Gilbert handles CDS, 47-34

February 15, 2023 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Corona del Sol's Callie Hinder (10) shoots over Gilbert's Aspen McClees in the first half of Gilbert's 47-34 playoff win. (Azpreps365 photo)

Three-point shooting came in handy Wednesday night for Gilbert High in round two of the 6A girls basketball tournament.

The 7th-seeded Tigers sank nine treys for the game - six in the third quarter. That marksmanship allowed them to pull away from 10th-seed Corona del Sol in the third period and notch a 47-34 victory at The Jungle.

Gilbert improved to 15-12. Corona del Sol finished up 13-14. Gilbert advances to Tuesday's quarterfinals against #2 seed Sandra Day O'Connor. SDO eliminated #18 Chandler, 67-48, on Wednesday. 

Gilbert built a 16-8 halftime lead thanks to the scoring of three players - junior Meisha Caserio, sophomore Emma Carrasco and freshman Aspen McClees. On defense the Tigers limited 6-foot-6-inch Corona freshman post Callie Hinder, the Aztecs leading scorer, to four points in the first half.

Hinder, however, kicked into gear offensively in the second half. She scored 18 points to finish with 22 - double her scoring average for the season. Her 10 third-quarter points were offset and then some by six Gilbert treys in the third - two apiece from Meisha Caserio (team-high 15 points) and Emma Carrasco (12 points) and one each from Morgan Evenson and Leila Josey. 

Evenson offered offensive support for Caserio and Carrrasco in the second half.  Evenson tallied all eight of her points after intermission, making five of six free throws to go along with a three in the third quarter.

All the top-8 seeds in the 6A girls tournament advanced to the quarterfinals in Wednesday's second round. #1 Hamilton beat #16 Desert Ridge, 57-37; #3 Dobson beat #14 Sunnyslope, 56-37; #4 Mesa beat #13 Cibola, 39-37; #5 Valley Vista beat #12 Westwood, 65-50; #6 Mountain Ridge beat #11 Highland, 54-35 and #8 Boulder Creek beat #9 Sunnyside, 42-37.

Tuesday's other three quarterfinals -- all 7 p.m. tip-offs - are Boulder Creek at Hamilton; Valley Vista at Mesa; and Mountain Ridge at Dobson.