Eagles travel to Phoenix for Open pairing
By Raymundo Frasquillo
GRAHAM COUNTY – The Copper No. 6 2A East Region Pima Roughriders (15-3 seeding, 16.5213 rating) host the No. 11 2A West Region Phoenix North Valley Christian Lions (16-2, 15.3555), the Copper No. 7 1A East Region Fort Thomas Apaches (19-0, 16.1782) host the No. 10 3A Central Region Chandler Seton Catholic Sentinels (14-4 seeding, 15.5681 rating), and the Copper No. 12 3A South Region Thatcher Eagles (14-3, 15.1834) visit the No. 5 2A Valley Region Phoenix Country Day School Eagles (18-1, 17.3782) on Wednesday, Feb. 11, all with 7 p.m. starts. The Copper rankings are the open venue for the Top 16 1A-3A teams.
This week (Feb. 9-14):
Copper (1A/3A Open) Pairings (Feb. 11)
Copper (1A/3A Open) pairings feature the Top 16 of 139 schools across three classifications competing against one another, beginning with the first round on Wednesday, Feb. 11. All games start at 7 p.m.
The top bracket has No. 1 Gilbert San Tan Charter (17-0 seeding, 23.2938 rating hosting No. 16, Holbrook (13-4, 13.1395), No. 8 Payson (14-5, 16.0988) hosting No. 9 Coolidge (14-5, 15.8211), No. 5 Phoenix Country Day School Eagles (17-1, 18.2395) hosting No. 12 Thatcher (14-3, 15.1834), and No. 4 Tucson Palo Verde Magnet Titans (16-2, 18.4905) hosting No. 13 Scottsdale Christian (14-4, 14.7650).
Lower bracket pairings include No. 3 Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (17-2, 21.0608) hosting No. 14 Chinle (14-4, 14.0481), No. 6 Pima (15-3, 16.5213) hosting No. 11 Phoenix North Valley Christian (16-2, 15.3555), No. 7 Fort Thomas (19-0, 16.1782) hosting No. 10 Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (14-4, 15.5686), and No. 2 Chandler Valley Christian (16-2, 22.7342) hosting Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (14-4, 13.5593).
The second round, or quarterfinal round, is also on Friday, Feb. 13, with the higher seeds; the semifinals on Feb. 20; and the championship on Feb. 28.
Copper No. 6 / 2A No. 2 Pima Roughriders (15-2 seeding, 16.7778 rating)
Pima (25-4 overall, 15-2 seeding, 7-0 region) is averaging a 67-45 (1,941-1,301) score per game or a 22-point margin through 29 games.
A 12-member roster has four seniors, seven juniors, and a sophomore. The seniors are Keaton Bryce (2), Keegan Corona (14), Charles Richardson (32), Isaac Thompson (1); juniors Nash Bodily (13), Gilbert Bryce (0), Joel Mattice (23), Stratton McRae (12), Brendan Skiba (15), Tanner Smith (3), and Haydn Wilkins (5); and sophomore Van Papa (10).
The Cliff Thompson-coached Roughriders are competing in the 9-member 2A East Region 2A East Region with the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning, the Chandler Prep Titans, the Gilbert Leading Edge Spartans, the Gilbert Classical Spartans, the Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners, the Miami Vandals, and the San Carlos Braves.
Copper No. 7 / 1A No. 1 Fort Thomas (19-0 seeding, 16.1498 rating)
The Apaches used their strengths, a man-to-man defense and press, to finish as the region tourney winners, topping Scottsdale Cicero Prep (87-61, Feb. 5) during the section tourney semifinal and Winkelman Hayden (65-58, Feb. 6) for the title. Hayden ousted Phoenix Valley Lutheran (48-39, Feb. 5) in the other semifinal. The games featuring the top four 1A East Region teams were held in Jerry W. Hancock Gymnasium.
Fort Thomas (29-4 overall, 19-0 seeding, 7-0 region) is averaging a 79-55 (2,459-1,696) score per game or a 24-point margin through 31 games.
A 14-member roster includes seven seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and a freshman. The seniors are Damarae Dosela (31), Koby Hunter (23), Leondro Kenton (14), Justin Olivar (25), Michael Olivar (34), Kobe Pearson (20), and Channing Wilson (11); juniors Brian Sign (50), Tayshawn Stanley (45), and Keon Williams (44); sophomores Aaden Anderson (55), Amare Ethelbah (15), and Malachi Johnson (10); and freshman Elijah Titla (35).
