Cats gain Play-In berth as region runner-up
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Ruben Leonard-coached Morenci Wildcats (13-16 overall, 9-9 seeding, 7-1 region) succumbed to Willcox by five, 55-60 on Jan. 22, but defeated the other seven region members by an average score of 68-47 (481-326) per game or a 21-point margin to secure second in the 2A South Region. That runner-up finish automatically qualified them for the Play-In Round as one of the top two teams in the region.
This week (Feb. 9-14):
2A Play-in Round (Feb. 13)
The 2A Play-in Round participants include teams ranked Nos. 7-24, all games on Friday, Feb. 13, with 7 p.m. starts. Morenci made the field and bumped out No. 24 Camp Verde (6-12, 0.9694) via a region second-place finish, and the Top 6 teams are involved with the Open meet and have the option of participating in the 2A First Round.
Pairings are No. 7 Fountain Hills (13-5 seeding, 11.8654 rating) hosting No. 25 Morenci (9-9, minus 0.2807), No. 8 Glendale Prep (13-5, 9.8273) hosting No. 23 Avondale Highland Prep West (8-8, 2.0927), No. 9 San Carlos (11-6, 9.1119) hosting No. 22 Chandler Lincoln Prep (10-8, 2.1593), No. 10 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (12-5, 8.5283) hosting No. 21 Benson (11-7, 2762), and No. 11 Saint Johns (14-4, 8.2811) hosting No. 20 Willcox (13-5, 2.8273).
Other pairings include No. 12 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (10-8, 7.8213) hosting No. 19 Eagar Round Valley (12-7, 5.0342), No. 13 Phoenix Veritas Prep (13-5, 7.5425) hosting No. 18 Flagstaff Northland Prep (11-6, 5.3410), No. 14 Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (14-5, 7.2912) hosting No. 17 Phoenix Horizon Honors (11-7, 6.5861), and No. 15 Gilbert Classical (13-4, 7.1680) hosting No. 16 Phoenix Christian (9-8, 6.6239).
The first round is on Feb. 17, also at the higher seeds and each with 7 p.m. starts, the quarterfinals on Feb. 20, the semifinals on Feb. 26, and the championship on Feb. 28.
2A No. 11 Saint Johns Redskins (13-5 seeding, 2.8273 rating)
Saint Johns (23-9 overall, 14-4 seeding, 7-0 region) is averaging a 57-51 (1,825-1,628) score per game or a 6-point margin through 32 games.
A 14-member roster includes seven seniors and seven juniors. The seniors are Juan Calderon (22), John French (13), Colten Platt (2), Treharn Platt (1), Jude Raban (3), Sam Winters (11), and Max Udall (35); and juniors Paxton Hancock (10), Brigden Heap (12), Shad Jarvis (44), Casiel Nunez (33), Alan Tryon (0), Brody Waite (23), and Kaden Waite (32).
The Casey Heap-coached Redskins competed in the 8-member 2A North Region with the Eagar Round Valley Elks, the Flagstaff Northland Prep Spartans, the Keams Canyon Hopi Bruins, the Many Farms Lobos, Pinon Eagles, the Sanders Valley Pirates, the Tuba City Greyhills Knights,
2A No. 20 Willcox Cowboys (13-5 seeding, 2.8273 rating)
Willcox (21-5 overall, 13-5 seeding, 7-1 region) is averaging a 58-49 (1,518-1,282) score per game or a 9-point margin through 26 games.
An 11-member roster includes a senior, four juniors, five sophomores, and a freshman. The senior is Ty Shull (2); juniors Bryan Cuevas (4), Jahir Reyes (12), J.D. Whetten (10), and Carder Wyatt (13); sophomores Ryan Burchett (24), Saul Medina (3), Steele Romney (5), Tucker Stamback (11), and Asher Ward (1); and freshman Alex Shull (14).
The Farbod Safavi-coached Wildcats are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Morenci Wildcats, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, along with the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, the San Miguel Catholic Vipers, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
2A No. 7 Fountain Hills Falcons (13-5 seeding, 11.8654 rating)
Fountain Hills (19-7 overall, 13-5 seeding, 7-1 region) is averaging a 54-45 (1,411-1,161) score per game or a 9-point margin through 26 games.
A 14-member roster has six seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Jamison Jacobs (5), Ahren Lloyd (44), Esaias Luna (2), Sean Monroid (4), Gavriel Pikar (43), and Caden Taylor (0); juniors Kaiya Evans (23), Ahnyas Hart (11), Grayson Pavia (2), and Joseph Smith (45); sophomores Brody Skousen (12) and Marek Wisniewski (30); and freshmen Devon Baker (42) and Crew Miller (10).
