Yuma High School’s boys basketball team keeps plowing through the 2024-25 season.
The Outlaws reached double-figure wins with this past Tuesday night’s home win over Platte Valley, improving to 10-2 overall and 3-0 in 3A Patriot League play. They also ran past Brush last Friday in The Pit, 66-40, then toughed out a 60-56 win at 4A Eaton on Saturday.
“This group is progressing week by week,” coach Dave Sheffield said. “I really like where they are at this point. We are definitely finding our identity, and in doing so, rectifying some of the weaknesses we had early in the season.”
Yuma faces a serious test Friday when the Outlaws travel to Ault to take on the Highland Huskies. The Huskies entered this week 11-0 and ranked No. 2 in the 3A CHSAA Seeding and Selection Index. Yuma entered this week at No. 5 as the Patriot still holds the top five spots in the Index — Strasburg at No. 1, Windsor Charter Academy No. 4 and Resurrection Christian No. 4
The Outlaws will be back in The Pit on Tuesday when they host 2A Merino in a non-league game. Merino is struggling this season with a 2-7 record after a great run in recent seasons.
Yuma hosted Brush last Friday for a league game. The Beetdiggers stuck around for awhile, trailing 14-11 early in the second quarter.
However, the Outlaws effectively put it away with a great run the rest of the first half. Five different players scored as they closed the quarter on a 23-2 run for a 37-13 lead. David Covarrubias got more time in the rotation, scoring six points during the run, Jonathan Thomson made a rare 3-pointer, and Reyli Trejo had a beautiful dime to Covarrubias.
Brush never got closer than 20 points in the second half as the Outlaws cruised to the 66-40 win.
Yuma took 18 more shots than the Beetdiggers, shooting 46 percent overall, had 23 assists while scoring 27 points off turnovers, contributing to 46 points in the paint. Yuma had just nine turnovers, while Brush committed 23.
Brody Sheffield had 20 points, six rebounds and six assists, Thomson 13 points and eight rebounds, Covarrubias 13 points and seven rebounds, Alex Pensado 10 points and three assists, Jose Mario Ross six points and two assists, Iann Duran two points and two steals, Jalen Rose two points, Trejo three assists, Silas Baucke two rebounds and two assists, and Noe Quezada two rebounds and two assists.
The Outlaws faced a much stiffer challenge Saturday afternoon at old-foe Eaton. The Reds are struggling a bit by their standard, sitting at .500 on the season and at No. 17 in the 4A Index.
However, they still gave the Outlaws all they could handle.
Yuma led 13-12 after the first quarter and 29-26 at halftime. The Outlaws created a bit of space in the third, pushing the lead into double figures in the second half. Eaton, though, finished the game with 20 points in the fourth as Yuma held on for the 60-56 win.
The teams combined for 51 three-pointers, 31 by Eaton (11 made) and 20 by Yuma (six made). Eaton took only 20 two-point shots, making seven. Yuma was 15 for 33 inside the arc. Eaton held a 42-28 rebounding advantage. Yuma got to the charity strip a lot more though, making 12 of 22, while Eaton made nine of 14. Eaton committed eight more turnovers.
Baucke made two 3-pointers while finishing with a career high 14 points to go along with six rebounds. Sheffield had 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, Pensado 14 points and two steals, Thomson seven points, eight rebounds and four assists, Quezada seen points and two rebounds, Trejo three points and Duran two assists.
Yuma hosted Platte Valley this past Tuesday for a league game. The Broncos were hot early as they led 20-17 at the end of the first quarter. However, Yuma scrapped to a 39-36 lead by halftime, then pulled away in the second half for a 71-58 win.