Derrian Carter is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover South Mountain High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX – South Mountain’s bench scored 47 points to lift the Jaguars to a 61-21 girls basketball victory over 6A Metro Region foe Trevor G. Browne on its senior night.

With his squad scoreless and committing five turnovers in the game's first three minutes, Jaguar coach Bryan Willingham replaced his five senior starters with five other seniors. That maneuver sparked a 15-0 South Mountain run. The bench unit’s full-court press forced 10 turnovers, and the group grabbed four offensive rebounds that led to four second-chance points. 

“(The bench was) a faster group,” Willingham said. “We pushed the tempo up, (and) we pressed more with that group, (which) caused turnovers.”

Jaguar guard Destiny Dixon created offense through her stifling defense, ripping and intercepting Bruin passes to score eight points as the Jaguars ended the first quarter up 15-3. The senior finished the night with 16 points, five steals, two rebounds and one assist.

“I was very pumped up for tonight,” Dixon said. “I wanted to show positivity and teamwork by passing the ball.”

The Jaguars resembled a well-oiled machine, pushing the pace during fast breaks and moving the ball around the Bruins’ 1-2-2 zone by passing to each corner to shoot open mid-range jump shots and three-pointers. In the second quarter, senior guard Nevaeh Stewart picked up her dribble on a fast break, switched hands with the ball behind her back and tossed an overhead pass to freshman guard Asia Martin to extend the lead to 17. South Mountain ended the night with nine assists, and Martin closed the half with a buzzer-beater layup to make the score 29-6.

“We finally came together and shared the basketball,” Willingham said. “The big thing we’ve been missing is the ability to share the basketball.”

South Mountain scored 42 points in the paint and caused 39 turnovers by jumping pass lanes and playing aggressive defense, which allowed 10 players to score. The Jaguars allowed 33 fewer points than their points-allowed average (54.9) and more than doubled their scoring average (29.5).

Jaguars guard Tajilynn Karim shooting a corner 3-pointer. South Mountain finished with two 3-pointers made. (Derrian Carter/ AZPreps365)

“We played 16 players, which is rare for us,” Willingham said. “(The Bruins) weren’t able to go as deep as us, so I think that allowed (us) to wear them down.”

Despite the loss, Trevor G. Browne coach Jenn Kubo is optimistic. Entering Thursday night's game, the Bruins averaged 13.8 points, and they trumped it, reaching 20 points for the fourth time this season. Bruins senior small forward Alyssa Rodgers led the team in scoring with nine points as the team made three three-pointers and four of 11 free throws. 

“For us to put 21 up on the board is big,” Kubo said. “A lot of our games we didn't even break 10, so I actually think tonight was a success for us. Seeing that we can put points up even when we have (multiple turnovers), I think this is a way that these kids now can move forward knowing that they can score.”

The Jaguars (3-13, 3-5) will play at Alhambra (6-9, 5-2) at 7 p.m. on Feb. 8. Meanwhile, the Bruins (1-10, 1-4) will host the Maryvale Panthers (0-15, 0-8) at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 7.