ROUNDUP: Fast start lifts Green Valley girls past Durango
Green Valley girls basketball coach Lorenzo Jarvis thinks he has one of the quickest teams in town, and he sent his players onto the floor Wednesday ready to put that belief to the test.
The Gators ran all over Durango, as Jazmine Jarvis had 20 points to lift Green Valley to a 65-47 home win.
“We like to run,” Lorenzo Jarvis said. “It’s our system. Our style is to get up and down the court. When we play that way, we get a lot of runs.”
The system went into effect early, with the Gators (5-1) rattling off 18 straight points and holding Durango to one first-quarter field goal to establish a 20-4 lead.
The Trailblazers (0-2) slowed the pace in the second and third quarters, cutting their deficit to 35-32 on UNLV signee Mia Bell’s 10-foot jumper.
But the Gators took over for good when Sarah Pickus hit two free throws early in the fourth to start a 16-0 run.
Jarvis said his team’s even distribution helped to wear down the Trailblazers.
“We have four girls averaging 10 points or more per game,” the coach said. “I don’t believe in the superstar mentality. We share the ball.”
Pickus had 18 points and Danielle Christenson 15 points and five steals for Green Valley.
Bell paced Durango with 18 points, six rebounds and three steals, and teammate Jasmine Suarez nailed five 3-pointers to finish with 15 points.
Green Valley 74, Durango 63 — At Green Valley, Julian Franklin led six players in double-figure scoring with 16 points as the Gators downed Durango.
Bill Tuttle and Royce Alexander each added 12 points, with Tuttle also grabbing 12 rebounds.
Austin Tebbs and Glen Bewley each scored 11 points. David Franklin scored 10.
Marcus Falley and Kris Bennett paced the Trailblazers with 13 points apiece. Glenn Pulliam added 11 points, and Devin Matthews scored 10. Dario Jokic grabbed 10 rebounds for Durango.
Sierra Vista 68, Del Sol 63 — At Sierra Vista, Miguel Reyes scored 14 of his game-high 23 points in the first quarter as the Mountain Lions built a 34-27 halftime lead and held off Del Sol.
Amir Garrett, saddled with early foul trouble, added 12 points for Sierra Vista. Brian Zimmerman had 16 rebounds and blocked seven shots.
Devonti Gilmore led the Dragons with 20 points. Jeff Coon and Chris Sanders each scored 12, and Anthony Martinez chipped in with 11 points.
