Local Glance January 2: Boys Basketball
Gila Ridge boys basketball split their games 1-1 at the White Mountain Classic tournament Wednesday in Pinetop-Lakeside, Ariz.
The Hawks lost their first game to Round Valley 61-52. Marcus Weeks led the team with 19 points in the defeat.
“It was a close game the whole way,” said Gila Ridge coach Joe Daily. “We kind of lost our composure at the end and we weren't able to finish it, but it was a good game. “We were playing at high altitude, so the kids were kind of sucking in some air up here. We were getting used to that, so it was kind of a big thing.”
Parker Rodriguez contributed 11 points.
In the second game of the day, Gila Ridge defeated Maricopa 45-26. It was a balanced effort offensively with no one Hawk reaching double digits.
“They started off on a 5-0 run and then we finally kicked it in gear,” Daily said. “We pulled away by 10 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.”
Nick Jordan led the team in scoring with nine points while Dillon Chavez contributed five steals, seven rebounds and seven points.
“We really took care of the ball more,” Daily said. “We really took our time on the offensive side and slowed things down. Our defense is what won the game for us that second game.”
The Hawks will continue in the White Mountain Classic through Friday.
