Lobos slips past Riders in 2024 tourney finale
By Raymundo Frasquillo
GRAHAM – The 12-team, three-day 49th annual Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney gets underway on Thursday, Dec. 18. Round robin pairings start at noon and run through 6 p.m. on four different sites. Each team plays two games per day.
Pima hosts Pool A with the Roy Corona-coached 2A East Region Pima Roughriders (4-0 seeding) meeting the Jacqueline Pool-coached 1A East Region Winkelman Hayden Lobos (3-2) at noon and the Matt Brogan-coached 1A East Region Saint David Tigers (5-0) at 6 p.m. Hayden meets Saint David at 3 p.m.
Thatcher hosts Pool B with the Brandon Lunt-coached 3A South Region Thatcher Eagles (3-4) meeting the Eldon Merrell-coached 1A East Region Duncan Wildkats (5-2) at noon and the 2A East Region Miami Vandals (1-2) at 6 p.m. Duncan meets Miami at 3 p.m.
Safford hosts Pool C with the 3A South Region Safford Bulldogs (2-4) meeting the Lee Haws-coached 1A East Region Fort Thomas Apaches (5-1) at noon and the Eddie Ortiz-coached 4A Gila Region Sahuarita Mustangs (1-4) at 6 p.m. Fort Thomas meets Sahuarita at 3 p.m.
Eastern Arizona College hosts Pool D with the Albert Ortega-coached 2A South Region Morenci Wildcats (2-3) meeting the Francisco Villa-coached 4A Black Canyon Region El Mirage Dysart Demons (2-4) at noon, and the Mike Brogan-coached 3A East Region Snowflake Lobos (6-0) at 3 p.m. Dysart meets Snowflake at 6 p.m.
The top two teams from each pool face one another in bracket play, while the No. 3 teams from each pool meet in a round robin format on Friday, Dec. 19. The championship game has a 6:30 p.m. start on Saturday, Dec. 20.
Admission is cashless, with tickets sold exclusively through GoFan. Friday and Saturday charge $10 for a day pass, which includes access to all games at any venue. Saturday admission is $6 per session for the 1-4:30 p.m. pairings, and $6 again for the championship games beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Guitteau Gymnasium.
This tourney marks the first time 12 teams are playing two games per day across four different sites. The third time the boys and girls meet occurs on the same days and dates; the ninth time the boys meet is before Christmas; and the 44th year the girls’ tourney is held before Christmas.
Snowflake (1-0) was the 48th (2024) champion; Safford is 16-9 as finalists, and won five consecutive titles (2014-18), three in a row once (1983-85), and back-to-back once (1990-91); Thatcher 12-11 with a record seven consecutive championships from 1997-2003, back-to-back titles twice (1981-82, 1986-87), and one in 2010; Pima 6-9 while thrice finishing first (2021-23) in the most recent four meets; Morenci 3-6; Fort Thomas 2-3 while earning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006; and Duncan 2-3.
Five previous participants were a combined 6-7 as finalists, Willcox was 3-2, Globe 1-1, San Carlos 1-1, New Mexico Cliff 1-0, Clifton 0-1, Miami 0-1, and Eagar Round Valley 0-1.
Beginning as a 4-team, 2-day meet with two games per day during the nation’s 1976 Bicentennial year, the subsequent 47 tourneys featured four games over three days, for a total of 12 games. Morenci defeated Clifton 55-42 for the title, after the Wildcats topped Thatcher 56-11 and the Trojans downed Safford 29-15 on the first day. Safford ended third with a 33-21 win over Thatcher.
The 2025 tourney marks the second time 12 teams played two games on the first day at four different sites, 12 teams played two games on the second day at three other sites, the fourth time the boys and girls meet occurred on the same days and dates, and the 45th year the girls’ tourney was held before Christmas. A total of 30 games were played during the 48th tourney.
