Somerton basketball earns first varsity win in program history

SOMERTON Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Somerton Toros earned the first varsity boys basketball win in program history, defeating Calipatria 60–51 at home. In the school’s first season competing at the varsity level, the victory carried significance far beyond the final score.

“This one really means a lot to Somerton as a whole,” Alexander Rodriguez said. “This is the first varsity team we’ve had here, so this win means a lot for our school and for our program.”

The game itself was a back-and-forth battle. Somerton led 29–27 at halftime before Calipatria briefly surged ahead early in the second half. But sophomore guard Benjamin Shorr delivered in the biggest moments, scoring late to swing momentum back to the Toros and help close out the win.

“Knowing my teammates have my back makes it easy,” Shorr said. “There’s really no pressure. We trust each other, whether I make a shot or miss it.”

For Somerton, the win also showed how much the team has grown since last season, when many players competed at the freshman and sophomore levels.

“Making that jump to varsity is extreme,” Francisco Castillo said. “But we’re adapting to it, growing together as a team, and tonight really showed that.”

Rodriguez added the win could be a turning point for the young program as it looks ahead to the rest of the season.

“This gives us confidence,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been playing this way, and now it finally showed. Hopefully it brings more people out and helps us keep building.”

Somerton improves to 1–12 on the season, but for a first-year varsity program led by sophomores, Wednesday night marked something bigger than a record it marked a beginning. Meanwhile Calipatria falls to 1-12 on the season still in search for their second win.