By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Ruben Leonard-coached No. 8 Morenci Wildcats (16-2, 10.5027) host No. 23 Scottsdale Prep (9-9, 1.5796) on Friday, Feb. 14for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
In an open tourney for Classes 1A-3A (Copper), 2A No. 1 Phoenix Country Day School (17-1 seeding, 19.2709 rating) was defeated by 3A No. 8 Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (16-2, 121.8613) 57-55 as No. 3 versus No. 14, No. 2 Gilbert San Tan Charter (14-4, 18.4311) defeated No. 6Pima (15-3, 14.4620) as No. 6 versus No. 11, and No. 5 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (13-5, 14.7507) defeated No. 4 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (15-3, 16.8413) as No. 10 versus No. 7 on Feb. 12.
In the quarterfinals, San Tan Charter hosts Palo Verde Magnet as No. 6 versus No. 14 and Rancho Solano Prep visits 3A No. 2 Gilbert Christian (17-1, 23.1056) as No. 1- versus No. 2 on Feb. 14.
The semifinals are on Feb. 22 and final on March 1.
2A State Play-in Round
The 2A state play-in round Pairing are No. 7 Fountain Hills (12-6, 11.3950) hosting No. 24 Gilbert Classical (11-7, 1.0851) at 7 p.m., No. 9 Scottsdale Christian (11-8, 8.51943) hosts No. 22 Saint Johns (11-7, 2.2697) at 7 p.m., No. 10 Camp Verde (11-7, 7.8720) hosts No. 21 Tempe Prep (10-3, 4.8736) at 7 p.m., and No. 11 San Carlos (12-6, 7.2828) hosts No. 20 Kingman Academy (13-6, 2.5174) at 7 p.m..
Tucson Desert Christian (16-2, 6.1475) hosts No. 19 Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (13-6, 3.0611) as No. 12 at 7 p.m., No. 14 Phoenix Horizon Honors (9-8, 5.2612) hosts No. 17 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (12-7, 4.0342) at 5 p.m., and No. 15 Phoenix Veritas Prep (11-7, 4.8220) hosts No. 16 Glendale Prep (11-7, 4.4277) at 7 p.m.
Phoenix Christian (6-9, 3.2777) defeated No. 13 Flagstaff Northland Prep (13-5, 5.9050) 61-38 as No. 18 on Feb. 13.
Round One of the 2A state tourney is on Feb. 18 with all starts at 7 p.m.
2A South Region Final Standings
The final South Region were Morenci (25-4 overall, 16-2 seeding, 8-0region) first, Tucson Desert Christian (26-3, 16-2, 7-1) second, Bisbee (15-12, 9-6, 5-3) third, Benson (9-19, 7-11, 5-3) fourth, Willcox (16-12, 11-7, 4-4) fifth, Tucson Santa Rita (8-15, 6-12, 3-5) sixth, Tombstone (10-16, 7-11, 3-5) seventh, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (7-11, 6-8, 1-4) eight, and Tucson San Miguel Catholic (3-14, 3-14, 0-8) ninth.
Morenci had region wins over San Miguel (76-34, Jan. 7), Saint Augustine (62-42, Jan. 16), Desert Christian (58-44, Jan. 21), Willcox (61-42, Jan. 23), Benson (59-47, Jan. 28), Tombstone (72-50, Dec. 16), Santa Rita (77-47, Feb. 3), and Bisbee (68-40, Feb. 6); it was Desert Christian over Bisbee (66-60, Dec. 19), Tombstone (70-50, Jan. 7), San Miguel (57-21, Jan. 15), Santa Rita (71-43, Jan. 23), Willcox (63-52, Jan. 30), Saint Augustine (64-37, Feb. 3), and Benson (52-35, Feb. 6);it was Bisbee over Tombstone (74-43, Jan. 7), Santa Rita (53-37, Jan. 21), Benson (58-55, Jan. 23), Saint Augustine (56-32, Jan. 30), and San Miguel (80-57, Feb. 3); it was Benson over Willcox (49-46, Jan, 7), Tombstone (71-40, Jan. 10), Santa Rita (71-54, Jan. 16), Saint Augustine (55-24, Jan. 21), and San Miguel (61-39, Jan. 30); it was Willcox over Saint Augustine (51-49, Jan. 9), Bisbee (50-44, Jan. 16), San Miguel (57-49), and Santa Rita (53-46); it was Santa Rita over Saint Augustine (43-38 OT, Jan. 7), San Miguel (65-50, Jan. 9), and Tombstone (61-52, Jan. 28); it was Tombstone over San Miguel (65-53, Jan. 21), Willcox (61-52, Jan. 24), and Saint Augustine (75-62, Feb. 5); and it was Saint Augustine over San Miguel (78-70, Jan. 23).
2A East Region Final Standings
The final East Region standing were Gilbert San Tan Charter (16-9 overall, 14-4 seeding, 8-0 region) first, Pima (25-4, 15-3, 7-1) second, San Carlos (20-9, 12-6, 5-3) third, Gilbert Classical (14-10, 11-7, 4-4) fourth, Miami (17-13, 10-9, 4-4) fifth, Arete Prep (13-13, 9-9, 2-6) sixth, Chandler Prep (4-19, 4-14, 2-6) seventh, Gilbert Leading Edge (11-12, 5-10, 2-6) eight, and Chandler Lincoln Prep (10-15, 3-14, 2-6) ninth.
