The Camp Verde High School girls basketball team won the 14th annual Yvonne Johnson Memorial Shootout last week, defeating Joy Christian Academy in the title game, 63-48.
“I actually thought they [Joy Christian] were the best team in the tournament, but they ended up being the third best because Seligman was really good, too,” longtime Camp Verde Head Coach Mark Showers said.
Senior center Lila Hickey scored 28 points and pulled 11 rebounds in the tournament championship game Dec. 28 to lead the Cowboys. Junior forward Katie Wilson had nine points, nine rebounds and four assists in the victory.
With the tournament championship trophy sitting nicely in a case in Showers’ office, the Cowboys improved to 14-3 overall this season.
In the tournament semifinals Dec. 28, the Cowboys were paired with Seligman High School and wound up winning a close one, 48-46.
Junior guard Amanda Showers had 17 points, six steals and two assists in the victory while Hickey had eight points and eight rebounds.
Wilson scored only six points but pulled a season-high and personal best 18 rebounds against Seligman.
“This was a team in Seligman that had a legitimate post player,” Mark Showers said. “They packed it in defensively and dared us to shoot from the outside, and we struggled with that a bit.”
Camp Verde didn’t have a problem at the free-throw line, hitting 14 of 20 including Wilson’s two free throws to seal the deal at the end of the game.
On Dec. 27, Camp Verde won two games to get itself into the championship bracket, defeating Mogollon High School 66-20 and Parker High School, 56-36, giving the Cowboys a perfect 4-0 record at their own tournament.
In 14 years, the Cowboys have won eight Yvonne Johnson Memorial Tournament championships. Hickey and Amanda Showers were awarded All-Tournament team medals for their stellar performances.
Next up, the Cowboys are set to travel to Prescott High School on Friday, Jan. 6. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
