The Cowboys kept their season alive with authority as the Camp Verde girls basketball team defeated Santa Cruz Valley Union High School 68-40.
“I told the girls at halftime that we had a mismatch inside against Santa Cruz and we needed to take advantage,” Camp Verde coach Mark Showers said. “We needed to focus more on looking for our offensive sets in the post and the girls responded.”
With the win, Camp Verde extended their winning streak to nine games and improved to 22-8 this season.
Camp Verde is averaging a 20-point margin of victory over its last nine games.
“They are just playing harder and smarter on both ends of the floor,” Showers said.
Camp Verde took a quick 4-0 lead as Tanna Decker scored the game’s opening points then assisted Bennett Holm on the next possession.
The Cowboys extended their first quarter lead to 14-5 thanks to baskets from Hope Ontiveros and Maya Hedges.
Six different Cowboys scored in the first quarter as Camp Verde led Santa Cruz Valley 14-11.
Santa Cruz seized momentum in the second quarter and took its first lead, 15-14.
The Cowboys would regain the lead after Jacy Finley found Holm to give Camp Verde a 16-15 advantage.
Neither team could pull away in the second quarter and Camp Verde led Santa Cruz Valley 27-24 at halftime.
Camp Verde came alive in the third quarter with Decker leading the Cowboys on a 23-6 run to increase their lead to 50-30.
Decker scored 10 of the Cowboys’ 23 third quarter points and capped off Camp Verde’s run with a spinning assist to Anna Peterson.
After three quarters, Camp Verde led Santa Cruz Valley 50-33.
Camp Verde’s lead stretched to over 30 points in the fourth quarter, giving every Cowboys player an opportunity to play.
“You want everyone to take part in the win and it is always nice to get every player into the game,” Showers said. “Those girls have worked just as hard as the starters this year so it was great for them to have an opportunity.”
Camp Verde held on in the fourth quarter and defeated the Dust Devils 68-40.
Two Cowboys players recorded double-doubles as Finley registered 14 points and 12 rebounds while Maya Hedges had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
“It was the tale of two halves tonight,” Showers said. “We did not rebound in the first half but in the second half the girls started playing like we had and we cleaned Santa Cruz up.”
“We have to cut down on our mistakes, play to our strengths and take advantage of the opponent’s weaknesses,” Showers said.
Decker led all scorers with 15 points along with seven assists and five rebounds.
“Tanna was a stud tonight and without her we are in trouble,” Showers said. “She is becoming more confident and driving to the rim and it has showed over these last few games.”
“We put Tanna on Juanita Meza and I do not think she scored another point,” Showers said.
Decker’s abilities were rewarded as the point guard earned first-team all-region honors.
“We just had an all-regional meeting and the coaches agreed that she is our region’s most well-rounded player,” Showers said. “Tanna shoots, rebounds and passes the ball well, she is just a good all-around player.”
Finley also earned first-team honors after averaging 13 points, 10 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 16 appearances.
Camp Verde’s lone senior Hope Ontiveros made the second-team while Hedges and freshman Shelly Warfield earned honorable mention.
“We just need to cut down on the fouls but I think Shelly’s defense is improving every game,” Showers said.
The Cowboys’ season ended on Friday, Feb. 15, as Scottsdale Christian defeated Camp Verde 37-27.
