Thatcher opened in Tucson last week
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The 3A South Region Thatcher Eagles (0-1 seeding) and the 1A East Region Fort Thomas Apaches (0-0) enter Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium this week. The Graham County teams will tangle with the 2A South Region Morenci Wildcats (0-0) on Monday, Nov. 24, and Tuesday, Nov. 25, respectively.
Last season, Morenci left the Eagles’ nest with a 48-42 win (Dec. 9) and Safford High School with a 25-55 loss during the 48th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney (Dec. 20). In the same tourney, the Wildcats succumbed 16-66 to the Apaches in Guitteau Gymnasium (Dec. 19).
Duncan’s home opener is also on Nov. 25 as San Manuel visits for a non-region pairing. The two East Region members will meet in San Manuel for the region counter on Jan. 20.
THATCHER Eagles (0-1)
The Brandon Lunt-coached Eagles (0-1 seeding, 0-0 3A South Region) opened the season in Tucson against Amphitheater, falling 36-48 on Nov. 19.
Thatcher is competing in the 7-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs and Tucson schools, the Empire Ravens, the Palo Verde Magnet Titans, the Sabino Sabercats, the Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, and the Tanque Verde Hawks.
In December, the Eagles host 3A Metro Region Payson (Dec. 2), visit 3A East Region Lakeside Blue Ridge (Dec. 4), host 2A South Region Willcox (Dec. 5), visit 3A East Region Show Low (Dec. 10), will participate in the Payson tourney (Dec. 11-12), host 3A Central Region Coolidge (Dec. 16), and will participate in the 49th Eastern Arizona Holiday tourney (Dec. 18-20).
January has the Eagles visiting 4A Gila Region Douglas (Jan. 8) and 2A East Region Pima (Jan. 14), hosting 3A Central Region Chandler Valley Christian (Jan. 16), Pusch Ridge (Jan. 21), 3A Independent Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (Jan. 22), Palo Verde Magnet (Jan. 26), and Safford (Jan. 28), and visiting Tanque Verde (Jan. 30).
In February, the Eagles visit Empire (Feb. 3) and host Sabino (Feb. 5).
Thatcher lists a 13-member team of eight seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores. The roster includes seniors Clara Barron (5), Leah Bryce (13), Ragan Buhr (23), Indiana Jones (3), Makenzi Lunt (11), Emry Nelson (2), Claire Palmer (1), and Kate Rapier (30); juniors Taylor Henrie (33), Sarah Sampson (4), and Jaiden Wakefield (12); and sophomores Jocelyn Lunt (14) and Brinlee Skousen (10).
Last season, the No. 26 Eagles (4-10 seeding, minus 2.6499 rating) finished 8-15 overall and 4-2 in the 3A South Region for third of seven.
Makenzi Lunt was selected 3A South All-Region First Team, Nelson Second Team, and Hawkins Honorable Mention last season.
Class of 2025 member Cambria Wakefield was on the First Team while Sophia Estrada and Audrey Smith were named to the Second Team.
FORT THOMAS Apaches (0-0)
The Lee Haws-coached Apaches (1A East Region) open the season in Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium against host Morenci.
Fort Thomas is competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Duncan Wildkats, the Kearny Ray Bearcats, the Phoenix Valley Lutheran Flames, the San Manuel Miners, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurions, the Superior Panthers, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
In December, the Apaches host 2A East Region San Carlos (Dec. 3), visit 1A South Region Sells Baboquivari (Dec. 5), visit Duncan (Dec. 9), will participate in the Eagar Round Valley tourney (Dec. 11-12), host Superior (Dec. 16), and will participate in the 49th Eastern Arizona Holiday tourney (Dec. 18-20).
January has the Apaches hosting Hayden (Jan. 6), traveling to 1A Central Region Heber Mogollon (Jan. 9) and 1A North Region Rock Point (Jan. 10), hosting Duncan (Jan. 13), traveling to 1A North Region Dishchii’bikoh (Jan. 14) and to 1A West Region Salome (Jan. 16), hosting 1A South Region Saint David (Jan. 20), traveling to Cicero Prep (Jan. 21), hosting Valley Union (Jan. 23), traveling to Ray (Jan. 27), and hosting 1A Central Region Joseph City (Jan. 30) and 1A North Region Saint Michael (Jan. 31).
In February, the Apaches host San Manuel (Feb. 3).
Fort Thomas has a 12-member roster of five seniors, four juniors, and three sophomores. The roster includes seniors Kaylee Benally (33), Makayla Chapman (25), Leia Begay (5), Raeleigh Hawkins (15), and Kirah Moses (44); juniors Kynnedee Bryce (45), Corey Cody (10), Jamie Johnson (14), and Alycia Sanchez (30); and sophomores Carmen Antonio (34), Tyshara Garland (50), and Leilynn Wesley (3).
Johnson landed on the 1A All-Conference (All-State) First Team, Benally Second Team, and Hawkins Honorable Mention.
At the Region level, Benally and Hawkins were on the First Team; Cody on the Second Team; Bryce, Chapman, and Moses Honorable Mention; and Johnson Offensive Player-of-the-Year.
Class of 2025 member Adaia Lorenzo was selected as the Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Year and the East Region Player-of-the-Year.
