Addison Mort poured in 31 points for The Gregory School (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
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The Tucson Cactus Classic got underway Wednesday at Pusch Ridge and Desert Christian. The long-running basketball tournament is no longer called the “Northwest Desert Classic” due to the inclusion of Desert Christian as a host site.
The Tucson girls came out firing and the Badgers won both of their games on Wednesday to set up a big game with Coconino (1-0) Thursday night. Andreena Chavez scored 16 points to lead the Badgers to a 66-21 win over The Gregory School in the first game of the day.
Alize McCormick and Kyla Stembridge added 10 points each. Taylor Thompson scored 16 points to lead The Gregory School. Thompson has 958 career points and is looking to break 1,000 points Thursday night.
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In the next game, the Pusch Ridge boys beat Benson 31-26. Aaron Noller scored seven points to lead Pusch Ridge and Cade Curtis scored eight for Benson.
The Pusch Ridge girls beat Marcos de Niza 53-20 Wednesday night. Bree Olson scored 12 points to lead Pusch Ridge. Kacy Haynes and Angel Addleman scored 10 points each and Rachel Hess added eight. Renee Ramos scored seven to lead Marcos de Niza.
The Gregory School boys defeated Pusch Ridge 67-63 in the final game of the day.
Pusch Ridge built an early 21-15 lead but The Gregory School went on an 18-4 run to take a 33-25 lead at the half. The lead would eventually grow to 39-29 with 5:45 left in the third but the Lions went on a run of their own and cut the lead down to 39-38 with 3:02 left in the period.
Pusch Ridge took the lead back with 6:57 left in the game and the Lions led 52-48 with 4:56 left. The teams battled to a 58-58 tie with 2:08 left but Pusch Ridge would take a 63-60 lead with 54.2 seconds left.
Nick Rosquist hit a 3-pointer to tie the game up with 34.2 seconds left and he hit on another 3 with 2.4 seconds left to give The Gregory School a 66-63 lead. Rosquist was fouled on the shot and his made free throw gave us the 67-63 final.
The game had some big performances including 31 points from The Gregory School junior Addison Mort. He is sitting at 933 career points.
Rosquist finished with 16 points, giving the senior 1,660 career points. Sebastian Quintana added 12 points for the Hawks.
Pusch Ridge junior Ben Katsel poured in 27 points for the other incredible performance of the night. He scored seven points in the final period. Senior guard Kyle Eggers scored 14, Noller added 12 and Lucas Elliott scored eight points with six coming down the stretch.
Andreena Chavez has helped Tucson earn the top ranking in Southern Arizona (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
PHOENIX GIRLS HOOPS
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Cienega 50, Basha 43 (Red Mountain)
Ironwood Ridge 61, Skyline 27 (Red Mountain)
Oakton (VA) 58, Marana 34 (Cactus Jam)
Thursday, Dec. 29
Red Mountain vs. Cienega, 2 p.m. (Red Mountain)
Ironwood Ridge vs. Basha, 3:30 p.m. (Red Mountain)
Marana vs. Roosevelt (WA), 2 p.m. (Cactus Jam)
Mountain View vs. Paradise Valley, 10:30 a.m. (Prescott)
PHOENIX BOYS HOOPS
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Catalina Foothills 62, Bellarmine (WA) 46 (Cactus Jam)
Douglas vs. Casteel (Copper Cities)
Mesa Mountain View 72, Salpointe 68 (VisitMesa.com)
Estrella Foothills 63, Rio Rico 59 (OT) (Scorpion Classic)
Nogales vs. Desert Edge (Scorpion Classic)
Thursday, Dec. 29
Empire vs. Kellis, 2 p.m. (White Mountain)
Buena vs. Valley Sanders, 3:30 p.m. (White Mountain)