The Jeffrey Bonner-coached Falcons competed in the 8-member 2A Central Region with the Camp Verde Cowboys, the Phoenix Christian Cougars, the Phoenix Madison Highland Prep Hornets, the Scottsdale Christian Eagles, the Scottsdale Prep Spartans, the Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep Mustangs, and the Sedona Red Rock Scorpions.
2A No. 25 Morenci Wildcats (9-9 seeding, minus 0.2807 rating)
Morenci (13-16 overall, 9-9 seeding, 7-1 region) is averaging a 56-56 (1,614-1,611) score per game or a tie through 29 games.
A 12-member roster has three seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Abraham Cortez (24), Derick Lytle (22), and Adrian McCallum (25); juniors Aymen Abdulqader (11), Adrian McCabe (12), and Morgan Petross (35); sophomores Andress Aguilera (31), Brennen Burkhead (32), Alejandro LaPrada (10), Deegan Miller (23); and freshmen Yanuel Gigante (21) and Marcus Najar (33).
The Ruben Leonard-coached Wildcats competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcox Cowboys, along with the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, the San Miguel Catholic Vipers, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
2A Final State Rankings
The final statewide rankings for the Top 24 of 52 statewide 2A schools at noon on Feb. 5 were Gilbert San Tan Charter (17-0 seeding, 23.2938 rating) No. 1, Phoenix Country Day School (18-1, 17.3782) No. 2, Pima (15-3, 16.5213) No. 3, Phoenix North Valley Christian (16-2, 15.3555) No. 4, Scottsdale Christian (14-4, 14.7650) No. 5, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (14-4, 13.2081) No. 6, Fountain Hills (13-5, 11.8654) No. 7, and Glendale Prep (13-5, 9.8273) No. 8.
San Carlos (11-6, 9.1119) was No. 9, Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (12-5, 8.5283) No. 10, Saint Johns (14-4, 8.2811) No. 11, Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (10-8, 7.8213) No. 12, Phoenix Veritas Prep (13-5, 7.5425) No. 13, Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (14-5, 7.2912) No. 14, Gilbert Classical (13-4, 7.1680) No. 15, and Phoenix Christian (9-8, 6.6239) No. 16.
Phoenix Horizon Honors (11-7, 6.5861) was No. 17, Flagstaff Northland Prep (11-6, 5.3410) No. 18, Eagar Round Valley (12-7, 5.0342) No. 19, Willcox (13-5, 2.8273) No. 20, Benson (11-7, 2762) No. 21, Chandler Lincoln Prep (10-8, 2.1593) No. 22, Avondale Highland Prep West (8-8, 2.0927) No. 23, and Camp Verde (6-12, 0.9694) No. 24.
The state rankings for the other seven 2A South Region members were Morenci (9-9 seeding, minus 0.2807 rating) No. 25, Desert Christian (10-8, minus 3.1090) No. 31, Tucson Saint Augustine (11-7, minus 4.5539) No. 33, Bisbee (8-7, minus 4.9072) No. 35, Santa Rita (7-11, minus 10.4341) No. 40, San Miguel (3-15, minus 19.7212) No. 50, and Tombstone (2-15, minus 20.5449) No. 51.
Four other 2A East Region member rankings were Arete Prep (8-10 seeding, minus 2.7932) No. 30, Leading Edge (3-13, minus 8.8122) No. 37, Miami (4-14, minus 12.0865) No. 43, and Chandler Prep (0-18, minus 15.0896) No. 46.
2A South Region Final Standings
Final standings in the 2A South Region as of Feb. 7 were Willcox (13-5 overall, 13-5 seeding, 7-1 region), Morenci (13-16, 9-9, 7-1), Benson (15-9, 11-7, 6-2), Tucson Desert Christian (11-12, 10-8, 5-3), Bisbee (11-9, 8-7, 4-4), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (14-9, 11-7, 4-4), Tucson Santa Rita (7-11, 7-11, 2-6), Tombstone (2-25, 2-15, 1-7), and Tucson San Miguel Catholic (3-15, 3-15, 0-8).
