The Camp Verde Middle School boys basketball team tallied another victory in the win column this season Jan. 11, defeating visiting West Sedona School, 39-25.
“Yeah, I thought we played really good. The last few games we’ve had some good outcomes and we’re getting toward the end of the season, meaning we are playing well at the right time,” Camp Verde Head Coach Donnie Shanks said after he was asked how he thought his team played against the rival Wildcats.
Camp Verde’s win improved the Cowboys to 7-4 overall this season. With the victory, the Cowboys assure themselves a No. 2 or No. 3 seed heading into the Verde Valley Athletic Association Small Schools Tournament at the end of January.
“We played hard and we did a good job against West Sedona,” Shanks said.
Eighth-grader Ashton Loring scored a game-high nine points for the Cowboys while seventh-grade teammate Reyes Herrera scored eight points. Seventh-grade teammates Beau Bullard and Deon Fortune each chipped in with six points.
Camp Verde started off well Jan. 11, outscoring the Wildcats 14-2 in the first quarter of play. West Sedona mounted a small comeback in the second quarter, outscoring the Cowboys 12-5 to trail 19-14 at halftime. Camp Verde’s 14-6 third quarter outburst was the turning point, however, as the Cowboys went on to win, 39-25.
Shanks and his Cowboys were in action again Tuesday, Jan. 17, when they hosted Mayer Middle School in the regular season finale. Results were unavailable at press time.
Beaver Creek School currently holds the No. 1 seed in the VVAA, while Clarkdale-Jerome School, Oak Creek School and Camp Verde are all going for the No. 2 seed in the small schools tournament.
The VVAA Small Schools Tournament is scheduled to take place Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27 and 28, at Clarkdale-Jerome.
Camp Verde went 0-2 against Beaver Creek, which is currently undefeated in league play at 12-0 while going 1-1 against Clarkdale-Jerome and Oak Creek.
“The Oak Creek loss a few days ago was a heartbreaker for me, really. The boys played so well and we just lost it in the end,” Shanks said.
Camp Verde’s first-round opponent in the VVAA Small Schools Tournament has yet to be determined.