San Tan Charter had region wins over San Carlos (86-35, Jan. 13) Chandler Prep (102-34, Jan. 16), Arete Prep (87-29, Jan. 21), Leading Edge (104-39, Jan. 24), Gilbert Classical (94-49, Jan. 21), Miami (118-41), Lincoln Prep (109-34, Feb. 3), and Pima (68-54, Feb. 6); it was Pima over Chandler Prep (45-31, Jan. 10), Arete Prep (71-40, Jan. 13), Leading Edge (52-40, Jan. 16), Gilbert Classical (47-30, Jan. 21), Miami (48-19, Jan. 24), Lincoln Prep (62-33, Jan. 28), and San Carlos (70-46, Jan. 31); it was San Carlos over Arete Prep (65-53, Jan. 10), Chandler Prep (58-50, Jan. 21), Lincoln Prep (81-40, Jan. 24), Leading Edge (63-53), and Miami (82-57); it was Gilbert Classical over Miami (56-26, Jan, 10), San Carlos (57-54, Jan. 16), Arete Prep (60-38, Jan. 24), and Chandler Prep (69-27, Feb. 3); it was Miami over Chandler Prep (59-52, Jan. 13), Lincoln Prep (56-47, Jan. 16), Leading Edge (57-54, Jan. 21), and Arete Prep (63-45, Feb. 6); it was Arete Prep Lincoln Prep (59-47, Jan. 31) and Leading Edge (63-58, Feb. 3); it was Leading Edge Chandler Prep (47-45, Jan. 31) and Gilbert Classical (62-49, Feb. 6): and it was Lincoln Prep over Leading Edge (49-41, Jan. 10) and Gilbert Classical (45-44, Jan. 13).
2A State Final Rankings
The 2A state final rankings were Phoenix Country Day School (17-1 seeding, 19.2709 rating) was No. 1, Gilbert San Tan Charter (14-4, 18.4311) No. 2, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (15-3, 16.8413) No. 3, Phoenix North Valley Christian (17-1, 15.8568) No. 4, Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (13-5, 14.7507) No. 5, Pima (15-3, 14.4620) No. 6, Fountain Hills (12-6, 11.3950) No. 7, and Morenci (16-2, 10.5027) No. 8.
Scottsdale Christian (11-8, 8.51943) was No. 9, Camp Verde (11-7, 7.8720) No. 10, San Carlos (12-6, 7.2828) No. 11, Tucson Desert Christian (16-2, 6.1475) No. 12, Flagstaff Northland Prep (13-5, 5.9050) No. 13, Phoenix Horizon Honors (9-8, 5.2612) No. 23, Phoenix Veritas Prep (11-7, 4.8220) No. 15, and Glendale Prep (11-7, 4.4277) No. 16.
Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (12-7, 4.0342) was No. 17, Phoenix Christian (6-9, 3.2777) No. 18, Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (13-6, 3.0611) No. 19, Kingman Academy (13-6, 2.5174) No. 20, Tempe Prep (10-3, 4.8736) was No. 21, Saint Johns (11-7, 2.2697) No. 22, Scottsdale Prep (9-9, 1.5796) No. 23, and Gilbert Classical (11-7, 1.0851) No. 24.
The initial rankings on Jan. 14 had Phoenix Country Day (8-1 seeding, 16.6051 rating) was No. 1, Arizona Lutheran (6-1, 15.8808) No. 2, San Tan Charter (7-4, 15.7923) No. 3, Rancho Solano Prep (11-2, 15.7721) No. 4, North Valley Christian (7-1, 13.6965) No. 5, Pima (7-1, 12.6260) No. 6, Scottsdale Christian (6-3, 10.0737) No. 7, and Morenci (7-1, 9.4410) No. 8.
Tempe Prep (9-1, 8.5946) was No. 9, San Carlos (7-3, 7.8349) No. 10, Glendale Prep (6-4, 7.3871) No. 11, Fountain Hills (5-4, 7.3807) No. 12, Madison Highland (9-2, 7.3064) No. 13, Northland Prep (6-3, 6.4917) No. 14, Mohave Accelerated (7-4, 5.3614) No. 15, and Kingman Academy (6-3, 4.5248) No. 16.
Phoenix Veritas Prep (6-4, 4.2917) was No. 17, Horizon Honors (4-4, 3.3571) No. 18, Eloy Santa Cruz (7-2, 2.8856) No. 19, Desert Christian (7-1, 2.8321) No. 20, Phoenix Christian (2-5, 2.7619) No. 21, Arete Prep (5-5, 2.2035) No. 22, Scottsdale Prep (4-4, 1.9759) No. 23, and Saint Johns (4-4, 0.8248) No. 24.
