Roughriders meet Phoenix Christian on Tuesday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – Phoenix Horizon Honors (9-8 seeding, 5.2612 rating) enters Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday, Feb. 18. It is for a 2A Round One pairing of No. 10 versus No. 7 Morenci (16-2, 10.5027) with tip-off at 7 p.m.
The Cliff Thompson-coached Pima Roughriders (15-3, 14.4620) welcome No. 12 Phoenix Christian (6-9, 3.2777) to Graham County for a 7 p.m. start.
In the 1A state tourney, No. 2 Fort Thomas (15-3, 6.1183) has a bye through the quarterfinals on Feb. 21.
1A-3A Copper (open) tourney
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. 6 Pima (15-3, 14.4620) as No. 6 versus No. 11, 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, and No. 4 Phoenix North Valley Christian (17-1, 15.8568) defeated 3A No. 5 Florence (15-3, 14.8639) 72-54 as No. 8 versus No. 9 on Feb. 12.
The other first-round winners were 3A No. 1 Chandler Valley Christian (17-1, 24.8670) 87-46 over No. 10 Coolidge (13-6, 11.7978) as No. 1 versus No. 16, No. 4 Yuma Catholic (17-1, 18.4785) defeated No. 6 Page (15-2, 13.1553) 66-46 as No. 5 versus No. 12, No. 7 Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (11-7, 12.9771) defeated No. 3 Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (16-2, 18.9897) 67-61 as No. 13 versus No. 4, and No. 2 Gilbert Christian (17-1, 23.1056) defeated No. 9 Parker (15-3, 12.0825) as No. 2 versus No. 15.
Quarterfinal pairings had No. 1 Valley Christian over No. 8 Phoenix North Valley Christian 62-48, No. 5 Yuma Catholic over No. 13 ALA – Ironwood 75-46, No. 6 San Tan Charter over No. 14 Palo Verde Magnet 67-53, and No. 2 Gilbert Christian over No. 10 Rancho Solano Prep 76-63 on Feb. 14.
The semi-finalists are No. 1 Valley Christian versus No. 5 Yuma Catholic and No. 2 Gilbert Classical versus No. 6 San Tan Charter at Phoenix Mountain Pointe, 4201 East Knox Rd., on Feb. 22. The final is on March 1.
2A State Tourney Round One
Round One of the 2A state tourney is on Feb. 18 with all starts at 7 p.m. The upper bracket pairings have No. 8 Camp Verde (11-7, 7.8720) hosting No. 9 Tucson Desert Christian (16-2, 6.1475), No. 5 Pima (15-3, 14.4620) hosting No. 12 Phoenix Christian (6-9, 3.2777), and No. 4 Rancho Solano Prep (13-5, 14.7507) hosting No. 13 Kingman Academy (13-6, 2.517).
The lower bracket has No. 3 Phoenix North Valley Christian (17-1, 15.8568) hosting No. 14 Saint Johns (11-7, 2.2697), No. 6 Fountain Hills (12-6, 11.3950) hosting No. 11 Phoenix Veritas Prep (11-7, 4.8220), and No. 7 Morenci (16-2, 10.5027) hosting No. 10 Phoenix Horizon Honors (9-8, 5.2612).
Top-ranked Phoenix Country Day (17-1, 19.2709) and No. 2 Arizona Lutheran (15-3, 16.8413) have a bye into the quarterfinals on Feb. 22.
2A State Play-in Round
The 2A state play-in round pairing had eliminations for No. 24 Eagar Round Valley (5-13, minus 8.4088) 46-34 by No. 7 Fountain Hills (12-6, 11.3950), No. 23 Scottsdale Prep (9-9, 1.5796) 43-24 by No. 8 Morenci (16-2, 10.5027), No. 9 Scottsdale Christian (11-8, 8.51943) 67-64 by No. 22 Saint Johns (11-7, 2.2697), No. 21 Tempe Prep (10-3, 4.8736) 77-67 by No. 10 Camp Verde (11-7, 7.8720), No. 11 San Carlos (12-6, 7.2828) 66-55 by No. 20 Kingman Academy (13-6, 2.5174), No. 19 Madison Highland Prep (13-6, 3.0611) 70-61 by No. 12 Tucson Desert Christian (16-2, 6.1475), No. 17 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (12-7, 4.0342) 54-42 by No. 14 Horizon Honors (9-8, 5.2612), No. 16 Glendale Prep (11-7, 4.4277) 55-54 by No. 15 Veritas Prep (11-7, 4.8220) on Feb. 14.