The Matthew Dona-coached Apaches competed 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.
Copper No. 7 / 3A No. 7 Thatcher Eagles (14-3 seeding, 15.1834)
Thatcher (20-7 overall, 14-3 seeding, 7-1 region) is averaging a 66-55 (1,792-1,476) score per game or a 12-point margin through 27 games.
A 12-member roster has six seniors, four juniors, a sophomore, and a freshman. The seniors are Braden Bryce (13), Chad Johnson (30), Brigham Palmer (3), Isaac Palmer (33), Dylan Riney (31), and Bronson Stringfellow (24), juniors Jay Carter (12), Brant Duncan (2), Wade Hull (11), and Hudson Lopeman (1); sophomore Kase Palmer (23); and freshman JayLeon Way (10).
The Kyle Hull-coached Eagles competed in the 9-member 3A South Region, along with the Safford Bulldogs, the Tucson schools Andrada Polytechnic Mustangs, Catalina Trojans, Empire Ravens, Palo Verde Magnet Titans, Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, Sabino Sabercats, and Tanque Verde Hawks.
1A/3A Copper (Open) Rankings
The state rankings for the Top 16 of 139 statewide schools numbering 42 in 1A, 52 in 2A, and 45 in 3A as of 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 were 2A the East Region Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners (17-0 seeding, 23.2938 rating) No. 1, the 3A Central Region Chandler Valley Christian Trojans (16-2, 22.7342) No. 2, the 3A Metro Region Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin Chargers (17-2, 21.0608) No. 3, the 3A South Region Tucson Palo Verde Magnet Titans (16-2, 18.4905) No. 4, the 2A Valley Region Phoenix Country Day School Eagles (17-1, 18.2395) No. 5, the 2A East Region Pima Roughriders (15-3, 16.5213) No. 6, the 1A East Region Fort Thomas Apaches (19-0, 16.1782), No. 7, the 3A Metro Region Payson Longhorns (14-5, 16.0987) No. 8, the 3A Central Region Coolidge Bears (14-5, 15.8211) No. 9, the 3A Central Region Chandler Seton Catholic Prep Sentinels (14-4, 15.5686) No. 10, the Phoenix North Valley Christian (16-2, 15.3555) No. 11, the 3A South Region Thatcher Eagles (14-3, 15.1834) No. 12, the 2A Central Region Scottsdale Christian Eagles (14-4, 14.7650) No. 13, the 3A North Region Chinle Wildcats (14-4, 14.0481) No. 14, the 2A Valley Region Phoenix Arizona Lutheran Flames (14-4, 13.5593) No. 15, and the 3A East Region Holbrook Roadrunners (13-4, 13.1395) No. 16.
This week (Feb. 9-14):
1A Play-in Round (Feb. 13)
The 1A Play-in Round participants include teams ranked Nos. 9-24, all games on Friday, Feb. 13, with 7 p.m. starts. The Top 2-8 teams have a bye, while top-ranked Fort Thomas is involved in the Open meet and has the option to join the 1A First Round.
Pairings are No. 9 Heber Mogollon (10-7 seeding, 1.5650 rating) hosting No. 24 Duncan (7-12, minus 8.5154), No. 10 Saint David (11-6, 1.5270) hosting Peach Springs Music Mountain (9-8, minus 7.9423), No. 11 Phoenix Great Hearts Anthem (13-3, 0.9942) hosting No. 22 Patagonia (9-8, minus 7.4405), and No. 12 Dishchii’bikoh (12-6, 0.8102) hosting No. 21Seligman (10-7, minus 6.6625).
Also, No. Kearny Ray (12-6, minus 2.9532) hosts No. 20 Saint Michael (9-9, minus 6.5746), No. 14 Wellton Antelope Union (11-3, minus 3.4144) hosts No. 19 Teec Nos Pos Red Mesa (11-7, minus 6.4344), No. 15 Sells Baboquivari (9-8, minus 3.8936) hosts No. 18 Colorado City El Capitan (9-7, minus 5.6638), and No. 16 Scottsdale Cicero Prep (6-11, minus 4.2647) hosts No. 17 Flagstaff Basis (11-6, minus 5.1886).
Winners advance to the 16-team bracket with the first round on Feb. 17, also at the higher seeds.
1A No. 24 Duncan (7-12 seeding, minus 8.4897 rating)
Duncan (9-14 overall, 7-12 seeding, 2-5 region) is averaging a 42-48 (968-1,097) score per game or a 6-point deficit through 23 games.