Salpointe vs. Basha, 4 p.m. (VisitMesa.com)
Empire vs. Coconino, 6:30 p.m. (White Mountain)
Buena vs. San Tan Foothills, 8 p.m. (White Mountain)
Friday, Dec. 30
Catalina Foothills vs. Deer Valley, 2:45 p.m. (Cactus Jam Championship)
PHOENIX GIRLS SOCCER
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Marana 4, NW Christian 0
Thursday, Dec. 29
Marana vs. Verrado, 11:30 a.m. (Arizona Showcase)
PHOENIX BOYS SOCCER
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Ironwood Ridge 1, Cactus Shadows 1 (Arizona Showcase)
Thursday, Dec. 29
Santa Cruz vs. NFL Yet, 8:30 a.m. (Seton)
Ironwood Ridge vs. Gila Ridge, 3:30 p.m. (Arizona Showcase)
Tucson Cactus Classic
Dec. 28-30 Pusch Ridge & Desert Christian
Wednesday, Dec. 28 at Pusch Ridge
Tucson 66, The Gregory School 21 (Girls)
PRCA 31, Benson 26 (Boys)
Rincon 52, Notre Dame 24 (Girls)
PRCA 53, Marcos De Niza 20 (Girls)
The Gregory School 67, PRCA 63 (Boys)
Wednesday, Dec. 28 at Desert Christian
Tucson 74, Desert Christian 6 (Girls)
Scottsdale Prep 52, Desert Christian 40 (Boys)
Coconino 53, Desert Christian 11 (Girls)
Thursday, Dec. 29 at Pusch Ridge
10 am Rincon vs. Marcos De Niza (GIRLS)
11:40 am PRCA vs. Notre Dame (Girls)
4:40 pm Coconino vs. Tucson High (Girls)
6:20 pm PRCA vs. Rincon (Girls)
8 pm PRCA vs. Scottsdale Prep (Boys)
Thursday, Dec. 29 at Desert Christian
10 am Scottsdale Prep vs. Benson(Boys)
11:40 am The Gregory School vs. Coconino (Girls)
1:20 pm Desert Christian vs. PRCA (Boys)
3 pm The Gregory School vs. Benson (Boys)
4:40 pm Marcos De Niza vs. Notre Dame (Girls)
6:20 pm The Gregory School vs. Desert Christian (Girls)
8 pm Desert Christian vs. The Gregory School (Boys)
Friday, Dec. 30 at Desert Christian
11:40 am Scottsdale Prep vs. The Gregory School (Boys)
1:20 pm Desert Christian vs. Benson (Boys)
Friday, Dec. 30 at Pusch Ridge
Bracket Play 11:40 a.m. – 6:20 p.m.
Capital Connect Boys Holiday Basketball Tournament
Dec. 27-29: Sabino
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Sahuaro vs. Buckeye
Sunnyside 50, Westwood 36
Amphitheater vs. Desert View
American Leadership 36, Sabino 32
Canyon del Oro vs. Mingus Union
Palo Verde vs. Yuma Catholic
Desert View vs. Buckeye
Canyon del Oro 50, American Leadership 47
Sabino vs. Mingus Union
Thursday, Dec. 29
Sunnyside vs. Sahuaro
Tombstone Boys & Girls Basketball tournament
Dec. 27-29
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Bourgade Catholic 47, San Miguel 44 B
Immaculate Heart 50, Hopi 47 B
Bisbee 34, San Miguel 33 G
Hopi 79, St. Augustine 8 G
Willcox 27, Tombstone 25 G
Baboquivari 60, Bisbee 55 B.
Baboquivari 51, Valley Union 23 G
Willcox 48, St. Augustine vs. 5 G.
Willcox 62, Immaculate Heart 37 B
Hopi 69, Tombstone 29 G
Tombstone 38, Hopi 18 B
Thursday, Dec. 29
St. Augustine vs. Valley Union G, 8 a.m.
Hopi vs. San Miguel B, 9:30 a.m.
Tombstone vs. San Miguel G, 11 a.m.
Tombstone vs. Bisbee B, 12:30 p.m.
Willcox vs. Bisbee G, 2 p.m.
Immaculate Herat vs. Bourgade Catholic B, 3:30 p.m.
Hopi vs. Baboquivari G, 5 p.m.
Willcox vs. Baboquivari B, 7 p.m.
Flowing Wells Girls Holiday Shootout
Dec. 29-20
Thursday, Dec. 29
Salpointe vs. Palo Verde, 9 a.m.
Nogales vs. Desert View, 9 a.m.
Sahuaro vs. Vista Grande, 10:30 a.m.
Queen Creek vs. Amphitheater, 10:30 a.m.
Catalina Foothills vs. Rio Rico, Noon
Pueblo vs. Empire, Noon
Canyon del Oro vs. Buena, 1:30 p.m.
Kofa vs. Flowing Wells, 1:30 p.m.
Second Round: 3-7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 30
Bracket Play: 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
2016 Fall Sport All-Stars
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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