Phoenix Christian (6-9, 3.2777) defeated No. 13 Flagstaff Northland Prep (13-5, 5.9050) 61-38 as No. 18 on Feb. 13.
2A No. 7 Morenci Wildcats (25-4)
The Ruben Leonard-coached Morenci Wildcats (25-4 overall, 16-2 seeding, 8-0 2A South Region for 1st/9) averaged an overall score of 63-50 (1,833-1,439) per game or a 13-point margin.
Morenci had 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 Tournament 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), Whiteriver Alchesay (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).
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 Abdulqader (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.
2A No. 6 Pima Roughriders (25-5)
The Cliff Thompson-coached Pima Roughriders (25-5 overall, 15-3 seeding, 7-1 2A East Region for 2nd/9) averaged a score of 54-38 (1,617-1,135) per seeding game or a 16-point margin.
Pima had seeding wins over Benson (58-28, Dec. 3), Eager Round Valley (59-39, Dec. 7), Blue Ridge (60-32, Dec. 9), Safford (66-29, Dec. 17), Morenci (52-37, Jan. 6), Chandler Prep (45-31, Jan. 10), Arete Prep (71-40, Jan. 13), Thatcher (44-28, Jan. 15), Leading Edge (52-40, Jan. 16), Gilbert Classical (47-30, Jan. 21), Miami (48-19, Jan. 24), Arizona Lutheran (40-34, Jan. 25), Lincoln Prep (62-33, Jan. 28), San Carlos (70-46, Jan. 31), and New Mexico Silver (59-33, Feb. 1) along with losses to Scottsdale Christian (45-49, Jan. 7), Pusch Ridge Christian (32-35, Jan. 18), and San Tan Charter (54-68, Feb. 6).
Additionally, the Roughriders went 5-1 during the 3-day Round Valley tourney, 5-0 during the 3-day Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament, and 0-1 during the 1A-3A Copper (open) tourney. The wins were over Sanders Valley (60-37, Dec. 12), Heber Mogollon (48-19, Dec. 12), Camp Verde (54-39, Dec. 13), Camp Verde (55-39, Dec. 14), Fort Thomas (56-45, Dec. 14), Tucson Empire (64-42, Dec. 19), Winkelman Hayden (55-26, Dec. 19), Apache Junction (59-30, Dec. 20), Tucson Tanque Verde (46-44, Dec. 20), and Morenci (62-43, Dec. 21) while the losses were to Holbrook (47-52, Dec. 14) and San Tan Charter (47-68, Feb. 12).
Pima had a 13-member team of five seniors, four juniors, and four sophomores. The roster includes seniors Clark Ashby (0), Wyatt Bingham (10), Rhett Hughes (15), Stratton McRae (12), Preston Russell (33); juniors Keaton Bryce (5), Keegan Corona (14), Charlie Richardson (32), Isaac Thompson (1); and sophomores Cedrick Grimes (2), Joel Mattice (23), Daxton McRae (13), and Tanner Smith (3).
The Roughriders competed in the 9-member 2A East Region with Chandler Prep, Chandler Lincoln Prep, Miami, San Carlos, and Gilbert schools Arete Prep, Gilbert Classical, Leading Edge, and San Tan Charter.
1A State Tourney Round One
Round One of the 1A state tourney has the top 12 seeds as the lower seeds were all eliminated during the play-in round.
The upper bracket has No. 8 Williams (12-6, 0.0926) hosting No. 9 Glendale Desert Heights Prep (12-3, minus 0.3620) and No. 5 Joseph City (14-5, 4.1537) hosting No. 12 Dishchii’bikoh (13-4, minus 2.9412).
Lower bracket pairings are No. 6 Tucson’s The Gregory School (12-6, 1.5515) hosting No. 11 Sells Baboquivari (12-5, minus 1.1916) and No. 7 Scottsdale Cicero Prep (10-8, 0.3463) hosting No. 10 Winkelman Hayden (11-6, minus 1.1816).
The top four seeds, No. 1 Seligman (13-1, 7.5801), No. 2 Fort Thomas (15-3, 6.1183), No. 3 Phoenix Valley Lutheran (14-3, 4.9875), and No. 4 Anthem Prep (16-2, 4.9368) have a bye through the quarterfinals on Feb. 21.
