SUNSET GIRLS: Rivers gets in flow, helps Gorman girls into final against Centennial
April Rivers missed her first six 3-point attempts and shot only 1-for-9 from the field in the first 9½ minutes of the Sunset Region semifinal Thursday.
The Bishop Gorman junior just needed a few extra shots to get warmed up.
Rivers made a 3-pointer with 6:04 left in the second quarter, and it opened the floodgates.
Rivers hit five 3-pointers and finished with 26 points to carry the Gaels to a 79-38 victory over Palo Verde at Desert Oasis. Gorman (25-3) advanced to meet Centennial (28-2) in the region final for the 10th straight time at 5 p.m. today at Desert Oasis.
“I just view those as warm-up shots,” Rivers said of her early misses. “I’m able to put it behind me. I just try to get into my rhythm.”
Rivers scored 13 points in the second quarter as the Gaels expanded a 13-11 lead to 40-23.
“Great shooters do that,” Gorman coach Sheryl Krmpotich said. “They may be 0-for-10 and then go 10-for-10. She’s a rhythm kind of kid.”
The Gaels had trouble penetrating Palo Verde’s 2-3 zone in the first quarter, but Rivers’ long shots opened up the defense and allowed the Gaels to pepper away.
Gorman closed the half on an 11-0 run in the final 1:49. Rivers scored the first five points of the run on a 3-pointer from the left wing and a transition layup.
“We started to control the tempo,” Krmpotich said. “Once we control the tempo, we control the game.”
Zhane Dikes supplied 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Gaels, who won their 20th consecutive game.
Jasmin Kiley paced Palo Verde (19-7) with 16 points. The Panthers were held to 12 of 50 field-goal shooting.
Centennial 68, Desert Oasis 37 — The Bulldogs shrugged off a shaky first 12 minutes to pull away from the host Diamondbacks (22-5) in the nightcap.
Despite scoring the first 11 points, Centennial led only 23-21 with four minutes left in the half. But the Bulldogs amped up their defensive pressure and closed with a 15-1 run for a 38-22 halftime lead.
Centennial forced 33 turnovers, converting those into 30 points.
“I guess the kids’ mindset changed,” coach Karen Weitz said. “We go over what we want to do defensively. Sometimes we’re doing it right. Other times we’re not.”
Jada Brown and Tamera Williams led a balanced attack with 12 points apiece. Breanna Workman added 11 points and nine rebounds.
Tramina Jordan had nine points, and Shannon Brown and Simone Barber eight each for the Bulldogs, who never trailed and outscored Desert Oasis in the paint, 38-16.
“That’s what we’ve done all season long,” Weitz said of the offensive balance. “I have confidence in all my kids to score.”
Centennial was an 82-50 winner over Gorman in last year’s region final, but the Gaels have won five of the last nine region title meetings.
“It’s what a rivalry and high school basketball is all about,” Krmpotich said. “It should be an exciting game.”