Region results are Willcox over Saint Augustine (60-36, Jan. 8), Bisbee (66-52, Jan. 15), Santa Rita (47-41, Jan. 19), Morenci (60-55, Jan. 22), Tombstone (59-26, Jan. 23), San Miguel (83-61, Jan. 27), and Desert Christian (75-52, Jan. 29); Morenci over San Miguel (74-38, Jan. 6), Saint Augustine (63-51, Jan. 15), Desert Christian (64-57, Jan. 20), Benson (67-55, Jan. 27), Tombstone (70-32, Jan. 29), Santa Rita (66-37, Feb. 2), and Bisbee (77-56, Feb. 5); Benson over Willcox (51-50, Jan. 6), Santa Rita (67-38, Jan. 15), Bisbee (46-43, Jan. 22), San Miguel (84-30, Jan. 29), Tombstone (64-23, Feb. 3), and Desert Christian (71-64, Feb. 5); Desert Christian over Tombstone (57-25, Jan. 6), San Miguel (61-24, Jan. 15), Santa Rita (53-47, Jan. 22), Bisbee (48-31, Jan. 27), and Saint Augustine (67-31, Feb. 2); Bisbee over Tombstone (58-44, Dec. 8), Santa Rita (51-48, Jan. 20), Saint Augustine (54-42, Jan. 29), and San Miguel (69-50, Feb. 2); Saint Augustine over Santa Rita (58-47, Jan. 6), Benson (75-63, Jan. 20), San Miguel (47-44, Jan. 22), and Tombstone (44-32, Feb. 4); Santa Rita over San Miguel (64-32, Jan. 8) and Tombstone (39-25, Jan. 27); Tombstone over San Miguel (51-21, Jan. 20).
2A East Region Standings
Standings for 2A East Region members as of Feb. 7 were Gilbert San Tan Charter (21-3 overall, 17-0 seeding, 8-0 region), Pima (25-5, 15-3, 7-1), San Carlos (16-9, 12-6, 6-2), Gilbert Classical (16-5*, 14-4, 5-3), Chandler Lincoln Prep (13-13, 10-8, 4-4), Gilbert Arete Prep (14-14, 9-10, 3-5), Miami (9-19, 4-14, 2-6), Gilbert Leading Edge (3-20, 3-15, 1-7), and Chandler Prep (0-18, 0-18, 0-8).
Region results are San Tan Charter over Lincoln Prep (94-26, Dec. 2), San Carlos (89-64, Jan. 12), Chandler Prep (127-24, Jan. 15), Arete Prep (114-52, Jan. 20), Leading Edge (110-31, Jan. 23), Gilbert Classical (81-38, Jan. 27), Miami (145-12, Jan. 30), and Pima (40-37, Feb. 5); Pima over Chandler Prep (98-16, Jan. 9), Arete Prep (78-36, Jan. 12), Leading Edge (94-23, Jan. 15, Gilbert Classical (63-36, Jan. 20), Miami (97-45, Jan. 23), Lincoln Prep (62-19, Jan. 27), and San Carlos (63-48, Jan. 30); San Carlos over Arete Prep (79-34, Jan. 9), Gilbert Classical (51-46, Jan. 15), Chandler Prep (109-32, Jan. 20), Lincoln Prep (63-22, Jan. 23), Leading Edge (1-0, Jan. 27), and Miami (92-50, Feb. 2); Gilbert Classical over Miami (82-36, Jan. 9), Lincoln Prep (65-30, Jan. 12), Arete Prep (62-61, Jan. 23), handler Prep (70-25, Feb. 2), and Leading Edge (64-50); Lincoln Prep over Leading Edge (53-43, Jan. 9), Miami (69-29, Jan. 15), Arete Prep (62-46, Jan. 30), and Chandler Prep (75-27, Feb. 5); Arete Prep over Chandler Prep (72-40, Jan. 27), Leading Edge (1-0, Feb. 2), and Miami (97-48, Feb. 5); Miami over Chandler Prep (52-51, Jan. 12) and Leading Edge (83-53, Jan. 21); and Leading Edge over Chandler Prep (63-48, Jan. 30).
Morenci – 77, Bisbee – 56 (Feb. 5)
Senior Adrian McCallum and junior Aymen Abdulqader tossed in six and four points, respectively, during the first two minutes, giving Morenci a 10-0 advantage before Bisbee found its range. The Pumas dialed long distance and connected with 2:30 elapsed in the game. Another 7:26 would pass before three more 3-pointers allowed Bisbee to reach double figures to trail 12-22.
Their South Region final pairing found the Wildcats leading 24-14 after the opening quarter, 41-22 at halftime, and 61-39 heading into the fourth quarter. Host Morenci had double-figure scoring in all four quarters while limiting the visiting Pumas to doing so in three quarters.
For the game, Morenci made 30 field goals nine 3-pointers) plus 8-13 free throws compared to 20 field goals (eight 3-pointers) plus 8-13 free throws by Bisbee.
Abdulqader contributed a game-high 32 points on 12 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 5-9 free throws, McCallum 19 on eight field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws, and junior Adrian McCabe 17 on six field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 2-2 free throws. Freshman Marcus Najar added four points, and junior Morgan Petross three.
For Bisbee, senior Hunter Wright had a team-high 21 points on nine field goals (three 3-pointers), and senior Eddie Andrade had 12 on four 3-pointers. Gonzalez and senior Luis Ramirez added five points apiece, senior Andre Molina four, senior Cisco Echave and junior Miguel Encinas three each, and junior Ricky Echave two.