Last season, the No. 2 Apaches (30-6 overall, 15-3 seeding, 12.8723 rating, 7-0 East Region for first of eight) finished as the 1A state runner-up, succumbing 55-64 to top-ranked Joseph City.
MORENCI Wildcats (0-0)
The Albert Ortega-coached Wildcats (0-0 seeding, 0-0 2A South Region) open the season at home against 3A South Region Thatcher. The Red and Black is 85-84 overall, 59-56 seeding, 35-42 in the region, 34-25 in Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium, 4-2 in the Play-in Round, and 0-4 in the state meet First Round.
Morenci is competing in the 9-member 3A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcox Cowgirls, and Tucson schools the Desert Christian Eagles, the Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, the San Miguel Catholic Vipers, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
In December, the Wildcats visit 3A South Region Empire (Dec. 4), will participate in the Eagar Round Valley tourney (Dec. 11-13), host Tombstone (Dec. 15), visit 2A East Region San Carlos (Dec. 16), and will participate in the 49th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney (Dec. 18-20).
January has the Wildcats visiting San Miguel (Jan. 6), hosting 2A East Region Pima (Jan. 8), visiting Willcox (Jan. 9), hosting 2A North Region Round Valley (Jan. 13) and Saint Augustine (Jan. 15), visiting 2A North Region Saint Johns (Jan. 17) and Desert Christian (Jan. 20), hosting Willcox (Jan. 22), visiting Phoenix Country Day School (Jan. 23), hosting Benson (Jan. 27), and visiting Tombstone (Jan. 29).
The Wildcats close out the regular season by hosting Santa Rita (Feb. 2) and Bisbee (Feb. 5).
Morenci lists an 11-member team of four seniors, three juniors, and four sophomores. The roster includes seniors Adriana Carbajal (12), Jaliyah Hernandez (44), Rozlyn Funari (10), and Jamie Turner (2); juniors Tiara Jones (20), Mayeli Salazar (5), and Kaylee Wiggins (13); and sophomores Arwa Abdulqader (11), Jaylianna Guzzo (1), Khloee Kouts (4), and Aiyanna Merino (3).
Carbajal and Funari have both earned three letters; Hernandez, Jones, and Mayeli Salazar two; and Abdulqader, Guzzo, Kouts, Merino, and Arisela Salazar one apiece.
Jones was selected 2A South All-Region First Team and Funari Second Team last season, and Funari East Region Second Team and Jones Honorable Mention in 2023-24.
Class of 2025 members Jayla Wilson was on the Second Team, and Talia McCabe received Honorable Mention.
Others out for the program include junior Kailee Sandoval, sophomores Carly Butler and Tracy Mianda, and freshman Sky Turner.
Last season, the No. 22 Wildcats (9-8 seeding, minus 1.3641 rating) finished 12-17 overall and 5-4 in the 2A South Region for fifth of nine.
DUNCAN Wildkats (1-1)
The Eldon Merrell-coached Wildkats (1-1 overall, 0-0 seeding, 0-0 1A East Region) opened the season in Tucson during the 3-day Boyd Baker tourney. Duncan went 1-1 on the first day, defeating The Gregory School 21-13 and succumbing 19-20 to Desert Christian on Nov. 20.
Duncan is competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Kearny Ray Bearcats, the Phoenix Valley Lutheran Flames, the San Manuel Miners, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurions, the Superior Panthers, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
In December, the Wildkats visit 1A South Region Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (Dec. 2), host 1A South Region Saint David (Dec. 3), Superior (Dec. 5), Fort Thomas (Dec. 9), 1A North Region Dishchii’bikoh (Dec. 11), and 1A South Region San Simon (Dec. 16).
January has the Wildkats visiting Superior (Jan. 6), hosting 1A South Region Elfrida Valley Union (Jan. 8) and Valley Lutheran (Jan. 10), visiting Fort Thomas (Jan. 13), hosting Hayden (Jan. 15) and Cicero Prep (Jan. 17), visiting San Manuel (Jan. 20), 1A South Region San Simon (Jan. 22) and Hayden (Jan. 27), and hosting Ray (Jan. 30).
In February, the Wildkats host Willcox (Feb. 2) and visit Valley Union (Feb. 5).
Duncan lists a 9-member team of a senior, four juniors, a sophomore, and three freshmen. The roster includes senior Karleigh Capel (14); juniors Lily Ford (20), Sofia Harris (15), Heidi Miller (22), and Paisley Patton (23); sophomore Haley Bigler (50); and freshmen Emma Harris (5), Dusty Rodriguez (11), and Josie Wright (4).
Ford, Sofia Harris, Miller, and Patton are 2-year lettermen, while Bigler has earned one.
Last season, the No. 6 Wildkats (16-4 seeding, minus 5.0538 rating) finished 23-7 overall and 6-1 in the 1A East Region for second of eight. The Wildkats are 55-33 overall, 41-17 seeding, 14-6 region, 20-7 at home, 1-0 in the Play-in Round, and 1-3 in the state meet.
Ford, Sofia Harris, Miller, and Patton received East Region Honorable Mention last season. In addition, the quartet received Tucson Southeast Region Honorable Mention as freshmen, and Eldon Merrell was voted Region Coach-of-the-Year in 2023.
Class of 2025 members Emily Kempton and Camille Miller were selected to the East Region First Team and Second Team, respectively, last season. Kempton was also on the All-Conference (all-state) Second Team.
