Zanna Thompson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism graduate student assigned to cover Red Mountain High School for AZPreps365.com

MESA— Red Mountain had its heart set on avenging the loss against Mountain View three weeks prior. The Mountain Lions were adamant but unlucky. The girls basketball squad fell to the Toros once again, 54-39, Tuesday night.

Senior point guard Emmy White mustered all her energy and scored 16 points, but the Toros overpowered their fellow Mesa foes.

In the first quarter the Mountain Lions kept up with the Toros, but every shot the Mountain Lions threw up rolled around the rim or bounced off.

“We had good ball movement,” Red Mountain head coach Anthony Jackson said. “We’re moving pretty well, and we’re getting good looks. (The ball) just was not falling…I think that (the girls) were doing a good job it just wasn’t falling in. They will fall next time.”

The Mountain Lions were held scoreless for nearly the first two minutes of the second quarter, but still only trailed the Toros by seven points. Then sophomore shooting guard Rindi Lee was fouled twice, eliminating the goose egg on the scoreboard with three free throws. Lee's backcourt mate, White, rode off the momentum with two beautiful baskets of her own.

“(I was) figuring out the weak spots and where I could finally score,” White said. “I have been struggling a little this season, but I finally figured it out this game.”

With 2:30 remaining before the half, a huge foul that cleared the Mountain Lion bench with excitement. White stepped up to the line, made both free throws, and pulled Red Mountain to within three at 14-11.

(6'4" Courtenay Lee (10) towers over Red Mountain senior Alexis Ibarra (50) while she searches the court for an open teammate. (Photo by: Zanna Thompson/AZPrep365.com) 

The Mountain Lions appeared to have great energy to carry into halftime until Toro junior Sarah Smout—who was previously coached by Jackson—shot a lovely three-pointer that dropped in as the buzzer sounded. That bucket put the Toros up 10 at the half, 22-12.

“(The girls) were a little phased when we went into halftime,” Jackson said. “They quickly realized that we have to forget about it and get after it in the second half.”

The Mountain Lions were slow to regain their rhythm in the third quarter. However, after a rainbow three-pointer from senior center Alexis Ibarra closed the deficit to 38-24, they seemed to recover their focus.

“I’d say that was the biggest thing,” Jackson said. “A couple of big shots, a couple of big threes that got us back into (the game).”

Trailing 38-24 to begin the fourth quarter, the Mountain Lions embarked on a 5-0 run. White quickly posted a layup, which was followed by a three-pointer from sophomore shooting guard Amya Bekele.

“We have a lot of freshmen, sophomores and juniors that have a bright future,” Jackson said. “Emmy plays a lot of minutes, so it will hurt losing her but you know, most of the other girls that get playing time are underclassmen.”

Despite the team being so young, White has seen growth throughout the season.

“I am so proud,” White said. “We are a very young team and we have developed so much this season. We have taken what we learn in practice and apply it to games. At the end of the day, (my teammates) are the people I want to see and who I want to go home (with).”

Both teams will be back in action on Thursday against neighboring Mesa schools. Red Mountain (4-12) will host the Mesa Jackrabbits (12-4), while Mountain View (10-4) hits the road to battle the second-seeded Dobson Mustangs (11-3).