Nogales and Sunnyside are each 4-0 through the first two days of the Third Annual Inferno Invitational at Sunnyside, setting up a championship between the programs at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Nogales defeated Mica Mountain 52-43 in its semifinal game and Sunnyside topped Flowing Wells 58-35 in the other semifinal to set up the matchup.
Nogales is coached by Yahaira Sanchez, who is in her ninth season coaching her alma mater. The top player in the tournament for the Apaches to this point is senior guard Cecilia Burruel Ruiz.
Johanna Simpson, who recently completed a successful run on Nogales’ flag football team, is also one of Sanchez’s top players.
.@LadyDevil_Hoops @CoachDelgado012 has his team in the semifinals of the Inferno Invitational at Sunnyside after a 43-41 win in OT against Sahuaro. The Blue Devils will face Flowing Wells at 7 p.m. pic.twitter.com/avqjLmi1Ph
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 27, 2024
Sunnyside coach Justin Delgado, in his fifth season as the Blue Devils’ coach, has received a balanced effort through the first four games.
Most of his players can lead the team in scoring in each game.
AJ Yanez, a junior post player, is an aggressive threat around the basket. Delgado’s guard play consisting of Dora Medina, Janae Pritchett and Anabelle Quiroga is difficult to defend because of their aggressive style. Perimeter threat Rayanna Ortiz is on the wing.
INFERNO INVITATIONAL — VARSITY GIRLS GOLD
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES AT SUNNYSIDE
CHAMPIONSHIP
Nogales vs. Sunnyside, 4:30 p.m.
THIRD-PLACE GAME
Flowing Wells vs. Mica Mountain, 3 p.m.
FIFTH-PLACE GAME
Cibola vs. Snowflake, 10:30 a.m.
SEVENTH-PLACE GAME
Sahuaro vs. Coolidge, 9 a.m.
.@LadyCabsBBall coach Michael Perkins talks about his team’s encouraging start to the season, including today’s 52-45 win over Snowflake to reach the semifinals of the Inferno Invitational against Sunnyside at 7 p.m. at the Blue Devils’ gym. Perkins is beginning his 20th season… pic.twitter.com/RZtYprLkiB
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 27, 2024
Flowing Wells beat Snowflake 52-45 behind senior guard Neveah Urenda’s 29 points to advance to the Inferno Invitational semifinals against Sunnyside tonight at 7. Urenda had 16 of her points in the fourth quarter to help the Lady Cabs pull away against Snowflake. pic.twitter.com/aQfeowJYn2
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 26, 2024
TUESDAY’S GAMES
QUARTERFINALS
Mica Mountain 45, Coolidge 44
Nogales 67, Cibola 32
Flowing Wells 52, Snowflake 45
Sunnyside 43, Sahuaro 41, OT
SEMIFINALS
Nogales 52, Mica Mountain 43
Sunnyside 58, Flowing Wells 35
CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS
Cibola 45, Coolidge 34
Snowflake 47, Sahuaro 31
INFERNO INVITATIONAL — VARSITY GIRLS SILVER
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
CHAMPIONSHIP AT SUNNYSIDE
Walden Grove vs. Sabino, 1:30 p.m.
THIRD-PLACE GAME AT SUNNYSIDE
St. David vs. Rincon/University, Noon
FIFTH-PLACE GAME AT PALO VERDE
Queen Creek vs. Sahuarita, 1:30 p.m.
SEVENTH-PLACE GAME AT PALO VERDE
Mountain View vs. Palo Verde, Noon
TUESDAY’S GAMES
QUARTERFINALS
St. David 38, Mountain View 26
Walden Grove 66, Queen Creek 27
Sabino 51, Palo Verde 35
Rincon/University 42, Sahuarita 31
SEMIFINALS
Walden Grove 54, St. David 20
Sabino 50, Rincon/University 39
CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS
Queen Creek 29, Mountain View 25
Sahuarita 66, Palo Verde 36
INFERNO INVITATIONAL — VARSITY GIRLS BRONZE
WEDNESDAY’S GAMES
Baboquivari vs. Cholla, 10:30 a.m., at Palo Verde
Cienega vs. Benson, 9 a.m., at Palo Verde
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Cienega 48, Baboquivari 43
Benson 1, Cholla 0 (forfeit)
Cienega 1, Cholla 0 (forfeit)
Baboquivari 46, Benson 44
INFERNO INVITATIONAL POOL PLAY
MONDAY’S GAMES
Pool A
Mountain View 42, Queen Creek 38
Snowflake 50, Cienega 14
Sunnyside 62, Queen Creek 35
Sunnyside 61, Cienega 22
Snowflake 52, Mountain View 14
Pool B
Sahuaro 54, Baboquivari 27
Flowing Wells 56, St David 26
Walden Grove 55, Baboquivari 30
Sahuaro 49, St. David 23
Flowing Wells 44, Walden Grove 43
Pool C
Nogales 48, Benson 24
Mica Mountain 50, Sahuarita 36
Nogales 50, Sabino 40
Mica Mountain 65, Benson 25
Sabino 34, Sahuarita 28
Pool D
Rincon/University 61, Palo Verde 24
Coolidge 71, Cholla 6
Cibola 74, Palo Verde 20
Cibola 82, Cholla 6
Coolidge 55, Rincon/University 37