The Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (Tucson, AZ) varsity basketball team will play a neutral playoff game against Florence (AZ) on Friday, February 28, at 7 p.m. This game is part of the 2025 AIA Boys Basketball State Championships (Arizona) – Conference 3A tournament.

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy vs Florence Game Info:

What: Arizona High School Basketball
Who: Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (AZ) vs Florence (AZ)
When: Friday, February 28, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Bracket: 2025 AIA Boys Basketball State Championships (Arizona) – Conference 3A
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Pusch Ridge Christian Academy vs Florence

As the Arizona high school basketball season draws to a close, two standout teams, Florence and Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, have established themselves as top competitors in the state. With strong season records, impressive team stats, and a thrilling rivalry, both schools are poised to make waves in the postseason. Let’s dive into their rankings, team performance, and head-to-head matchups.

Season Performance and Rankings

Florence High School (24-25)

• Record: 24-4 overall, 7-3 in-region
• Rankings: 76th in the state, 6th in the section
• Points Scored (PF): 1,866
• Points Allowed (PA): 1,537
• Winning Percentage: .857 overall, .700 in-region
• Home Record: 10-2
• Away Record: 7-2
• Neutral Record: 7-0

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (24-25)

• Record: 17-11 overall, 5-3 in-region
• Rankings: 120th in the state, 12th in the section
• Points Scored (PF): 1,670
• Points Allowed (PA): 1,416
• Winning Percentage: .607 overall, .625 in-region
• Home Record: 6-4
• Away Record: 9-2
• Neutral Record: 2-5

Florence enters the postseason with a strong record, boasting an impressive 24-4 performance for the season. They’ve been particularly dominant in neutral games with a perfect 7-0 record. Their high-scoring offense and solid defense have been crucial in their success.

On the other hand, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy has faced a tougher road, finishing with a 17-11 record. Despite this, their record in-region is more promising, at 5-3, and they have performed admirably in away games with a 9-2 record.

Team Scoring Averages

• Florence:

  • Q1: 16.6
  • Q2: 18.6
  • Q3: 21.6
  • Q4: 17.0
  • Final Average: 66.6 points per game

• Pusch Ridge Christian Academy:

  • Q1: 15.7
  • Q2: 15.7
  • Q3: 16.0
  • Q4: 15.3
  • Final Average: 59.6 points per game

Florence outperforms Pusch Ridge in scoring, averaging 66.6 points per game compared to 59.6. Florence shows consistency in increasing their score as the game progresses, particularly in the third quarter. Pusch Ridge, while competitive, has struggled to maintain scoring momentum across quarters.

Team Stat Comparison

• Florence:

  • Points Per Game: 65.9
  • Rebounds Per Game: 38.6
  • Assists Per Game: 14.0
  • Steals Per Game: 12.4
  • Blocks Per Game: 4.1

• Pusch Ridge Christian Academy:

  • Points Per Game: 59.9
  • Rebounds Per Game: 30.4
  • Assists Per Game: 10.5
  • Steals Per Game: 7.6
  • Blocks Per Game: 4.1

Florence leads in several key statistical categories, including points per game, rebounds, and assists. They have also been more dominant defensively with nearly double the steals per game (12.4 compared to 7.6). Both teams are equally matched in blocks per game.

Key Players

• Florence:

  • Logan Stenson: 15.4 PPG, 3.9 APG, 3.3 SPG
  • Adrian Taufaasau: 10.1 RPG

• Pusch Ridge Christian Academy:

  • Noah McKinney: 15.6 PPG
  • Isaac Hardeman: 3.7 APG, 1.6 SPG
  • Ben Lambe: 7.8 RPG

Logan Stenson of Florence is their star player, leading the team in multiple categories, including points, assists, and steals. He is a significant threat on both ends of the court. For Pusch Ridge, Noah McKinney’s scoring ability stands out, while Ben Lambe provides a strong presence on the boards.

Head-to-Head Matchups

Both teams share several common opponents, and their results against these teams show some interesting similarities and differences:

• Against Empire: Florence won 74-51 on 12/13/24, while Pusch Ridge won 70-49 on 2/6/25.
• Against ALA – Ironwood: Florence triumphed 60-58 on 12/16/24, but Pusch Ridge lost 49-37 on 12/14/24.
• Against Parker: Florence won 75-55 on 12/28/24, while Pusch Ridge also came out victorious 77-71 on 11/26/24.
• Against Seton Catholic: Florence won both matchups, with 57-52 on 1/6/25 and 74-69 on 1/29/25. Pusch Ridge, however, lost 48-46 on 12/10/24 but won 69-54 on 2/14/25.

These results suggest that Florence has performed more consistently against common opponents, particularly with their narrow win against Seton Catholic, a team that has been difficult for Pusch Ridge.

Conclusion

While both Florence and Pusch Ridge Christian Academy have had solid seasons, Florence stands out with a better overall record, higher offensive output, and strong statistical advantages. Their dominance in scoring, rebounding, and defense has set them up for success in the postseason. Pusch Ridge, while showing resilience, especially in away games, will need to step up their scoring and consistency to challenge top teams like Florence in future matchups. As both teams head into the playoffs, it will be exciting to see if Florence can maintain their momentum or if Pusch Ridge can pull off an upset with their resilient play.