Shamrocks overwhelm Warriors

It wasn't a game that Yuma Catholic coach Jeff Leo wanted to bottle and save for the future.

Still, the first-year coach will take Vicky Moreno's hustle and the "W" anytime.

Moreno had six steals, four assists and scored a team-high 10 points to help host Yuma Catholic to a 40-34 victory over San Pasqual in a 2A Desert West Region game Tuesday.

The Shamrocks (17-7, 7-0) needed all of Moreno's grit to withstand the Warriors' two comeback efforts. San Pasqual scored the first nine points of the second half to pull within 24-21; then, trailing by 12 with 2:15 remaining, the Warriors (7-11, 3-4) pulled to within six before running out of time.

"A win's a win," Leo said. "It seemed like we let up when we had a lead. But we took care of things when they came back on us."

Moreno had eight points, two assists and two steals as Yuma Catholic opened a 24-12 halftime lead.

Then, after paternal twin sister Alicia Moreno nailed a three-pointer to break San Pasqual's run, Vicky Moreno set the tempo of a 13-0 Shamrock spurt with four steals and a pair of assists. Her final assist, to Adrianna Villalobos, put Yuma Catholic ahead by 16 at 39-23.

"Vicky is a competitor," Leo said. "She shows up every game and plays hard."

Vicky Moreno's hustle got under the skin of San Pasqual forward Kristy White late in the contest. After the two tussled for a loose ball, White was called for a foul. She protested vehemently, and was hit with two technicals and ejected.

The moment seemed to inject life back into the Warriors, who finished the game on an 8-0 run. Ashley Jefferson, who led San Pasqual with 14 points, scored eight in the final quarter and four in the last minute.

Michelle Baltimore scored nine points, Adrianna Villalobos had eight and Sara Badgley added seven for the Shamrocks, who remained in first place by two games over Maricopa and inched closer to securing one of the region's two state playoff berths.

Jennifer Daniels added eight points for the Warriors.

Nick Taylor can be reached at ntaylor@yumasun.com or 782-6520.