A 12-member roster includes four seniors, three juniors, and five sophomores. The seniors are Taygen Jensen (22), Tanner Giacoletti (32), Pablo Ruiz (10), and Isaiah Sumner (24); juniors Connor Free (12), Dayton Penry (4), and Aaron Zamora (30); and sophomores Mark Bejarano (34), Canyon Carver (42), Jared Kempton (44), Karsen Lacey (14), and Wyatt Lunt (40).
The Brad Roof-coached Wildkats are competing in the 8-member 1A South 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.
1A Final State Rankings
The final state rankings for the Top 24 of 42 statewide 1A schools as of 4 p.m. on Feb. 7 were Fort Thomas (19-0, 16.1782 rating), No. 1, Winkelman Hayden (16-2, 9.7936) No. 2, Williams (15-2, 8.3484) No. 3, Tucson’s The Gregory School (13-5, 7.0759) No. 4, Joseph City (14-5, 6.8836) No. 5, Bagdad (18-1, 2.9280) No. 6, Phoenix Valley Lutheran (12-6, 2.7984) No.7, and Rock Point (13-5, minus 1.8167) No. 8.
Heber Mogollon (10-7, 1.5650) was No. 9, Saint David (11-6, 1.5270) No. 10, Phoenix Great Hearts Anthem (13-3, 0.9942) No. 11, Dishchii’bikoh (12-6, 0.8102) No. 12, Kearny Ray (12-6, minus 2.9532) No. 13, Wellton Antelope Union (11-3, minus 3.4144) No. 14, Sells Baboquivari (9-8, minus 3.8936) No. 15, and Scottsdale Cicero Prep (6-11, minus 4.2647) No. 16.
Flagstaff Basis (11-6, minus 5.1886) was No. 17, Colorado City El Capitan (9-7, minus 5.6638) No. 18, Teec Nos Pos Red Mesa (11-7, minus 6.4344) No. 19, Saint Michael (9-9, minus 6.5746) No. 20, Seligman (10-7, minus 6.6625) No. 21, Patagonia (9-8, minus 7.4405) No. 22, Peach Springs Music Mountain (9-8, minus 7.9423) No. 23, and Duncan (7-12, minus 8.5154) No. 24.
The state rankings for the other two 1A South Region members were Superior (4-14, minus 13.5580) No. 29 and San Manuel (2-16, minus 18.6200) No. 34.
1A East Region Final Standings
Final standings for the 1A East Region as of Feb. 4 were Fort Thomas (29-4 overall, 19-0 seeding, 7-0 region), Winkelman Hayden (19-6, 16-2, 6-1), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (17-11, 12-6, 5-2), Scottsdale Cicero Prep (6-11, 6-11, 4-3), Kearny Ray (15-8, 12-6, 3-4), Duncan (9-14, 7-12, 2-5), Superior (6-17, 4-14, 1-6), and San Manuel (2-20, 2-16, 0-7).
Region results are Fort Thomas over Superior (87-34, Dec. 16), Hayden (85-68, Jan. 6), Duncan (78-43, Jan. 13), Cicero Prep (96-59, Jan. 21), Valley Lutheran (90-50, Jan. 23), Ray (103-63, Jan. 27), and San Manuel (71-37, Feb. 3); Hayden over San Manuel (68-35, Dec. 16), Valley Lutheran (58-44, Jan. 13), Superior (51-29, Jan. 15), Ray (75-34, Jan. 20), Duncan (73-43, Jan. 27), and Cicero Prep (62-57, Jan. 30); Valley Lutheran over Ray (71-70, Dec. 12), Cicero Prep (56-45, Jan. 6), Duncan (48-44, Jan. 10), San Manuel (75-18, Jan. 16), and Superior (51-25, Jan. 20); Cicero Prep over Ray (72-51, Jan. 9), Duncan (58-52, Jan. 17), San Manuel (64-30, Jan. 23), and Superior (46-32, Jan. 27); Ray over Superior (85-47, Jan. 23), Duncan (71-68, Jan. 30), and San Manuel (67-36, Jan. 31); Duncan over Superior (52-41, Jan. 6) and San Manuel (51-39, Jan. 20); and Superior over San Manuel (52-40, Jan. 13).
