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Phantoms lose to Valley Sanders and Greyhills Academy

The Phantoms play a tough game against the Valley Sanders Pirates Jan. 9. Photo/Cyndi Moreno

The Phantoms play a tough game against the Valley Sanders Pirates Jan. 9. Photo/Cyndi Moreno

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - The Phantoms faced two teams during last weekend's games. Both Greyhills Academy and Valley Sanders High played well, beating the Phantoms Jan. 9-10. The Phantoms lost to Valley Sanders 71-54 and to Greyhills Academy 48-35.

The defeats came after the Phantoms celebrated their first win of the season several weeks ago against Rock Point High, 67-45.

"We were coming off a two week streak, so it was kind of disappointing," Head coach Jenn Hogan said. "They played well but we still struggle with consistency. We have flashes of absolute amazingness. They really have an untapped level of potential."

During Friday's game against Valley Sanders, Hogan said the team did not play aggressively.

Despite being down 30 points by the third quarter, the Phantoms rallied, scoring 15 points in the last 15 minutes of the last quarter.

"We came back and we just killed it," Hogan said. "It's frustrating because we are easily the best team in the conference, it's just a matter of bringing that team on the floor each night. We tend to come out and play a couple quarters really, really well but then it's those two quarters that we don't."

Hogan said both Tyler Jones and Ian Jones played strong games on Friday, leading the team during the last quarter.

"Tyler and Ian both were pretty much the leaders during the run we had on the fourth quarter," Hogan said.

Hogan said the team played a great defense during Saturday's game against Greyhills Academy. The Phantoms loss was partly due to bad offense during the game.

"Honestly both nights, offense just was not working," said Hogan.

Jaru Valazquez fouled out during Saturday's game while starters Ian, Tyler and Travis Moreno sat out for three quarters of the game.

"When you have your starters out like that, you are kind of limited and you know what you can do. They have to be smart," she said. "It's only so much about you telling them not to foul, then they're not aggressive. It's a difficult balance and very limiting."

Despite heavy losses over the season, Hogan said they are a winning team that should be watched carefully.

"We are easily the best team in the conference and anyone that doesn't take us seriously are probably going to pay for it. We've got a lot of potential," she said. "As far at the rest of the season goes, I think every game is extremely winnable, there's really no reason we can not be competitive in the post season."

The Phantoms play Jan. 17 against St. Michael at the Grand Canyon.


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