 73 win.
Three Tigers scored in double figures, albeit in defeat.
Sophomore Martine Reede led the Tigers with 22 points while Braden Dalton, another sophomore, and freshman B.J. Burries finished with 20 and 17 points, respectively.
Globe, the No. 15-ranked team in Division IV, was playing its first game since the break ended.
San Carlos upcoming schedule: Jan. 15 at San Manuel, Jan. 16 at Thatcher, and Jan. 19 vs. Miami. All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Globe upcoming schedule: Jan. 15 at Arete Prep and Jan. 19 vs. Florence. All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Lady Braves Extend Winning Streak
The No. 1-ranked San Carlos girls’ basketball team extended its winning streak to 18 games after three-straight wins following the holiday break.
The Braves defeated Duncan, No. 2-ranked Ft. Thomas, and Globe since the break ended and improved to 5 – 0 in sectional play in the process.
San Carlos’ Adrianna Haozous, a senior, scored a game-high 24 points in last Friday’s 49 – 44 win against Ft. Thomas. Mariah Kozie filled the stat sheet with 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Junior Kayla Dosela tied Kozie with a team-high nine rebounds.
The Braves trailed 22 – 14 at halftime before coming back in the second half, outscoring the Apaches 35 – 22 to keep their winning streak intact.
The win was the Braves second against the Apaches after already defeating them earlier this season.
Upcoming schedule: Jan. 15 at San Manuel and Jan. 16 at Thatcher. All games are scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Vandals Pickup First Section Win of the Season
The 18th-ranked Miami boys’ basketball team won its first sectional game of the season last week, defeating Hayden on Jan. 4, 60 – 31.
With the win, the Vandals (1 – 0) are a half-game behind first-place San Carlos (2 – 0), which is ranked No. 1 according to the most recent AIA rankings.
The Vandals are now 10 – 7 overall on the season.
Upcoming schedule: Jan. 15 vs. Ray and Jan. 19 at San Carlos. All games are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Lady Tigers Can’t Keep Up With No. 1 San Carlos
The Lady Tigers proved to be no different than any one of the Lady Braves last 18 opponents after a lopsided 67 – 26 loss against the state’s top team on Tuesday night.
San Carlos has not lost since its season opener, which was 19 games ago. Since suffering that season-opening loss, the Braves have won 18 straight and dominated in all but one game.
Globe junior Cedar Randall scored a team-high eight points, pulled down two rebounds, and had one steal in the loss. She was named Player of the Game for her efforts.
Timecah Cosen scored four points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Jolainna Bendle and Keanna Moses also contributed four points each.
Upcoming schedule: Jan. 15 at Arete Prep and Jan. 19 vs. Florence. All games are scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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