This week (Feb. 9-14):
3A Pool Play Round (Feb. 13)
The 3A Pool Play Round participants include teams ranked Nos. 10-25, all games on Friday, Feb. 13, with 7 p.m. starts. The Top 9 teams are involved in the Open meet and have the option to join the 3A First Round.
Pool Play pairings include Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (14-4 seeding, 12.2334 rating) hosting No. 25 Phoenix Northwest Christian (6-12, 1.8425) as No. 10, No. 11 Gilbert Christian (10-8, 12.0291) hosting No. 24 Parker (11-7, 2.4243), No. 12 Snowflake (10-7, 10.9519) hosting No. 23 Tuba City (11-7, 4.5083), and No. 13 Yuma Catholic (12-6, 10.6103) hosting No. 22 Tucson Sabino (11-8, 4.9497).
The other pairings are No. 14 Florence (11-7, 8.8683) hostsingNo. 21 Safford (10-8, 5.5947), No. 15 Mohave Valley River Valley (16-2, 8.5262) hosting No. 20 Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (8-10, 6.2754), No. 16 Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (12-7, 8.3833) hosting No. 19 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (12-7, 6.5430), and No. 17 Winslow (11-7, 8.3368) hosting No. 8 Whiteriver Alchesay (11-7, 8.3225).
3A No. 21 Safford Bulldogs (10-8 seeding, 5.5947 rating)
Safford (14-14 overall, 10-8 seeding, 5-3 region) is averaging a 60-62 (1,691-1,746) score per game or a 2-point deficit through 28 games.
A 12-member roster includes four seniors, four juniors, and four sophomores. The seniors are Fernando Felix (5), Mason Hatch (3), Grady Lackner (4), and Royal Smith (15); juniors Aaron Barnes (11), Jacob Gomez (22), Dane Jacobson (10), and Cade Kenehan (25); and sophomores Kaybian Chavez (12), Lamar Ellis (20), Trae Gaines (24), and Hayden Larson (14).
The Danny Smith-coached Bulldogs competed in the 9-member 3A South Region, along with the Thatcher Eagles, the Tucson schools Andrada Polytechnic Mustangs, Catalina Trojans, Empire Ravens, Palo Verde Magnet Titans, Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, Sabino Sabercats, and Tanque Verde Hawks.
3A Final State Rankings
The final state rankings for the Top 24 of 45 statewide 3A schools as of 10 a.m. on Feb. 7 were Chandler Valley Christian (16-2 seeding, 22.7342 rating) No. 1, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (17-2, 21.0608) No. 2, Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (16-2, 18.4906) No. 3, Payson (14-5, 16.0987) No. 4, Coolidge (14-5, 15.8211) No. 5, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (14-4, 15.5681) No. 6, Thatcher (14-3, 15.1834) No. 7, and Chinle (14-4, 14.0481) No. 8.
Holbrook (13-4, 13.1395) was No. 9, Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (14-4, 12.2334) No. 10, Gilbert Christian (10-8, 12.0291) No. 11, Snowflake (10-7, 10.9519) No. 12, Yuma Catholic (12-6, 10.6103) No. 13, Florence (11-7, 8.8683) No. 14, Mohave Valley River Valley (16-2, 8.5262) No. 15, and Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (12-7, 8.3833) No. 16.
Winslow (11-7, 8.3368) was No. 17, Whiteriver Alchesay (11-7, 8.3225) No. 18, Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (12-7, 6.5430) No. 19, Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (8-10, 6.2754) No. 20, Safford (10-8, 5.5947) No. 21, Tucson Sabino (11-8, 4.9497) No. 22, Tuba City (11-7, 4.5083) No. 23, and Parker (11-7, 2.4243) No. 24.
The state rankings for the other four 3A South Region members were Tanque Verde (8-8, 0.0402) No. 28, Empire (8-10, minus 1.4574) No. 32, Catalina (1-17, minus 17.2690) No. 43, and Andrada Polytechnic (0-18, minus 20.7151) No. 44.
3A South Region Standings
Final standings for the 3A South Region as of Feb. 7 were Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (19-5 overall, 16-2 seeding, 7-1 region), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (17-6, 14-4, 7-1), Thatcher (20-7, 14-3, 7-1), Safford (14-14, 10-8, 5-3), Sabino (16-12, 11-8, 4-4), Tucson Tanque Verde (10-12, 8-8, 3-5), Tucson Empire (9-14, 8-10, 2-6), Tucson Catalina (1-21, 1-17, 1-7), and Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (0-21, 0-18, 0-8).
