The Phoenix girls' basketball team turned up the heat on Friday night, resulting in a pivotal Skyline Conference win for the Pirates, who topped visiting Klamath Union 50-36. In a season where points have been at a premium, the Pirates got them from a variety of sources to secure their second conference win of the season. For complete game details visit https://www.rvtrib.com/sports/girls-hoops-delgado-spurs-phoenix-past-ku/article_b24d10ca-a9d2-11ed-a2ca-dbfa8f921284.html

Statistics can say whatever you want them to say. Friday night at Henley, they told a pretty accurate story as the Phoenix girls' basketball team dropped a 56-41 decision to the host Hornets in a Skyline Conference match-up. The Pirates were outshot and outrebounded by monster margins, including 77 shots for Henley to 39 for Phoenix. The offensive rebounding difference was even more stunning as the Hornets muscled their way to 26 boards while PHS managed only four. The game was still relatively close despite the statistical imbalance. Phoenix (1-3 in the Skyline, 9-9 overall and ranked 22nd in the state) opened an early 7-2 lead before finding itself trailing 14-9 after one quarter and 23-15 at halftime.  The Henley advantage hovered around 10 points the rest of the way. Morgan James finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Pirates who got 16 points from Anabell Delgado and seven from Ruby Rector. The Pirates return to action Tuesday when they visit Mazama.  Phoenix (41): James 11, Nolan 3, Mohamud 0, Delgado 16, Potratz 4, Rector 7. 12 field goals, 13-23 free throws. 3-Point: Delgado 3, Rector. Henley (56): Modin 9, Fussell 9, S. Campos 3, Parker 2, A. Campos 9, Harper 20, Northcutt 4. 20 free throws, 14-21 free throws. 3-Point: A. Campos, Modin. P - 9 6 16 10 - 41 H - 14 9 21 14 - 56  

A night that saw a variety of players contribute fueled the Phoenix girls' basketball team to a  Skyline Conference win on Jan. 27 as the Pirates rolled past Hidden Valley 39-21. Seven players hit the scoring column as Phoenix claimed its first conference win of the season. A strong third quarter, something that hasn't happened often for PHS this season, put the game out of reach when the Pirates outscored their visitors 16-8. Phoenix already led 18-6 at halftime before its third-quarter surge. Anabell Delgado scored eight of her game-high 10 points in the third quarter. Ruby Rector enjoyed her biggest offensive night of the season, also scoring 10 points, including six in the first half. Kynna Nolan finished with six points while Morgan James and Mae Woodward both added five. James grabbed a game-high nine rebounds while Kyla Potratz added five in logging 29 minutes of game time. Potratz was playing in just her second game after coming back from an ankle injury that sidelined her for six weeks. The Pirates (1-2 in the Skyline, 9-8 overall and ranked 21st in the state) return to action Friday when they visit Henley. HIdden Valley (21): Rommes 2, Tiffin 6, Lapan 2, Yunker 5, Dice 2, Bents 4, 9 field goals, 2-6 free throws. 3-Point: Yunker. Phoenix (39): Delgado 10, Rector 10, James 5, Nolan 6, Woodward 5, Mohamud 2, Potratz 1, Vos 0, Shull-Bain 0, McConnell 0. 14 field goals, 7-11 free throws, 3-Point: Nolan 2, Woodward, Rector. HV - 3 3 8 7 - 21 P - 5 1316 5 - 39  

A fast start and a furious rally weren't quite enough to earn the Phoenix girls' basketball team a win at Klamath Union on  Friday night, Jan. 20. The Pirates came out blazing on the way to a 17-5 lead after one quarter. Sophomore Mae Woodward led the charge, netting six of her career-high 10 points in the surge. The host Pelicans started to find the range from the field and cut the lead to 29-21 by halftime before foul trouble took a toll on the Pirates. With starters Ruby Rector and Morgan James both on the bench for extended periods, KU tied the game at 37 after three quarters. The host team was up by 10 points in the game's final minutes before a last surge by Phoenix. James led the rally with six of her 14 points in the final quarter, including a basket at the buzzer to trim the final margin to two points. Anabell Delgado scored 14 of her team-high 17 points in the first half for Phoenix, which is 0-2 in the Skyline Conference and 8-8 overall. James added seven rebounds. Senior guard Kyla Potratz saw her first playing time since early in the season, returning from an ankle injury, and logged 16 minutes on the court, finishing with three points and four rebounds. The Pirates hit 17 of 41 shots from the field on the night while KU connected at a 28 percent clip (16 of 57). Phoenix returns to action on Friday, hosting Hidden Valley. Phoenix (50): James 14, Nolan 3, Woodward 10, Mohamud 0, Delgado 17, Potratz 3, Rector 3. 17 field goals, 8-14 free throws. 3-Point: Nolan, Woodward 2, Delgado 4, Rector. Klamath Union (50): Langley 7, Hall 10, Garcia 3, Pena 18, Harmon 10, Slaven 2, Neese 2. 16 field goals, 14-24 free throws. 3-Poit: Pena 4, Langley 2. P - 17 12 8 13 - 50 KU - 5 16 16 15 - 52  

A traditionally-tough basketball program still looks pretty tough. Despite heavy graduation losses and the departure of a long-time coach, the visiting Vikings were too much for Phoenix in a 51-35 final on January 13 at Phoenix. Mazama opened an 11-6 lead after one quarter and slowly pulled away in the Skyline Conference opener for both teams. A 13-4 run in the third quarter fueled by Chelsea Gilmore helped the visitors take charge as the senior post scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half. Only three Pirates managed to get into the scoring column. Anabell Delgado scored a game-high 19 points while Morgan James finished with 13. James added eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and four steals. Kynna Nolan chipped in three points for Phoenix (8-7 overall). Mazama (5-8 overall) got 14 points from Gilmore and Ella Baley. The Vikings shot 46 percent from the field (19 for 41) while Phoenix hit 11 of 35 shots (30 percent) in the game.  The Pirates return to action Friday when they visit Klamath Union. Mazama (51): Utley 2, McGirr 5, Baley 14, Holbrook 3, Lee 1, Heaton 7, Gilmore 14. 19 field goals, 10-13 free throws. 3-Point: McGirr, Gilmore, Heaton. 15 fouls. Phoenix (35): James 13, Nolan 3, Delgado 19, Woodward 0, Mohamud 0, Rector 0. 11 field goals, 7-7 free throws. 3-Point: Delgado (5), Nolan. 13 fouls. M - 11 15 13 12 - 51 P - 6 14 4 11 - 35

The new calendar year brings a sense of optimism to the Phoenix Girls' Basketball program.   It's not that the final month of 2022 was bad. The Pirates put together a 7-4 record in non-conference play. They also received contributions from a variety of players. Still, they know it could have been better. And healthier! PHS played nearly the entire pre-season without Kyla Potratz. While the senior guard is the team's best defender and helps keep the Pirates in a flow on offense. Potratz spent most of the month rehabbing an ankle injury and is expected back in early January. Classmate Morgan James missed time late in December with her own ankle injury. James tops the team in rebounding and is among the scoring leaders. Like Potratz, she'll be back the first week of January. With the seniors on the sidelines, Phoenix looked to Ruby Rector, Anabell Delgado and Makynna Nolan to pick up the load on both ends of the court. Both Delgado and Nolan had their best scoring games to close out December while Rector directed things on both ends of the court in James' absence. Senior Brooke McConnell and sophomores Ahlam Mohamud and Mae Woodward all contributed as part-time starters and will be counted on for regular minutes during the Skyline Conference season.