1A State Play-in Round
The 1A Play-in round had the Top 24 teams participating as none qualified for the open meet. Eliminated were No. 24 Teec Nos Poc Red Mesa (9-8 seeding, minus 11.8320 rating) 97-71 by No. 1 Seligman (13-1, 7.5801), No. 23 Wellton Antelope (10-8, minus 10.7790) 77-48 by No. 2 Fort Thomas (15-3, 6.1183), No. 22 Peach Springs Music Mountain (6-9, minus 10.3033) 56-39 by No. 3 Valley Lutheran (14-3, 4.9875), No. 21 Rock Point (9-8, minus 10.0877) 74-38 by No. 4 Anthem Prep (16-2, 4.9368), No. 20 Phoenix Maryvale Prep (8-10, minus 9.9863) 90-60 by No. 5 Joseph City (14-5, 4.1537), No. 19 Salome (7-8, minus 8.6557) 61-37 by No. 6 The Gregory School (12-6, 1.5515), No. 18 Kearny Ray (10-8, minus 6.7643) 54-40 by No. 7 Cicero Prep (10-8, 0.3463), No. 17 Saint David (9-8, minus 6.0238) 57-40 by No. 8 Williams (12-6, 0.0926), No. 16 Colorado City El Capitan (9-6, minus 5.4702) 57-55 by No. 9 Desert Heights Prep (12-3, minus 0.3620), No. 15 Flagstaff Basis (13-7, minus 5.2431) 70-54 by No. 10 Hayden (11-6, minus 1.1816), No. 14 Heber Mogollon (11-7, minus 2.4553) 62-36 by No. 11 Baboquivari (12-5, minus 1.1916), and No. 13 Bagdad (15-4, minus 1.2281) 43-37 by No. 12 Dishchii’bikoh (13-4, minus 2.9412).
1A No. 2 Fort Thomas Apaches (21-11)
The Matthew Dona-coached Fort Thomas Apaches (21-11 overall, 15-3 seeding, 6-1 1A East Region) averaged an overall score of 61-51 (1,967-1,628) per game or a 10-point margin.
Fort Thomas had seeding wins over Many Farms (69-47, Nov. 26), Duncan (80-39, Dec. 10), Superior (57-41, Dec. 17), Hayden (51-41, Jan. 7), Sells Baboquivari (51-47, Jan. 8), Heber Mogollon (71-58, Jan. 10), Rock Point (76-40, Jan. 11), Duncan (61-48, Jan. 14), Dishchi’bikoh (74-49), Salome (66-37, Jan. 17), Saint David (60-48, Jan. 21), Cicero Prep (55-41, Jan. 22), Ray (71-60, Jan. 28), Joseph City (86-81, Jan. 31), and San Manuel (81-35, Feb. 4) along with a loss to San Carlos (39-59, Dec. 4), Valley Lutheran (49-52, Jan. 24), and Saint Michael (58-61, Feb. 1).
Additionally, the Apaches went 3-4 in the 3-day Round Valley tourney, 2-3 in the 3-day 61st Eastern Arizona Holiday tourney, 0-1 in the East Region tourney, and 1-0 in the play-in round.
The wins were over Round Valley (61-33, Dec. 12), Lakeside Blue Ridge (60-49, Dec. 14), Whiteriver Alchesay (56-50, Dec. 14), Saint Johns (87-56, Dec. 19), Apache Junction (56-30, Dec. 21), and Antelope (77-48, Feb. 14) while the losses were to Holbrook (43-45, Dec. 12), Morenci (54-69, Dec. 12), Morenci (49-60, Dec. 14), Pima (45-56, Dec. 14), Tucson Tanque Verde (54-70, Dec. 19), Morenci (59-60, Dec. 20), Tucson Empire (71-72, Dec. 20), and Cicero Prep (40-46, Feb. 7).
Fort Thomas has a 13-member team of three seniors, six juniors, one sophomore, and three freshmen. The roster includes seniors Allen Gilbert (10), Runyon Kinney (44), Justin Kitcheyan (45), and Orion Titla (14); juniors Damarae Dosela (31), Koby Hunter (23), Justin Olivar (25), Michael Olivar (34), Aiden Victor (20), and Channing Wilson (11); sophomore Brian Sign (50); and freshmen Amare Ethalbah (15) and Malachi Johnson (35).
The Apaches competed in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Cicero Prep Centurians, the Duncan Wildkats, the Hayden Lobos, the Ray Bearcats, the San Manuel Miners, the Superior Panthers, and the Valley Lutheran Flames.
