No. 9 Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge defeated No. 24 Yuma Gila Ridge 64-45 Wednesday night in the first round of the Division II state playoffs, sending the Nighthawks to the second round for the first time since 2011. Coincidentally, that year was also the last time the Gila Ridge Hawks qualified for the playoffs.

Jaime McGalliard coached the Hawks to a 20-12 record this year and it was a special night for senior standout Alli Weller. Weller led Gila Ridge with almost 13 points a game and is easily one of the best players the school has dressed out since varsity competition began at the school in 2008.

The only thing missing from Weller's high school experience was a playoff bid.

Likewise, Nikki Simpson is in her third year as a head coach at Ironwood Ridge and the win over Gila Ridge has tied her for the most wins in a season (24) with former coach Don Dickinson. Her 57 career wins are the most ever at the school.

Barely missing out on a first-round bye, Ironwood Ridge knew they had to be prepared for Weller and Gila Ridge and they did it with an unlikely yet capable hero in senior forward Cassie Bartlett.

Bartlett finished with 11 points but it was her length and defense that gave Gila Ridge fits. Bartlett finished with four blocked shots and four steals in the lane. She was almost singly responsible for holding Weller to only three points in the first half.

With Weller limited, Gila Ridge had little firepower and Ironwood Ridge was able to take a 15-8 lead after the first quarter and a 28-17 lead at the half.

"Everybody really played hard and played focused," said Bartlett. "I was really happy with my defensive performance and all the great passes led to good shots."

Bartlett averages less than four points a game but she came up with a couple of key buckets that kept the Hawks from coming back from a 16-point deficit in the third period.

Down 35-19, Weller started to click and she quickly scored seven of her 15 points to help cut the lead down to 37-29 with 2:15 left in the period. Bartlett hit on a 3-pointer to open the game back up to 40-29 and the comeback was over.

"I had a slow start," explained Weller. "I told myself in the locker room at the half that this could be it for me and I did all I could to not let that happen."

In all, Weller scored 11 points in the third period and junior Elisa Nitelet finished the game with nine but it wasn't enough due to the even scoring from Ironwood Ridge.

Freshman Natalie Bartle scored 14, junior Lexy Ram had 12, senior Piper Mali added 10 and senior Alyssa Madlangbayan scored nine to go along with Bartlett's 11.

It was a bittersweet night for Weller but she was happy for the experience. "I played varsity all four years and this was my first playoff game," added Weller.

"When I started as a freshman I was really nervous and I slowly became a leader. I hope I was a mentor to the younger players and I know Gila Ridge will be back."

Ironwood Ridge will visit No. 8 Scottsdale Cactus Shadows Friday night in second round action.

NOTE: McGalliard won an NCAA Division II national softball championship playing for Angelo State in 2004.

In other Southern Arizona D-II action from Wednesday, No. 10 Tucson Sahuaro got past No. 23 Tucson Flowing Wells 65-26; No. 11 Marana fell to No. 22 Goodyear Desert Edge 45-35; No. 14 Tucson Pueblo lost to No. 19 Prescott 63-56 in overtime and No. 21 Douglas lost to No. 12 Maricopa 70-37.

In D-III play, No. 19 Tucson Palo Verde defeated No. 14 Fort Defiance Window Rock 69-61 and No. 22 Thatcher took care of No. 11 San Carlos 56-46.

Marana's loss singled the end of standout Kortnee Day's career. Day has committed to play for Dixie State.