Rincon/University's Brendan Rumel won't be lining up for an NCAA Division I basketball program until next season but the senior forward played like it was the future Monday night at McKale Center.
The Rangers capped off the MLK Classic with a 67-54 win over Pueblo. Rumel, who is signed with Portland State, led all scorers with 29 points.
“It was awesome," Rumel said. "I’ve never played on a stage that big so it was cool to get ready for next year a little bit, get a chance to play on a court like that."
Rincon/University jumped out to a 21-9 lead in the first quarter, but by halftime, Pueblo had cut the lead to five. The Rangers responded with an 11-1 run to open the third quarter.
Senior guard Thomas Wabaunsee (11 points) was the other Ranger scorer in double figures. Sophomore point guard Taylor (19 points) and senior guard Isaiah Attles (18 points), led the way for Pueblo. Rumel scored 12 of Rincon/University’s 21 points in the first quarter.
“He started out really well and then he missed his last five shots in the first half, but he gets hit a lot down there, it’s really physical and it takes its toll sometimes but I thought overall he played through it,” said Rincon coach Rich Utter.
-James Kelley
Sunnyside 61, Canyon del Oro 30 (boys)
Jacob Inclan had never had a good game at McKale Center before Monday; the Sunnyside senior considered each of his previous outings there "sloppy."
Inclan made up for that in a big way, as he scored a game-high 25 points in a dominating 61-30 win over Canyon del Oro. It was his first time playing in the MLK Classic but he had played at the arena before in camps and club events.
“I can finally say that I played here and I played good in front of so many people,” Inclan said.
Sunnyside jumped out to a commanding 18-2 lead after a 18-0 run in the first quarter, 11 of which Inclan scored in the first three minutes of the game. Senior guard Cesar Ozuna chipped in with 14 points.
“We were planning on getting off to a great start to get our bench some experience in this arena,” Ozuna said. “It gets us excited for the whole game and makes the whole team feel like their in it.”
Sunnyside, ranked ninth in Division II, plays at No. 23 Rincon/University on Friday night.
-Chuck Constantino
Palo Verde 58, Flowing Wells 56 (boys)
Shawn Haney air balled a three-point attempt late in Palo Verde’s game against Flowing Wells at the MLK Classic. But it wasn’t long before the senior guard redeemed himself.
Over the last 49.9 seconds, Haney hit two three-pointers – first to tie the game at 54 and then to take the lead – as the Titans held on to beat Flowing Wells 58-56 at McKale Center.
Haney’s miss was from the corner.
“When you know you’re not making it from one spot, you just got to think where else can you make and I was making it from in front of the basket,” Haney said. “So I just shot from the front and the side,”
It was a game of runs, as Flowing Wells led 7-0 early on, then Palo Verde eventually was up 35-25 early in the second half.
Palo Verde senior forward Eric Kelley led all scorers with 17 points and Solomon Fernander had 14 for the Titans.
Senior guard Martio Harris and senior forward Jordan Behrend each scored 14 for Flowing Wells.
“It’s so exciting, just to play in this arena and I’m happy for my players,” said Palo Verde first-year coach Marsharne Flannigan.
-James Kelley
The Gregory School 63, Sells Baboquivari 56 (boys)
Back one year after a disappointing team performance at McKale Center, The Gregory School team was determined to put on a good show against a team that reached the Division IV state semifinals a year ago.
Fourteen straight points begin the third quarter helped the Hawks (16-3) put away Baboquivari 63-56 in the MLK Classic.
Junior guard Nick Rosquist finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in his first game back from a two-game absence due to a dislocated finger. Sophomore forward Addison Mort – who began the third quarter with three straight triples – scored 19 points.
“Once I get an inch and pull it, I always think it's going in,” Mort said. “Once I hit the first one, I was good for the rest of the quarter and just felt like I couldn't miss.”
Rosquist added the quick start fueled the team's confidence for the remainder of the game.
“Usually we come out after halftime and we're a slow team,” Rosquist said. “We weren't expecting it, but once Addison hit his first three three's, I feel like everyone's confidence really raised.”
-Chuck Constantino
Ironwood Ridge 50, Marana 39 (girls)
Sophomore point guard Natalie Bartle led the way as Ironwood Ridge won at the MLK Classic for the second year in a row.
Bartle scored a game-high 20 points as fellow sophomore Tessa McCall added 14 to help the Nighthawks top Marana 50-39 for their sixth straight win. Unlike last year, I-Ridge was the home team and sat on Arizona's bench.
“It’s really cool that we get to come back two years in a row because not everybody gets to do that,” Bartle said. “It was really fun.”
Bartle drained a deep three-pointer midway though the fourth quarter to put the Nighthawks up 44-32 after Marana had pulled within six heading into the final period.
"I feel like we just played together and went out there and won," McCall said.
I-Ridge (18-3 overall) held the No. 6 ranking in Division II heading into Monday's game. It hosts Mountain View on Tuesday night and travels to play district rival Canyon del Oro on Thursday before hosting. Then, next week, the Nighthawks take on fourth-ranked Tucson High.
Playing in an arena is something I-Ridge hopes to do again later this season, in the state tournament. I-Ridge reached the Division II state semifinals a year ago before losing to Maricopa, the eventual champion.
"We definitely have to keep the momentum going," I-Ridge coach Nikki Simpson said. "We have a rough stretch where we just need to continue to keep working toward playing our best."
-Daniel Gaona
Sells Baboquivari 45, Immaculate Heart 37 (girs)
Despite not knowing what the playing environment would feel like, Baboquivari's girls did their best to shake off the first-quarter jitters in the first game of the MLK Classic on Monday.
The Warriors needed a few minutes and to get some turnovers out of their system, but settled down to handle the Hawks 45-37 at McKale Center
“Everybody was just nervous and excited,” Baboquivari sophomore wing Raquel Juan said. “This is all just a new experience to us. It was amazing, it felt so different and the crowd was awesome.”
Sophomore forward Blossom Gonzales scored a game-high 18 points and Juan finished with 13.
First-year Warriors coach Gary Manuel was happy to play at the home of the Arizona Wildcats because of the opportunity playing in a big arena presented.
“It's like a dream for them, I'm really happy that we had the opportunity to come out here and play,” Manuel said. “It has given us the opportunity to get ready to play in the state tournament in a huge venue like this.”
-Chuck Constantino
