The Camp Verde Middle School girls basketball team left the game against Big Park Community School in a little bit of shock.

The Cowboys hosted the Big Park Coyotes on Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Both teams came into the game undefeated but Big Park won 39-7 after holding the Cowboys to zero points in the first half, the first team ever to do that in the history of Camp Verde girls basketball.

“That team outplayed us,” said Steve Stone, CVMS head coach. “Their speed and tenacity surprised us at first. A lot of my girls aren’t used to that.

“It knocked my girls out of their rhythm.” Cowboys’ eighth-grader Neija Garner was the team’s leading scorer with five points.

The game started with aggressive play and high intensity particularly from Big Park. The Coyotes were blocking shots, recording some steals and playing a full-court press, grabbing the ball every chance they got.

Camp Verde, however, was strong on defense, too, as the first Coyotes’ basket didn’t happen until two minutes were left in the first quarter. Eighth-grader Raiven Alvey broke up a pass, but Big Park was quick to steal the ball back. Olivia Castillo and Valeria Ortiz had good rebounds while seventh-grader Kelsie Fernell blocked a Coyote shot and stole the ball.

The Big Park girls, however, know how to put pressure on their opponents, and they used that to their advantage. The Coyotes had multiple steals

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Dec. 12, issue of the Camp Verde Journal.