48th annual Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney Results
First-time participant 3A Snowflake claimed the girls’ 48th annual Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament title, dethroning 3-time champion 2A Pima 32-27 in Guitteau Gymnasium on day three. The Lobos ousted 1A Fort Thomas 53-45 during the semifinals and 4A El Mirage Dysart 57-28 during the first round, both at EAC on day two, and 1A Winkekman Hayden 69-5 and 3A Thatcher 63-21 during pool play in Thatcher on day one.
Pima reached the finale via wins of 80-20 over 1A Saint David during the semifinals, 55-33 over Thatcher during the first round, and 55-29 over Dysart and 87-7 over 3A Globe during pool play in Pima. The Roughriders are 6-9 as finalists.
Saint David defeated Fort Thomas 60-27 for third place, Dysart defeated Thatcher 46-36 for fifth place, and 2A Morenci defeated 5A Peoria Centennial 43-33 for seventh place.
The other opening round results were Saint David 55-38 over Morenci and Fort Thomas 59-22 over Centennial.
Thatcher advanced during the consolation round with a 55-25 win over Morenci and Dysart, with a 40-22 victory over Centennial, respectively.
48th Eastern Arizona Holiday All-Tourney Team
Meet champion Snowflake and runner-up Pima, both of which landed three players on the 2024 honor team. Snowflake had seniors Nicole Hipps (10) and Kenadi Stuart (3), along with junior Ryah Denhalter (1). Pima had seniors Adysen Hoopes (43) and Sadie Richardson (22) as well as sophomore Hannah Ashby (14). Denhalter received the most valuable player award.
Third place Fort Thomas had seniors Adaia Lorenzo (23) plus juniors Kaylee Benally (33) and Makayla Chapman (25), fourth place Saint David senior Myya Deneweth (20), fifth place Dysart senior Brianna Brown (23), sixth place Thatcher senior Audrey Smith (22), seventh place Morenci junior Rozlyn Funari (10), eighth place Centennial junior Madison Jacobs (12), and Safford junior Oaklee Welchman (23).
Hoopes and Richardson were also on the 2023 team.
Pima outscored Snowflake 4-2 during the final 1:14, but it was not enough to offset the deficit of 13 seconds earlier. The Lobos led by eight, 31-23, with 1:27 remaining.
Championship: Snowflake – 32, Pima – 27
Snowflake broke a 15-15 halftime deadlock with a 17-12 second-half effort. The visiting Lobos led 8-7 after the first quarter and 23-21 heading into the final quarter.
Junior Ryah Denhalter added a field goal with 21 seconds elapsed in the fourth, and Pima sophomore Hanna Ashby matched the scoring four seconds later. Still, the Roughriders would get no closer during the rest of the game.
Snowflake totaled 13 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 5-8 free throws as two of six Lobos scoring contributed double figures. Denhalter netted 11 points on four field goals plus 3-4 free throws, and senior Kenadi Stuart 10 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-2 free throws. Senior Nicole Hipps added five points, and juniors Hancock and Ranell West, along with freshman Josie Clare, two apiece.
3rd Place: Fort Thomas – 60, Saint David – 27
Saint David scored the first three field goals of the game for a 6-0 advantage with 2:15 elapsed. Fort Thomas countered with an 11-5 run to tie, and sophomore Jamie Johnson’s 3-pointer with 4:22 left in the opening quarter gave the Apaches the lead for good.
Fort Thomas led 16-11 heading into the second quarter. A 12-2 run expanded the margin to 15, 28-13, with 2:41 left in the first half. The Apaches led by 16, 34-18, at halftime and by 29, 56-27, heading into the fourth quarter.
Saint David made 11 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 2-4 free throws, while Fort Thomas had 22 field goals (ten 3-pointers) plus 6-14 free throws.
Junior Emelynn Jacquez had 15 points on seven field goals (one 3-pointer) and sophomore Emma Hart had 11 on four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws. Senior Myya Deneweth added a point.