Region results are Palo Verde Magnet over Safford (81-60, Jan. 13), Pusch Ridge (54-53, Jan. 16), Sabino (67-51, Jan. 20), Empire (77-43, Jan. 28), Catalina (59-26, Jan. 30), Tanque Verde (73-39, Feb. 3), and Andrada Polytechnic (73-38, Feb. 5); Pusch Ridge over Sabino (63-47, Jan. 13), Thatcher (49-46, Jan. 21), Tanque Verde (60-57, Jan. 26),Andrada Polytechnic (73-21, Jan. 28), Safford (85-70, Jan. 31), Catalina (63-46, Feb. 3), and Empire (54-48, Feb. 5); Thatcher over Andrada Polytechnic (84-17, Dec. 12), Catalina (76-29, Jan. 13), Palo Verde Magnet 64-57, Jan. 26), Safford (63-48, Jan. 28), Tanque Verde (77-60, Jan. 30), Empire (70-45, Feb. 3), and Sabino (78-66, Feb. 5); Safford over Catalina (64-33, Jan. 9), Empire (51-48, Jan. 20), Andrada Polytechnic (53-48, Jan. 22), Sabino (75-70, Jan. 26), and Tanque Verde (73-67, Feb. 5); Sabino over Empire (76-58, Jan. 16), Tanque Verde (74-52, Jan. 21), Catalina (69-28), and Andrada Polytechnic (78-23, Feb. 3); Tanque Verde over Empire (79-71, Jan. 13), Andrada Polytechnic (70-38, Jan. 16), and Catalina (66-49, Jan. 20); Empire over Catalina (54-20, Jan. 21) and Andrada Polytechnic (51-24, Jan. 30); and Catalina over Andrada Polytechnic (44-37, Jan. 26).
Fort Thomas – 67, Hayden – 58 (Feb. 6)
The top two-ranked 1A teams tipped off with No. 2 Hayden leading 2-0, 4-3, 7-5, and 15-14 before No. 1 Fort Thomas took the lead for good with 24 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. A Damarae Dosela 3-pointer gave the Apaches a 17-15 advantage heading into the second quarter. A 24-11 second quarter gave The Fort a 41-25 halftime lead.
Although Fort Thomas led 56-43 heading into the fourth quarter, Hayden came within four twice, 56-60 with 1:43 and 58-62 with a minute remaining, but no closer.
The home team connected on 25 field goals (eight 3-pointers) plus 9-11 free throws compared to 25 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 5-11 free throws by the visitors.
Senior Damarae Dosela netted a game-high 22 points on seven field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 4-5 free throws, sophomore Malachi Johnson 13 on five field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws, and senior Channing Wilson 13 on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-2 free throws. Freshman Elijah Titla added nine points, and both seniors Justin Olivar and Michael Olivar four apiece.
For Hayden, senior Ryan Garner tallied 18 points on eight field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-1 free throws, senior Kino Lorona 16 on seven field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-1 free throws, and senior Mario Hong 10 on four field goals plus 2-2 free throws. Junior Ryan Garner (1) added eight points, and sophomore Marcos Hong six.
Fort Thomas – 87, Cicero Prep – 61 (Feb. 5)
Fort Thomas jumped out to a 4-0 advantage before Cicero Prep scored, and led 10-2 by the time a second field goal was added. The Apaches led 28-8 when the Centurions reached double figures. The Fort led 23-8 after the first quarter, 54-19 at halftime, and 77-41 heading into the fourth quarter.
On the evening, Fort Thomas totaled 35 field goals (twelve 3-pointers) plus 5-6 free throws versus 24 field goals (twelve 3-pointers) plus 1-6 free throws by Cicero Prep.
Dosela netted 19 points on seven field goals (one 3-pointer), Wilson 18 on seven field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 3-3 free throws, senior Koby Hunter 11 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-2 free throws, and Michael Olivar 11 on five field goals (one 3-pointer). Freshman Elijah Titla added nine points, sophomore Leandro Kenton six, junior Keon Williams five, sophomore Amore Ethelbah four, and both junior Tayshawn Stanley and sophomore Aaden Anderson two apiece.
For Cicero Prep, junior Naseem Khalil had 18 points on seven field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws, and sophomore Jake Ko had 16 on seven field goals (two 3-pointers). Freshman Abel Aguirre added nine points, Brody Lemerise seven, Brody Leaeer six, sophomore Noah Lawrence three, and Payden Pheida two.
