Make no mistake about it -- Morenci is a very good basketball team. The Lady Wildcats played a near flawless game in a 59-46 win over No. 1 seed Pima on Wednesday night.

The Lady Roughriders (10-3) were able to stay within striking distance for most of the game, but the Wildcats were in control throughout.

Morenci did most of its damage in the second and third quarters when it outscored Pima 29-18. Kresta Rodgers led the Wildcats with 18 points; Shaycee Alba had 14, and Cheyann Alba added eight.

Morenci relentlessly pursues the ball and puts pressure on the opposition for the entire game.

“It’s definitely a style of play that we don’t get to face a lot in 1A,” Pima coach Brad Hemphill said. “That’s what it is more than anything.”

Jessica Hancock kept the ‘Riders in the game by making some tough shots and ended up with 19 points. Katey Bryce scored 10, and Amy Sanders had eight.

Hemphill thought his team could have better attacked the Morenci defense.

“I didn’t think we were aggressive enough,” he said. “When you face pressure like that, you’ve got to attack.”

The Wildcats’ game is predicated on transition -- they force turnovers and get out on the fast break.

It isn’t a unique concept, but Morenci does it as well as anyone. One thing it does very well is finish at the basket. The Wildcats don’t miss many easy baskets.

“Morenci’s just a really good team,” Hemphill said.

The ‘Riders tried playing zone defense against the Wildcats, but Morenci was unfazed. They had no trouble scoring whether Pima was in man-to-man defense or zone.

“If you man them up, they’ve got the size and the quickness. . .They had everything going tonight, so it really didn’t matter,” Hemphill said.