Four of eight Apaches scoring contributed double figures. Junior Makayla Chapman had 14 points on five field goals (four 3-pointers), junior Adaia Lorenzo 14 on five field goals (four 3-pointers), junior Raeleigh Hawkins 12 on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-2 free throws, and Johnson 12 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 3-4 free throws. Sophomore Kynnedee Bryce added four points, freshman Leilynn Wesley two, and both sophomore Corey Cody and freshman Carmen Antonio one apiece.
5th Place: Dysart – 46, Thatcher – 36
Dysart returned from the mid-game 3-point advantage to turn in a 10-2 outing and lead 35-24 heading into the final quarter. Thus, a 12-11 Thatcher fourth-quarter effort was not enough. The Demons had led 15-10 after the first quarter and 25-22 at halftime.
For the game, the Demons connected on 21 field goals plus 4-9 free throws compared to 15 field goals plus 6-9 free throws by the Eagles.
Senior Brianna Brown netted a game-high 26 points on 12 field goals plus 2-4 free throws. Junior Yen Doan added eight points, and seniors Smaria Carolina and Kiearra Forney, along with junior Cheyenne Sipek, had four points apiece.
For Thatcher, junior Makenzi Lunt had 10 points on five field goals. Senior Cambria Wakefield and sophomore Taylor Henrie added eight points apiece, junior Emry Nelson six, and both seniors Lizzy Bauman and Audrey Smith two each.
7th Place: Morenci – 43, Centennial – 33
A 23-11 fourth-quarter outing vaulted the Wildcats over the Coyotes for seventh place. Morenci trailed by six, 25-31, with 4:35 remaining, as a 7-0 run over the next 1:40 gave the Wildcats the lead for good. The run included a 3-pointer by senior Talia McCabe and field goals by junior Rozlyn Funari and sophomore Mayeli Salazar.
Another Salazar field goal and one by sophomore Tiara Jones extended the advantage to five, 36-31, before Centennial junior Izzy Alvarez broke the scoring drought with 1:41 left. It would be the closest the Coyotes would get during the rest of the game.
Centennial led 9-7 after the first quarter, 18-13 at halftime, and 22-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
For the game, Morenci connected on 18 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 6-14 free throws while Centennial made 12 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 5-10 free throws.
Salazar netted a game-high 15 points on six field goals plus 3-8 free throws, and Jones had 11 on four field goals plus 3-6 free throws. Funari added eight points, freshman Arwa Abdulquader four, McCabe three, and freshman Jaylianna Guzzo two.
Centennial junior Jolie Galbreath had 21 points on seven field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 4-6 free throws. Alvarez added five points, junior Madison Jacobs four, junior Audrey Power two, and freshman Taylor Swartz one.
Round Robin Results (days two and three)
The Round Robin participants were the four teams that succumbed twice during pool play. Safford ran away from Empire 60-18 in Norma Bellamy Gymnasium, Globe edged Hayden 16-15 in Guitteau Gymnasium, and defeated Safford 62-52 at Thatcher High, and Empire slipped past Hayden 26-22 in Guitteau Gymnasium on day two.
Globe ran past Empire 53-19, and Safford ran away from Hayden 64-9, both at Thatcher High on day three.
Pool Play Results (day one)
Pima (2-0) was first, Dysart (1-1) second, and Globe (0-2) third for Pool A on the Pima campus. The Roughriders defeated Globe 87-7 and Dysart 55-29. Dysart defeated Globe 66-16.
Snowflake (2-0) was first, Thatcher (1-1) second, and Hayden (0-2) third for Pool B on the Thatcher campus. The Lobos defeated Hayden 69-5 and Thatcher 63-21. Thatcher defeated Hayden 45-23.
Saint David (2-0) was first, Centennial (1-1) second, and Safford (0-2) third for Pool C in Norma Bellamy Gymnasium. Saint David defeated Safford 43-31 and Centennial 40-33. Centennial defeated Safford 29-23.
Fort Thomas (2-0) was first, Morenci (1-1) second, and Empire (0-2) third for Pool D in Guitteau Gymnasium. Fort Thomas defeated Empire 78-13 and Morenci 66-16. Morenci defeated Empire 59-25.
