Ironwood Ridge’s future is looking very bright

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ironwood Ridge and Head Coach Daron Cross has quietly established a young and promising team that will be a playoff contender for year's to come. The addition of Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='927949' first='Serenity' last='Hampton'] (2028) and the rise of last year's Region Offensive Player of the Year [player_tooltip player_id='833021' first='Jaidyn' last='Saucedo'] (2027), the Nighthawks have a very bright future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year's squad set the groundwork for this year's team by going 12-6 Overall, 8-4 in Conference play, and lost in the First Round of the Playoffs to eventual 5A State Champion Canyon View. They will be returning all 5 Starters, and with the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='927949' first='Serenity' last='Hampton'], who already has a Division 1 offer from San Jose State, they should be much better and have more depth to propel them for a deep Playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's schedule will be much tougher than last year even though they have moved down from 5A to 4A. They are now in the extremely competitive 4A Kino Region. The Region includes perennial powerhouse teams Salpointe and Sahuaro, and a very strong Mica Mountain team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197489"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6734d37c3680b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1197489' first='Molly' last='Walter'] is a solid Wing player that can do all of the little things to help your team win. She is a good defender, she can rebound, and she can defend multiple positions. She is also a terrific athlete. She competes in Track and Field and is one of the top Heptathletes in the State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["833021"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6734cfaa0ae68"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='833021' first='Jaidyn' last='Saucedo'] had a Breakout Freshman season last year winning the Region Offensive MVP. She is a tremendous ball handler especially in traffic. She is best when she is driving to the basket, however her game will have to open up offensively if Ironwood Ridge wants to fulfill their full potential. She can shoot the 3 pointer, she just needs to show teams she is willing to be unselfish and score at all levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["927949"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6734d37c36898"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='927949' first='Serenity' last='Hampton'] will be counted on to have a big contribution to the Nighthawks squad this season. She is a big guard/wing that can score at all 3 levels. She handles the ball well for her size, and rebounds well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1141143"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6734d5215eb70"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1141143' first='Katelyn' last='Cano'] will give Ironwood Ridge some toughness and tenacity on defense. She is a relentless worker that will play any position Coach Cross asks her to play. She has a solid offensive game and will score if the game dictates that. I love her competitiveness and and motor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1050768"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6734d61ea39e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1050768' first='Myla' last='Elslager'] will be a player to watch for Ironwood Ridge as well. She is a very talented Guard that has unlimited potential. She is an underrated shooter and can help the Nighthawks offensively if other players are struggling. She has a very high basketball IQ and is a 3 Year Varsity player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Games to Circle </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11/22/24 vs. Pueblo - this game will be a tough early season match-up vs, a very tough Pueblo team with Standout [player_tooltip player_id='607509' first='America' last='Cazares']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1/17/25 vs. Salpointe - this contest against local powerhouse Salpointe will be a measuring stick for the Nighthawk program to see if they are a true Playoff contender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/7/25 vs. Mica Mt. - both teams will be battling for playoff seeding and Region Standing. Mica Mt. will feature All Region Player Bella Webb. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ironwood Ridge's season will depend upon how well their young players come together and if they can get into a rhythm offensively. They don't have great size so they are going to have to rely upon their quickness and versatility. The expectations are much higher this season, so how they react to adversity and challenges throughout the year will be another key factor to their success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->