Shamrocks, Warriors game suspended in third quarter

The girls basketball game between Yuma Catholic and San Pasqual was suspended Thursday — on account of rain.

Thirty-one seconds into the second half, the referees decided that the leaky San Pasqual roof was too dangerous for the teams to continue play, and the game was suspended for a later date with the Shamrocks leading 25-18.

“When I refereed basketball, there was a game in San Luis that we stopped and moved to another gym. They had two gyms down there,” Yuma Catholic coach Bob McGalliard said. “And that wasn't the right thing to do. This was the right thing to do. I don't want my players getting hurt.”

The leaks started earlier in the night — trash cans were put right on the baseline during the boys game that came before the girls.

“It happened back about five years ago. We had to call the game, it was a boys game, actually. We had leaks underneath the blowers, it was coming down pretty good,” San Pasqual coach Patricia Malvido said. “We were told the roof was fixed, so we weren't expecting the roof to leak tonight at all.”

Malvido, who is also the San Pasqual athletic director, said both teams will need to contact the Arizona Interscholastic Association and the officials' coordinator to find a time to make up the rest of the game.

The Shamrocks led 23-18 at halftime and opened up the third quarter with a basket by junior forward Mary Terkelsen. Moments later, the referees convened with McGalliard and Malvido and decided it was best to play another day.

“It's frustrating because the kids want to continue the game and they're pumped up and they're ready to go.,” Malvido said. “Anytime your team is having a good feeling about the game, you wish to continue it. But under these circumstances, it's just too dangerous.”

Junior Ceara Ingraham had 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Warriors, who led 15-13 with 3:32 left in the second quarter after a basket by Ingraham.

Yuma Catholic struggled mightily on offense to start the game, missing its first 12 field goal attempts before senior Makena Zamora made a jumper more than five minutes into the game to make it 3-2. Junior point guard Madison Brazeel had 11 points and four assists for the Shamrocks, and Zamora had five points before the game got suspended but both struggled from the field. Brazeel went 2 for 15 and Zamora was 2 for 9.

“We have to learn to play through that. Every team has an off-shooting night,” McGalliard said. “I think our pressure was getting to them, but we just couldn't convert on the offensive end.”

Jesse Severson can be reached at jseverson@yumasun.com or at 539-6881. Find him on Facebook at facebook.com/YSJesseSeverson.