- Sunnyside (8-5) stormed back in the fourth quarter to outlast Nogales 50-47 for the Blue Devils fifth consecutive win. The Apaches (2-8) dropped its eighth straight game. Nogales had the ball on the last possession of the game, trailing by three points. The Apaches' Edgar Condes wide-open shot from downtown circled around the rim and rolled out as the buzzer sounded. It truly was a heart breaker for Nogales, as they lead for most of the fourth quarter, and really needed this to break its slump.
- Before the game, Nogales coach Ricardo De La Riva said because his team is filled with underclassmen, he's pretty much coaching for next season. I found that somewhat odd, just nine games into the season and he decided they can't win this year. And he kind of coached like it too. Two minutes into the first quarter, De La Riva was sitting on the bench, silent, as his team trailed 11-0 and were 0-for-7 from three-point range. He didn't call for any plays or sets in the first quarter, which ended with Sunnyside up 15-6. The Apaches came back in the second quarter and took its first lead in the third frame. As the managed to come back, they started using some simple concepts like setting a screen to free up a shooter in the corner and the big man planting himself at the free throw line. It worked, but Nogales only ran it a handful of times, and couldn't execute some of them. I'm not sure he's coached them to utilize counters or what to do when a play breaks down. De La Riva is a good coach, but it seems he's not 100 percent into this season.
- Sunnyside senior forward Nikc Jackson finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. Jackson, who stands at 6-8, did whatever he wanted on the court, as Nogales' tallest player stands six feet tall. Jackson came up with a huge block in the final 15 seconds of the game to help preserve the Blue Devils lead. Jackson notched his ninth double-double so far this season. Grand Canyon University, who play tonight in Tucson vs U of A, sent assistant coach TJ Benson to watch Jackson. Vanderbilt also sent someone to watch him play.
- Sunnyside senior Mikey Silva surpassed 1,000 career points on a night he scored a game-high 19 points. Silva is a quick, small guard with a tight handle and a solid mid-range jumper that allows him to pull-up whenever he sees fit. Silva uses his body and basketball IQ to get the foul and go to the free-throw line. It's one of the main reasons South Mountain Community College offered him a scholarship because getting to the line is a premium at the next level. Silva turns 18 years old today.
- Once Sunnyside adds senior big men Dwayne Eason and Santino Duarte, both are ineligible at the moment, the rotations will look different. Eason, Duarte and Jackson will be a hie trio of bigs, who all do different things. Jackson can score inside with his solid footwork, but excels on the wing or with his back to the basket. Duarte is a load inside, who will protect the rim and score inside of 12 feet. Eason, a transfer from Tucson High, can stretch the floor as he's a knock-down catch-and-shoot player from the three-point line. The Blue Devils are also missing junior forward Javier Ramirez, who coach Jimmy Rosthenhausler said is the team's best shooter.
- The Blue Devils went into halftime with 24 points, all of them scored by Jackson and Silva. Sunnyside will need to get contributions from other players if they want to make some noise in 6A.
- Nogales shot 8-for-30 as a team from three-point range and attempted just one free-throw in the loss. The lone bright spot for the Apaches was junior guard Sammy Legleu, who finished with a team-high 18 points. He was the only player to score in double-digits for Nogales.
- Before the game, Nogales coach Ricardo De La Riva said because his team is filled with underclassmen, he's pretty much coaching for next season. I found that somewhat odd, just nine games into the season and he decided they can't win this year. And he kind of coached like it too. Two minutes into the first quarter, De La Riva was sitting on the bench, silent, as his team trailed 11-0 and were 0-for-7 from three-point range. He didn't call for any plays or sets in the first quarter, which ended with Sunnyside up 15-6. The Apaches came back in the second quarter and took its first lead in the third frame. As the managed to come back, they started using some simple concepts like setting a screen to free up a shooter in the corner and the big man planting himself at the free throw line. It worked, but Nogales only ran it a handful of times, and couldn't execute some of them. I'm not sure he's coached them to utilize counters or what to do when a play breaks down. De La Riva is a good coach, but it seems he's not 100 percent into this season.
- Sunnyside senior forward Nikc Jackson finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. Jackson, who stands at 6-8, did whatever he wanted on the court, as Nogales' tallest player stands six feet tall. Jackson came up with a huge block in the final 15 seconds of the game to help preserve the Blue Devils lead. Jackson notched his ninth double-double so far this season. Grand Canyon University, who play tonight in Tucson vs U of A, sent assistant coach TJ Benson to watch Jackson. Vanderbilt also sent someone to watch him play.
- Sunnyside senior Mikey Silva surpassed 1,000 career points on a night he scored a game-high 19 points. Silva is a quick, small guard with a tight handle and a solid mid-range jumper that allows him to pull-up whenever he sees fit. Silva uses his body and basketball IQ to get the foul and go to the free-throw line. It's one of the main reasons South Mountain Community College offered him a scholarship because getting to the line is a premium at the next level. Silva turns 18 years old today.
- Once Sunnyside adds senior big men Dwayne Eason and Santino Duarte, both are ineligible at the moment, the rotations will look different. Eason, Duarte and Jackson will be a hie trio of bigs, who all do different things. Jackson can score inside with his solid footwork, but excels on the wing or with his back to the basket. Duarte is a load inside, who will protect the rim and score inside of 12 feet. Eason, a transfer from Tucson High, can stretch the floor as he's a knock-down catch-and-shoot player from the three-point line. The Blue Devils are also missing junior forward Javier Ramirez, who coach Jimmy Rosthenhausler said is the team's best shooter.
- The Blue Devils went into halftime with 24 points, all of them scored by Jackson and Silva. Sunnyside will need to get contributions from other players if they want to make some noise in 6A.
- Nogales shot 8-for-30 as a team from three-point range and attempted just one free-throw in the loss. The lone bright spot for the Apaches was junior guard Sammy Legleu, who finished with a team-high 18 points. He was the only player to score in double-digits for Nogales.
