Pitts leads Bengals into Sunset semis

After playing part of last season at Durango, the Bonanza junior finally became eligible on Jan. 22.

Less than a month later, she led her new team into the Sunset Region semifinals.

Pitts scored 30 points Tuesday as the Bengals overcame an early deficit and a near collapse at the end to win at Mojave, 62-60.

The Bengals (16-9) advance to meet Bishop Gorman (25-4) in a regional semifinal at 3 p.m. Thursday at Palo Verde.

“It was very hard for me to sit out,” Pitts said. “When I came back, I had to learn how to play with a new team. It was tough to just have to watch.”

For a while Tuesday, Pitts couldn’t miss, draining seven straight shots over parts of three quarters.

“She took over the game,” Mojave coach Rochuel Grayson said.

With Bonanza’s starting center limited to 85 seconds of play in the second half because of foul trouble, and the Bengals’ two starting guards, who average a combined 23.2 points per game, scoring a total of eight points, Pitts’ contributions were vital.

“I just had confidence in myself to take it (to the basket),” Pitts said. “My team had confidence in me.”

Pitts poured in 19 second-half points to help the Bengals come back from a 37-28 halftime deficit.

“If there was ever a time for her to step up, it was tonight,” Bonanza coach Dean Bosch said. “We weren’t scoring from our guards. It just came down to guts, and our girls played with their hearts.”

Bonanza stretched its lead to 61-52 with about 90 seconds to play before an 8-0 Mojave run gave the Rattlers a chance.

Down 61-60, Mojave inbounded the ball at center court with eight seconds left, but turned it over and fouled Datril Beals.

“We had it going to the right person,” Grayson said. “We were where we needed to be. We just couldn’t complete it.”

Beals made the first of two free throws. Mojave rebounded the missed second shot but couldn’t get off a last shot.

Chelsea Hopkins, who will play at Duke next season, had 30 points for Mojave (20-7). Clarissa Cannon scored 11 for the Rattlers.

• Bishop Gorman 75, Shadow Ridge 27 — At Gorman, Ashley Gayle had 22 points and 15 rebounds to help the Gaels cruise past the Mustangs (14-10).

Dannielle Diamant added 15 points for Gorman, which led 37-6 at halftime.

• Centennial 120, Sierra Vista 40 — At Centennial, Alexis Byrd had 31 points, seven steals and four assists as the Bulldogs (27-3) routed the Lions (13-18).

Deanna Daniels added 25 points, five steals and four assists, and Johnna Brown had 19 points for Centennial.

The Bulldogs led 58-25 at halftime and outscored the Lions 39-8 in the third quarter.

Breanna Tolliver had 12 points for Sierra Vista.

• Durango 66, Palo Verde 47 — At Durango, Austin Rarere and Lindy La Rocque each hit seven 3-pointers to help the Trailblazers (26-5) down the Panthers (23-9).

Rarere finished with 24 points, and La Rocque had 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Mia Bell had 14 points, nine assists and five rebounds, and Kristen Gaines pulled down 12 rebounds for Durango.

Hayley Henderson hit six 3-pointers and scored 20 points to lead Palo Verde.

Durango will meet Centennial in the semifinals at 6:20 p.m. Thursday at Palo Verde.

• Mountain View 43, Tonopah 32 — At Mountain View, Randall Van Kempen had 32 points, 10 rebounds and four steals as the Saints beat the Muckers in the first round of the Class 1A Southern Region Tournament.