Down 48-33 with just over seven minutes left, No. 5 Pueblo went on a 27-8 run the rest of the way to secure a 60-56 victory over No. 2 Sahuaro in an important 4A Conference match played at home Wednesday night.

Victoria Cazares led all scorers with 30 points and the senior standout came up big at the free throw line, making nine shots in the final 2:53 of the game. Cazares also started the game on a roll with nine early points to help lead the Warriors to a 14-6 lead in the first quarter but the Cougars went on a run of their own to take a 30-22 lead at the half.

Ayjianna Bonapart scored to put Sahuaro up 32-22 with 6:15 left in the third quarter and then Nashelle Ponds hit a 3-pointer and she scored again to give Sahuaro a 37-22 lead with 4:56 left in the quarter. Cassandra Coolidge scored seven of her 13 points in the final four minutes of the third and Sahuaro had a comfortable 46-33 lead.

Ny'Anza Brown put Sahuaro up 48-33 with 7:47 left in the game and then the Warrior run started. America Cazares hit a free throw with 4:02 left and the Sahuaro lead was cut to 50-49. The Cougars were able to push the lead back out to 53-49 with 3:02 left but Victoria Cazares hit a couple of free throws and then America Cazares scored to tie the game up at 53-53 with 2:30 left.

The Cougars lost Coolidge and Bonapart to fouls but a free throw from Brown put Sahuaro up 54-53 with 1:14 left. America Cazares fouled out but the Cougars were unable to cash in on the two free throws and then Victoria Cazares put Pueblo up 55-54 on two more made free throws with 45.5 seconds left. Kristen Valdez scored with 17.3 seconds left to put the Cougars back up 56-55.

Victoria Cazares was fouled with 14.8 seconds left and she made both shots to put Pueblo up 57-56 and then Pueblo was awarded four more free throws on two technical fouls and Victoria Cazares connected on two of those for a 59-56 lead. The technical fouls gave possession to Pueblo and Victoria Cazares made one last free throw for the final 60-56 margin.

Victoria Cazares had her 30 points to lead Pueblo, America Cazares had 14 and Jordyn Okougbo added 7. Brown had 15 to lead Sahuaro, Coolidge scored 13, Ponds had 11 and Bonapart scored 9.

Sahuaro is now 10-1 in power-ranking games and Pueblo is 11-0. No. 1 Seton Catholic is 9-0 after beating No. 9 Saguaro 61-28 Wednesday night at home. The next set of AIA rankings are set for Thursday at noon and Sahuaro will visit No. 39 Canyon del Oro (2-8) Thursday night and Pueblo will visit No. 6 Salpointe (7-2) on the same night.

Victoria Cazares. (ANdy Morales/AZPreps365)