Girls Prep Basketball
Falcons girls team winning in lumps
by Jason Stone

CAVE CREEK – It's fair to call the Cactus Shadows girls basketball team streaky this season. Fortunately, the team's streaks have all been positive so far for the Falcons.

Cactus Shadows routed Sunnyslope and Coconino last week to win their third and fourth straight games. It is the Falcons' third winning streak of at least three games this season and the season is only a month old.

The Falcons (11‑2) rolled over Sunnyslope 51‑35 in the Wells Fargo 2 Region opener Dec. 19. Cactus Shadows went on a 19‑2 run in the third quarter to turn a close game at halftime into a one‑sided affair. Alex Easterbrook led the Falcons with 14 points, while Sara (check) Pages had 12.

Two nights later, the Falcons held off Coconino at home 61‑43. Maria Carranza (check) led the Falcons with 13 points, while Pages scored 10.

The Falcons return to action this week in the Centennial Tournament. The three‑day event has Cactus Shadows facing Mountain Ridge, Moon Valley and host  Centennial in the round‑robin play.

Eagles clip Bulldogs in first meeting

NORTH VALLEY – O'Connor got the best of Goldwater Dec. 19 in the first meeting of the season between the teams.

The Eagles (6‑3 overall, 2‑0 Northwest Region) rode the 28‑point, 10‑rebound performance of Hillary (check) Bratlien to post the easy victory.

O'Connor led by 12 in the first quarter and extended the lead with a 18‑3 run in the second quarter. Goldwater (0‑10, 0‑2) struggled to get close in the second half.

The Bulldogs will look for their first win this week at the Centennial Tournament. They face Ironwood, Xavier and Washington in pool play.

Boulder Creek hopes to regain momentum

ANTHEM – Boulder Creek is hoping to get back on the winning track after suffering their second and third straight losses last week.

The Jaguars (6‑3 overall, 0‑2 Northwest Region) opened the season with six straight wins, but have lost consecutive games to Sinagua, Mountain Ridge and Trevor Browne. The latter two counted in the region standings.

Boulder Creek is hoping to regain momentum Dec. 27‑29 at the Flowing Wells Tournament in Tucson.

Reach the reporter at jason@thedesertadvocate.com.