Holiday Classic: Palo Verde finds itself on short end
Palo Verde forward Kedrena Johnson (13) shoots between Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) guard Amy Holden (11) and forward Aunna Mitchell (32) in the fourth quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Kedrena Johnson (13) shoots over Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) Gjianni White (15) in the fourth quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Kedrena Johnson (13) goes for a shot past Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forward forward Hila Vei’koso (45) in the third quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Kedrena Johnson (13) goes for a rebound between Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forwards Gjianni White (15) and Nadira Eltayib (33) in the second quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Kedrena Johnson, center, goes for a rebound between Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forwards Nadira Eltayib (33) and Gjianni White (15) in the second quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Kedrena Johnson, center, grabs a loose ball from Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forward Gjianni White (15) as Jefferson forward Nadira Eltayib (33) looks on in the second quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Kedrena Johnson (13) shoots over Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forward Isis Crew (22) in the second quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Ashley Marushok (25) shoots over Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forward Gjianni Whitein the first quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Kedrena Johnson (13) looks to shoot past Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forward Nadira Eltayib (33) in the first quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde guard Jenna Kempf (3) shoots over Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forward Hila Vei’koso (45) in the first quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) guard Hailey Still looks to pass a loose ball to teammate, forward Isis Crew in front of Palo Verde guard Alyssa Maillaro in the first quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) guard Hailey Still moves the ball up the court past Palo Verde guard Alyssa Maillaro in the first quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde guard Alyssa Maillaro moves the ball after grabbing a rebound in the first quarter against Thomas Jefferson during their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) Coach Frank Parker gives instruction before his team takes on Palo Verde in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde guard Jenna Kempf (3) goes for a loose ball between Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forwards Nadira Eltayib (33) and Hila Vei’koso (45) in the first quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde forward Ashley Marushok (25), left, battles for a loose ball with Thomas Jefferson (Wash.) forward Aunna Mitchell (32) as Palo Verde Alana Sullivan (21), right, looks on in the fourth quarter of their Las Vegas Holiday Classic Tournament prep basketball game at Centennial High School in Las Vegas,Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal @kmcannonphoto
Palo Verde’s girls basketball team isn’t blessed with height.
The Panthers have three forwards, none taller than 5 feet, 11 inches, on their 11-player roster. And that makes rebounding a challenge.
It was especially evident Thursday as the Panthers were outrebounded badly and lost a 64-37 decision to Jefferson (Washington) in the opening round of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic at Centennial.
“We don’t seem to ever have size, and we don’t again (this year),” Palo Verde coach Phil Clarke said. “We tell them 6-4 is going to beat 5-9 every time, so you have to do the little things and box out. They’re a good team, and they just got too many second chances.”
Jefferson, which started 6-2 center Nadira Eltayib and 6-0 forward Hila Veikoso, held a 55-24 edge in rebounds, and had 28 offensive rebounds.
As a result, the Panthers never led and rarely threatened after missing their first four shots and turning over the ball four times in the first three minutes.
Palo Verde (4-5) closed to within 13-10 on Kedrena Johnson’s drive with 7:01 left in the second quarter, but the Raiders (5-2) closed the second quarter on a 15-1 run and led 28-11 at the half.
The Panthers also struggled to find a consistent third option on offense.
Alyssa Maillaro scored 19 points and Johnson added 12 points for Palo Verde, but the rest of the team combined for just six points on 3-for-18 shooting.
“We’re missing a couple of people because of injuries and just not being here,” Clarke said. “That’s one of the good things about a tournament. Missing a couple of people, we can try to find someone who will step up. Alyssa and Kedrena are big parts of what we’re going to do, and then it’s going to be finding those others to contribute.”
Hailey Still led Jefferson with 14 points. Eltayib added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Jayden Fazio scored 11 for the Raiders.
Centennial 70, Page (Ariz.) 10 — Quinece Hatcher and Aaliyah Ibarra came off the bench to score 10 points apiece as the Bulldogs blitzed the Sand Devils and secured the 650th career win for head coach Karen Weitz.
Taylor Bigby added eight points for Centennial, which finished the game on a 45-2 run.
Weitz, who coached for four seasons at Cheyenne before beginning the Bulldogs’ program is 650-81 in her career.
Diana Secody led Page with four points.
Foothill 66, Skyline (Ariz.) 54 — Ryan Jenkins and Laurel Rockwood each scored 15 points to lead the Falcons by the Coyotes.
Aqui Williams added 12 points for Foothill, which led 29-25 at the half.
Uriah Matus led Skyline with 14 points, and teammate Sierra Martin scored 10.
Canyon Springs 56, Dimond (Alaska) 40 — Jeanette Fine scored 16 points to lead the Pioneers by the Lynx.
Kayla Johnson scored 15 points, and Sydnei Collier added 10 points for Canyon Springs.
Alissa Pili had 28 points for Dimond.
St. Mary’s Academy (Calif.) 63, Cimarron-Memorial 33 — Chole Williams poured in 25 points to lead the Belles past the Spartans.
Liz Elliott added 15 points, and Imani McGregory added 10 points for St. Mary’s Academy, which used a 16-0 third-quarter run to pull away.
Elise Young led Cimarron with 16 points, and teammate Yesenia Wesley-Nash scored 14.
West Torrance (Calif.) 57, Arbor View 25 — Anaya James scored 16 points to lead the Warriors by the Aggies.
Ella Estabrook added nine points for West Torrance, which led 24-0 after the first quarter.
Naomi Hammonds led Arbor View with six points.