The state rankings for the other seven South Region teams were Bisbee (9-6, minus 2.6078) No. 30, Willcox (11-7, minus 2.8856) No. 31, Benson (7-11, minus 4.7200) No. 33, Tombstone (7-11, minus 9.8560) No. 41,Tucson Santa Rita (6-12, minus 10.1747) No. 42, Saint Augustine (6-13, minus 14.1540) No. 47, and Tucson San Miguel Catholic (3-14, minus 17.5118) No. 51.
No. 31 Willcox Cowboys (16-12)
Willcox (16-12 overall, 11-7 seeding, 4-4 2A South Region for 5th/9) averaged a score of 53-43 (950-767) per seeding game or a 10-point margin. The Farbod Safavi-coached Cowboys have seeding wins over Tucson Catalina (58-14, Dec. 3), Bisbee (42-38, Dec. 6), San Simon (56-23, Dec. 16), Saint Augustine (51-49, Jan. 9), Saint David (56-47, Jan. 13), Tombstone (50-44, Jan. 14), Bisbee (71-69, Jan. 16), San Miguel (57-40, Jan. 28), Duncan (51-43, Feb. 3), Patagonia (57-30, Feb. 4), and Santa Rita (53-46, Feb. 6) along with losses to Sahuarita (53-33, Nov. 22), Safford (60-70, Dec. 10), Benson (46-49, Jan. 7), Morenci (43-57, Jan. 10), Morenci (42-61, Jan. 23), Tombstone (52-61, Jan. 24), and Desert Christian (52-63, Jan. 30).
Additionally, the Cowboys went 3-2 during The Gregory School 3-day tourney and 2-3 during the 3-day Show Low tourney. The wins were over Patagonia (45-30, Nov. 25), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (55-30, Nov. 26), Nogales Lourdes Catholic (74-35, Nov. 27), Heber Mogollon (55-50, Jan. 2), and Peach Springs Music Mountain (51-48, Jan. 3) while the losses were to Bisbee (60-61, Nov. 25), Desert Christian (47-59, Nov. 26), Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (32-64, Jan. 2), Thatcher (45-67, Jan. 3), and Lakeside Blue Ridge (25-38, Jan. 4). Willcox averaged an overall score of 51-45 (1,439-1,249) per game or a 6-point margin.
Willcox had a 14-member team of seven seniors, one junior, and five sophomores, and one freshmen. The roster includes seniors Avery Edington (5), Caden Hooper (15), Jonathan Miranda (23), Jovani Rodriguez (10), Gabe Salas (22), Alan Solis (1), and Severo Torres (3); junior Ty Shull (2); sophomores Emiliano Chavez (4), Da’marion Jackson (11), Jahir Reyes (12), JD Whetten (14), and Carder Wyatt (13); and freshman Tucker Stamback (20).
The Cowboys competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Morenci, Tombstone, and Tucson schools Saint Augustine Catholic, Desert Christian, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
No. 7 Morenci Wildcats (25-4)
Morenci (25-4 overall, 16-2 seeding, 8-0 2A South Region for 1st/9) averaged a 64-47 (1,150-842) score per game or a 17-point margin. The Ruben Leonard-coached Wildcats have seeding wins over Tucson Santa Rita (73-40, Dec. 2), Tucson Empire (75-43, Dec. 5), Tombstone (93-50, Dec. 16), San Carlos (50-47, Dec. 17), San Miguel (76-34, Jan. 7), Willcox (57-43, Jan. 10), Round Valley (54-51, Jan. 13), Benson (60-42, Jan. 15), Saint Augustine (69-53, Jan. 16), Saint Johns (57-45, Jan. 18), Desert Christian (58-44, Jan. 21), Willcox (61-42, Jan. 23), Benson (59-47, Jan. 28), Tombstone (72-50, Jan. 30), Santa Rita (77-47, Feb. 3), and Bisbee (68-40, Feb. 6) as well as losses to Pima (37-52, Jan. 9) and Thatcher (54-72, Feb. 5).
Additionally, the Wildcats went 5-1 during the 3-day Eager Round Valley Tourney and 4-1 during the 61st Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament. The wins were over Fort Thomas (69-54, Dec. 12), Lakeside Blue Ridge (59-42, Dec. 12), Duncan (64-54, Dec. 13), WhiteriverAlchesay (57-51, Dec. 13), Fort Thomas (60-49, Dec. 14), Tucson Pueblo (82-58, Dec. 19), (73-55, Safford Dec. 19), Fort Thomas (60-59, Dec. 20), and Thatcher (54-45, Dec. 20). The losses were to Holbrook (62-68, Dec. 14) and Pima (43-62). Morenci averaged an overall score of 63-50 (1,833-1,439) per game or a 13-point margin.
The Wildcats have a 10-member team of four seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and a freshman. The roster includes seniors Noah Chavez (10), Emilio Garcia (22), Yedidia Luputa Kanyinda (21), and Christopher Lopez (23); juniors Abraham Cortez (24) and Adrian McCallum (25); sophomores Aymen Abdulqadar (11), Damian Espino (35), and Adrian McCabe (12); and freshman Sebastian McCallum (32).
Morenci competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
