Farmington's road win forces a first-place deadlock in 1-5A girls basketball

A sweep and a tie.

That might sound a tad confusing, but it is perfectly on brand for the way the District 1-5A girls basketball season has unfolded.

On Thursday night, fifth-ranked Farmington’s huge third quarter propelled the Scorpions, who started the day in second place in 1-5A, to a 52-41 road victory at No. 9-ranked Volcano Vista, the 1-5A leader.

So what remained are two teams at 6-2 in league play with two games to go, and the possibility of a playoff game later this month to settle the top seed for the 1-5A tournament.

“We had to take care of this one to put ourselves in the right position,” Farmington coach Tom Adair said.

The Scorpions (18-6) and Hawks (14-9) are headed for a playoff game, IF both win their final two games next week. Farmington plays Cibola and Piedra Vista, and PV already has upset the Scorpions once. Volcano Vista takes on Cleveland and Cibola. A playoff game is mandated if two teams tie for first place in a district, even if one swept the other.

Farmington trailed by a point at halftime Thursday night, 26-25, even though it forced the Hawks into 16 first-half turnovers.

But the Scorpions scored six quick points in the first minute of the third quarter, forced a Volcano Vista timeout, and scored the next four coming out of the timeout for a 10-0 run to begin the half and a 35-26 lead.

All totaled, Farmington scored 16 of the first 18 of the third quarter for a 41-28 edge.

“That third quarter, we came out and re-established ourselves. Instead of just settling for 3s, we started attacking the basket, and we got to the free-throw line,” Adair said.

The Hawks did get within nine at 41-32 going to the fourth quarter, but Volcano Vista had a 6½-minute scoring drought that started late in the third and lasted over five minutes of the fourth, and the Hawks could not overcome that.

Volcano Vista finished, unofficially, with 24 turnovers, as Farmington looked to pressure the Hawks at every turn. Much of this decision was the result of the Hawks having lost their best guard, senior Mila Espinoza, to an ACL injury against Cleveland at the end of January.

“That’s what we talked about doing at halftime,” Adair said. “That was definitely a game plan, because she’s a heck of a player. … We wanted to put pressure on them, and all the girls stepped up and played great defense.”

Farmington slowed the game down considerably in the fourth quarter with lengthy possessions.

Junior forward Chenoa Parrish had a team-best 18 points for the Scorpions.

“I think we played together good as a team, and everyone put in all their work,” Parrish said. “I’m proud of the girls for stepping up.”

Jalysa Hines led the Hawks with 16 points.