SUNRISE GIRLS BASKETBALL: Yemiyah Morris, Canyon Springs hang on

For three quarters Wednesday, the Canyon Springs girls basketball team struggled to make a shot.

But when it mattered most, the Pioneers couldn’t miss.

Yemiyah Morris finished with 29 points and 13 rebounds, and host Canyon Springs survived a huge game from Green Valley’s Brooke Haney to pull out a 68-66 overtime win in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A Sunrise Region tournament.

Ke’Ajanae Haley had 15 points and Dayonna Maddox 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Pioneers (18-3), who will host Foothill (17-8) in the semifinals at 5 p.m. Friday.

“Our girls have been working hard all year,” Pioneers coach Chris Walker. “I told our girls when they did the (Northeast League) voting and we didn’t have any recognition for Canyon, I told our girls we need to go out there and earn some respect.”

Haney poured in 43 points, including 28 in the fourth quarter and overtime, to keep Green Valley (15-14) close.

Haney made three free throws with 12.9 seconds left in regulation to cut Canyon Springs’ lead to 52-51, and she went 1-for-2 at the line with 8.2 seconds left to help send the game into overtime.

In the extra period, Morris scored inside to put the Pioneers on top 61-56, then went 2-for-2 at the foul line with 20.9 seconds left to give Canyon Springs a 67-63 advantage.

Canyon Springs made 15 of its final 23 shots after going 10-for-42 from the floor through the first three quarters. Morris was 8-for-9 from the field in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“She’s definitely a factor,” Walker said of the 6-foot-5-inch Morris. “We try to run a lot through her, feeding her in the high post and down low.”

Canyon Springs closed the first half on a 13-4 run to go up 25-22, but made just one shot in the third quarter. Samara Miller’s putback basket late in the third gave Green Valley a 34-27 lead before the Pioneers answered with a 14-2 run.

The Gators shot 21.7 percent (13-for-60) overall, but stayed within striking distance thanks to a 34-for-49 showing at the free-throw line.

“When we had to dig in, we dug in and pulled it out,” Walker said. “Our energy pulled us through.”

Coronado 51, Rancho 41 — At Rancho, junior Aeryn Hawkins scored 12 second-half points to lift the Cougars over the Rams in the Sunrise Region quarterfinals.

“I’m very proud of the girls tonight,” Coronado coach Rich Santigate said. “They reacted well with a starter sitting down watching and some other girls stepped up.”

Junior Haley Tyrell missed Wednesday’s game with an injury.

Hawkins led the Cougars with 13 points, and senior Talia Sapp added 11 points for Coronado, which trailed 19-12 at the half.

“Our defense created some offense for us tonight,” Santigate said. “We were relying too much on outside shots early on.”

After doing away with the outside shots, Coronado outscored the Rams 39-22 in the second half.

“That’s what we told them at halftime,” Santigate said. “They listened to their coach and got a ‘W.’”

The Cougars (13-15) play Liberty (29-1) in the semifinals at 7 p.m. on Friday at Canyon Springs.

“We’re just going to go in and play hard,” Santigate said. “At this point you just play one game at a time. That’s all you can do.”

Kyndal Ricks led Rancho with 16 points, and Lea Williams scored 10 for the Rams (13-16).

Liberty 66, Valley 22 — At Liberty, Kaily Kaimikaua had 10 points, six rebounds and four steals as the Patriots routed the Vikings in a Sunrise Region quarterfinal.

Dre’una Edwards supplied nine points, nine rebounds and six steals for Liberty, which got nine points, five rebounds and five assists from Celine Quintino.

London Pavlica had eight points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Patriots.

Jeuzel Pollins had eight points to pace Valley (7-21).

Foothill 57, Las Vegas 37 — At Foothill, Rae Burrell had 24 points and eight rebounds as the Falcons topped the Wildcats in a Sunrise Region quarterfinal.

Trinity Betoney added 15 points and nine rebounds for Foothill, and teammate Kyle Vint scored 10.

Jasmine Perez paced Las Vegas with 13 points. Teconna Dyer and Armonnie Byrd each added 11 points for the Wildcats (9-21).