It is said that defense wins games, but when the offense does not hold up its end of the bargain, it complicates things.
The Mingus Union High School girls basketball team gave up just 37 points, but struggled on offense, falling 37-20 to visiting Bradshaw Mountain High School in 4A Grand Canyon Section play on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
“For whatever reason it [offense] was not there,” head coach Frank Nevarez said. “And that’s the key to the game, we just could not score a basket.”
One reason the Marauders struggled was turnovers; they committed 13 in the first quarter alone and managed just four shots, but trailed the Bears only 4-0.
In the second, the Mingus offense gathered steam. Tied at nine, sophomore guard Darien Loring sank a triple, but the Bears rattled off five straight points, four from turnovers, and led 15-12 at the break.
Mingus shot five for 14, but the Bears were held to a six for 35 clip to keep the game close. During the third it was 19-15, but seven unanswered by the Bears made it 26-15.
“Even at the end of the third quarter, as badly as our offense just didn’t click, we still had a chance,” Nevarez said.
Offensive rebounding was another key factor for the Bears.
“I think that they were pretty strong with boxing out and I think we were pretty weak with boxing out on our side,” Razo said.
The Marauders shot two for 19 in total. Razo led the Marauders with seven points.
Mingus lost 37-29 at Mohave High School on Thursday, Jan. 26. Friday, Jan. 27, was senior night for the Marauders as they took on section No. 1 Coconino High School. Razo, Twylia Kohlbeck and Emily Bauers were honored as the three seniors. They fell 53-23.
On Tuesday, Jan. 31, MUHS played at Flagstaff High School, but results were not available at press time.
Its final game of the regular season is at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 3, at Lee Williams High School.
