Shamrocks fall just short in home opener after major first-half comeback

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Yuma Catholic Rocks finally hit the floor for their long-awaited home opener Tuesday night, hosting the Seton Catholic Sentinels a team looking to improve to 2-0 on the young season.

After last week's scheduled opener was canceled, YC was eager to put on a show for the home crowd.

Seton Catholic struck first and fast. Sentinel guard KJ Fauske set the tone early, drilling a three-pointer and fueling a huge opening run.

Moments later, Fauske showcased his passing vision, assisting Ryan Morris on another three from the right wing to keep the momentum rolling.

Before YC could settle in, Seton Catholic had stormed out to a 19-2 lead. But the Rocks didn't fold. Freshman Adrian Porchas provided a spark off the bench, finishing a transition dish from Leo Perez after Perez jumped a passing lane for a key steal.

The bucket cut the deficit to six and brought the crowd back to life.

YC kept pushing. Noah Zito attacked the lane and scored through contact, continuing to chip away at the lead. But the night belonged to Santiago Vázquez Lima, who paced the Rocks' offense.

His aggressive drive in transition forced a Seton Catholic timeout, and YC carried a six-point lead into halftime, a remarkable turnaround after the slow start.

But the second half told a different story. Despite their comeback and strong stretches of play, the Rocks struggled to contain Seton Catholic down the stretch. The Sentinels regained control in the final minutes and held on for a 57-54 victory, handing YC a tough loss to open the season.

Yuma Catholic drops to 0-1 and will look to bounce back quickly as they prepare for Tonopah Valley on Friday.