Coach Dave Sheffield achieved a personal milestone last weekend, but there is still much to accomplish with the Yuma Outlaws this season.
“That win was a tidy win because it achieved a personal milestone. But this win was even more important in terms of staying in second place in the seeding index and continuing to maintain the highest possible postseason spot. It was important,” Sheffield said.
sheffield, teensth He led the YHS boys in scoring 400 points this season.th Coach won last Saturday's game against Payton. While it's certainly a notable milestone, the coach is focused on getting his current team back to the state tournament and winning its fourth title in seven seasons.
“The ceiling is very high for this team,” Sheffield said. “We're still in the process of redefining elements as well as developing other elements. We haven't accomplished anything yet. Not just in the games that decide the conference championship, but in the postseason. There are some great matches that will decide the standings.”
The Outlaws are 13-1 this season and remain second in the league. Class 3A CHSAA Selection and Seed IndexSheffield scored 401 in a 79-48 win over Wiggins on Thursday night at The Pit.cent win. They have a long road trip scheduled for next Saturday to Strasburg.
The team, which is still Indian due to an agreement with an American Indian tribe, entered this week at 13-1 and ranked sixth in the index.
“Saturday is going to be a big game,” Sheffield said. “They have good size and good guard play.”
Wiggins went 6-7 this week and ranked 23rd in the 2A index.
The Outlaws' current gang, Yuma's first since taking over their new mascot earlier this year, picked up two hard-fought road wins last weekend, helping 'Chef' reach a coaching milestone. did.
It started with the second showdown of the season against Yuma County rival Ray, with the Outlaws ultimately winning 58-53.
Ray entered the rivalry game with a 7-5 record, but the Outlaws knew it wouldn't be easy in the Eagles' Nest.
“Their record doesn’t show it, but you knew it was going to be a really good environment,” Sheffield said. “I knew it wasn't going to be easy.”
The Outlaws raced to a 15-3 lead, but the Eagles ended the first quarter on a 16-5 run and trailed just 20-19. The home team then scored six straight points late in the second quarter, defeating the Outlaws 12-8 in the first round and leading 31-28 at halftime.
But Yuma was undaunted by the hostile environment. The Outlaws fought back in the third inning to take a 46-43 lead, then held off the Eagles for a 58-53 victory.
“For us, the need for the conference was huge. It's all about RPI,” Sheffield said.
Yuma shot just 31 percent to Ray's 41 percent, but made 12 more shots, three more from behind the arc, and had a 46-34 rebounding advantage, including 25 offensive rebounds. I kept it.
Brody Sheffield 25 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, Jonathan Thomson 14 points, 18 rebounds, 3 steals, Cesar Gamboa 9 points, 8 rebounds, Edwin Munoz 8 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, Cristian -Duarte scored 2 goals and scored 4 points. Rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals. Ray's big two, AB Lewis and Rafael Trejo, combined for 39 points, but no other player scored more than six points.
After winning the emotional rivalry, the players had to board a bus early the next morning and make the long trip to Peyton near Colorado Springs.
The Outlaws were able to withstand another stiff challenge from the Panthers for Sheffield's 400th Won 58-49.
“I knew the Peyton game was going to be a test of endurance. I got on the bus by 7:30 a.m. and sat there for about three hours until the game started,” Sheffield said. .
A red-hot Panthers team built a 14-8 lead while scoring nine straight points in the first quarter and pushed to 16-8 early in the second quarter, finishing with a 14-4 run. However, the Outlaws steadily racked up points with relentless aggression and quickness, eventually ending the second game with an 11-4 spurt to take a 26-23 lead.
In the third game, the lead increased to 9 points, 41-32, thanks to the efforts of Duarte and Gamboa. The floor heated up at times, but the Panthers couldn't get closer than five points the rest of the game, as the Outlaws happily secured Sheffield's 400 points.th career victory.
“Payton is going to win their conference,” Sheffield said. “The first quarter was very slow overall, but I think we did a good job in terms of realigning our energy.”
Yuma once again held its opponents to 37% to 48% shooting. Neither team shot well from deep, but Yuma made three more from behind the arc, made four more free throws and had 15 steals.
B. Sheffield made 4 long-range shots for 17 points, 5 steals, and 5 rebounds, Thomson had 14 points and 4 rebounds, Duarte had 12 points, Gamboa had 6 points and 4 rebounds, and Munoz had 5 points and 4 rebounds. , Alex Pensado had 14 points and four rebounds. 4 points and 3 assists.
