Destini Jones is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Moon Valley High School for AZPreps365.com. 

Before Moon Valley's varsity girls basketball against Yuma on Wednesday, Rockets coach Eddie Mathis highlighted the players’ dedication and competitive mindset as they headed into the home opener.

“We put in a lot of work over the summertime,” Mathis said. “I’ve got a good group of young ladies who work and play hard and understand what competing is all about.”

Moon Valley erased last year's devastating 37-point loss to Yuma with a dominating 62-26 payback win.

The Rockets controlled the game from start to finish, using aggressive defense and good ball movement to secure the home-opener victory.

The hard work from the offseason showed as the Rockets had a 22-6 first-quarter lead. The strong defense executed by the Rockets led to turnovers that created scoring opportunities.

Kamariana Shaw, playing both point guard and shooting guard, led the way with a commanding steal in the first quarter, setting the tone for the Rockets’ high-pressure defense.

“I was just trying to get to the basket--create opportunities for my team and hustle back on defense.”

Moon Valley extended its momentum in the second quarter, forcing turnovers and converting some of them into points to take on a 36-12 lead at halftime.

Aniston Pattershall, who also saw time at both point guard and shooting guard, helped the Rockets' momentum with two three-pointers in the first half, keeping the pressure on Yuma’s defense.

“When I hit those shots, I just think about getting another one,” Pattershall said. “Not just for me but for my team.”

After halftime, the Rockets' defense continued to dominate, pushing the lead to 52-19 in the third quarter. The team executed strong communication and good court vision, which helped players predict plays and make smart decisions on the court.

Shaw and Pattershall continued to disrupt Yuma’s offense, while the rest of the team contributed with hustle plays to create fast breaks. Pattershall ended the game as the leading scorer with 19 points, and Shaw poured in 16 to spark the win.

“They came out and played with passion,” Mathis said. “We were mentally engaged, which ties into being physically engaged.”

Despite the dominant win, coach Mathis noted that there were areas for improvement for the Rockets.

“We had turnovers and missed about 20 layups,” Coach Mathis said. “We can do better.”

The coach said the team’s focus needs to remain on consistency and improving in each game.

“Our energy was through the roof,” Shaw said. “It was a little nerve-wracking, but we pulled through and got the win.

Pattershall added that the team's preparation showed. “We’ve been putting in the work,” Pattershall said. “And it really just showed tonight.”