Green Valley girls shoot past Sierra Vista

Lorenzo Jarvis insists he won’t yell at his Green Valley girls basketball players for taking shots.

That’s a good thing.

Otherwise, he probably would have lost his voice Monday.

The Gators took 99 field-goal attempts, including 54 in the first half, en route to an 82-56 home win over Sierra Vista.

“The one thing I always preach is if you’ve got an open shot, take it,” Jarvis said. “You can’t make it unless you shoot. The selection was good.”

Green Valley made 47 percent of its shots in its first seven games this season — all wins. On Monday, the Gators were 14-for-54 in the first half and finished 34-for-99.

“I think we might have set a record,” Jarvis said. “I didn’t yell at them. I won’t yell at them. You can’t win unless you shoot.”

What the Gators did have going for them Monday was their trademark pressure defense. Green Valley forced an eye-popping 28 turnovers in the first half en route to a 36-17 lead. Four minutes into the game, Sierra Vista had already committed 10 turnovers.

“Defense is what we strive for,” senior point guard Jazmine Jarvis said. “When we work hard and get a steal, that’s our reward. We change up our press and teams never know what we’re going to do.”

Jazmine Jarvis scored 26 points to lead the Gators, Sarah Pickus added 22 points and nine rebounds, and Danielle Christenson and Angelica Mack had 10 points apiece.

Green Valley has scored 82 or more points in all but one game this year — and that game was played with a continuously running clock during the second half.

Jeanette Jackson led the Mountain Lions with 20 points, Johnie Pride added 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Nicolette Grigsby scored 10.

Sierra Vista made 22 of 49 shots but finished with 39 turnovers.

 

“We’re a very talented team,” coach Jarvis said. “It’s good to have a game like this to humble ourselves. Every day the girls come in, and they want to get better. This is a good learning experience for us.”