Kofa and Cibola girls both fall in section tournament
The Kofa girls basketball team got an up-close look at one of the best teams in the state in St. Mary's.
The Knights jumped out to a huge lead early and beat the Kings 68-33 in the first round of the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division I Section I Tournament on Tuesday night at Westview.
Senior post Jacky Fuentes had 10 points and sophomore point guard Sally Gastelo added eight points for the No. 8 Kings.
“My girls fought until the end,” Kofa coach Mary Kaye Garcia said.
St. Mary's (18-0) jumped out to a 32-6 lead after the first quarter.
“Their first string, their first five, they're really good. You know that they've play all summer together because they know where they're at on the court,” Garcia said of the Knights.
Despite the loss, the Kings (13-5) are still likely to make the 24-team AIA Division I State Tournament. They are currently No. 24 in the state and the only team in a section tournament below them, Chaparral, lost to Pinnacle 50-29.
“We're going to practice until we find out,” Garcia said. “We're going to practice like we're going to state.”
Cibola falls to Westview
For the second straight year, the Cibola girls basketball team lost to Westview in the AIA Division I Section I Tournament.
The Raiders fell behind by double-digits by halftime, couldn't fight their way back and lost 57-38 to the Knights on Tuesday night at Tolleson High.
Freshman guard Erica Baldenegro had eight points, two assists and two seals and junior post Baylee Lakey had eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks off the bench for the Raiders.
The Raiders (13-5) came into the game No. 23 in Division I and should likely still make state.
