Basketball Game Preview: Sahuaro Cougars vs. Amphitheater Panthers

Sahuaro has gone a perfect 4-0 against Amphitheater recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Monday. The Cougars will be taking part in a tournament against the Panthers at 11:20 a.m. Sahuaro will be strutting in after a victory while Amphitheater will be coming in after a loss.

Sahuaro had to kick off their season on the road on Wednesday, but they showed no ill effects. They blew past Maricopa 51-9. With the Cougars ahead 31-1 at the half, the contest was all but over already.

Jordynn Chavis

Steals (Career)

11/19/25 @ Maricopa	7
12/17/24 vs Palo Verde	5
02/20/25 vs Yuma	3
01/21/25 vs Ironwood Ridge	3
12/28/24 vs Poston Butte	3

Sahuaro's success was spearheaded by the efforts of Jordynn Chavis, who shot 47% from the field to rack up 17 points and seven steals, and Layla O'Rourke-Slone, who posted six points in addition to six steals and five rebounds. Those seven steals gave Chavis a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Harmony Twito, who earned six points and five steals.

Sahuaro smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Maricopa only pulled down six.

Meanwhile, Amphitheater was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap on Friday as they fell 47-43 to Flowing Wells. The defeat continues a trend for the Panthers in their meetings with the Caballeros: they've now lost eight in a row.

Sahuaro will have to keep a close watch on Kayla Tuakalau and Courtewa Vigil, a pair of players who had a big impact on Amphitheater's prior game. Tuakalau put up 15 points, while Vigil had 11 points.

Everything came up roses for Sahuaro against Amphitheater in their previous meeting back in December of 2023, as the squad secured a 68-30 win. In that game, the Cougars amassed a halftime lead of 46-17, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Monday.