Pima faces No. 2 Tuba City on Saturday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
BULLHEAD CITY – Willcox (11-6, 1.5369) travels across the state for a Round 1 pairing with No. 14 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (16-1, 15.4309) as No. 22 on Tuesday, Feb. 17. It is the 2A South Region champion versus the 2A West runner-up.
The Copper No. 3 Pima Roughriders (17-1 seeding, 19.1660 rating) head to Winslow on Saturday, Feb. 21. The trip is to take on the No. 2 Tuba City Warriors (15-2, 24.1859) for the Copper (1A/.3A Open) tourney semifinals at 6 p.m. It will be the 2A East Region champion versus the 3A North Region champion.
This week (Feb. 16-21):
2A State Tourney Round 1 (Feb. 18)
Top ranked San Carlos (15-1, 17.6998) has a bye, No. 8 Sanders Valley (13-6, 8.4943) hosts No. 9 Phoenix Horizon Honors (12-7,87.1626), No. 5 Eagar Round Valley (16-3, 14.2319) hosts No. 12 Miami (11-7, 5.3198), and No. 4 Fountain Hills (19-0, 15.1719) hosts No. 13 Benson (11-7, 1.7295) in the upper bracket.
The lower bracket has No. 3 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (16-1, 15.4309) hosting No. 14 Willcox (11-6, 1.5369), No. 6 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (15-3, 13.1904) hosting No. 11 Chandler Lincoln Prep (14-3, 7.6938), No. 7 Phoenix Country Day School (l4-4, 10.3122) hosting No. 10 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (12-4, 7.7328), and No. 2 Saint Johns (15-2, 16.9339) has a bye.
Quarterfinals are at the higher seeds on Feb. 21, and both the semifinals (Feb. 26) and the championship (Feb. 28) are in the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum.
2A No. 22 Willcox Cowgirls (11-6 seeding, 1.5369 rating)
Willcox (16-11 overall, 11-6 seeding, 7-1 South Region for first of nine) is averaging a 47-37 (1,1269-1,002) score per game or a 10-point margin through 27 games.
A 13-member roster has three seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Addison Burright (11), Evelyn Galaz (23), and Darielys Ruiz (3); juniors Paislee Adams (13), Leslie Barraza (21), Ruby Figueroa (4), and Brissa Salcido (22); sophomores Annel Arredando (2), Clariz Gomez (20), and Jackie Ramirez (10); and freshmen Lauren Bennett (14), Grace Flanders (1), and Lia Villa (5).
The Susie Prichard-coached Cowgirls are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Morenci Wildcats, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, and the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, San Miguel Vipers, and Santa Rita Eagles.
2A State Play-In (Feb. 12)
There were three upsets, the lower seeds defeating the higher seeds in the 2A Play-In Round on Feb. 12. Those were No. 16 Miami (11-7, 5.3198) over No. 15 Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (15-3, 7.5106) 72-68, No. 21 Benson (11-7, 1.7295) over No. 10 Wickenburg (16-2, 9.9833) 47-32, and No. 22 Willcox (10-6, 1.5369) over No. 9 Kingman Academy (13-4, 9.9926) 43-42.
The other 2A Play-In Round results were No. 7 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (15-3, 13.1904) over No. 24 Keams Canyon Hopi (7-11, minus 0.8059) 43-35, No. 8 Phoenix Country Day School (l4-4, 10.3122) over No. 23 Phoenix North Valley Christian (8-10, minus 0.0912) 46-40, No. 11 Sanders Valley (13-6, 8.4943) over No. 20 Scottsdale Christian (10-7, 1.9259) 61-56, No. 12 Phoenix Horizon Honors (12-7,87.1626) over No. 19 Pinon (10-8, 2.8860) 58-37, No. 13 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (12-4, 7.7328) over No. 18 Bisbee (11-3, 3.8270) 48-43, and No. 14 Chandler Lincoln Prep (14-3, 7.6938) over No. 17 Phoenix Christian (13-5, 4.0640) 49-40.
2A State Rankings
State rankings for the Top 24 of 48 2A members as of 11 a.m. on Feb. 7 were Pima (17-1, 19.1660) No. 1, San Carlos (15-1, 17.6998) No. 2, Saint Johns (15-2, 16.9339) No. 3, Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (16-1, 15.4309) No. 4, Fountain Hills (19-0, 15.1719) No. 5, Eagar Round Valley (16-3, 14.2319) No. 6, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (15-3, 13.1904) No. 7, and Phoenix Country Day School (l4-4, 10.3122) No. 8.
Kingman Academy (13-4, 9.9926) was No. 9, Wickenburg (16-2, 9.9833) No. 10, Sanders Valley (13-6, 8.4943) No. 11, Phoenix Horizon Honors (12-7,87.1626) No. 12, Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (12-4, 7.7328) No. 13, Chandler Lincoln Prep (14-3, 7.6938) No. 14, Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (15-3, 7.5106) No. 15, and Miami (11-7, 5.3198) No. 16.
Phoenix Christian (13-5, 4.0640) was No. 17, Bisbee (11-3, 3.8270) No.18, Pinon (10-8, 2.8860) No. 19, Scottsdale Christian (10-7, 1.9259) No. 20, Benson (11-7, 1.7295) No. 21, Willcox (11-6, 1.5369) No. 22, Phoenix North Valley Christian (8-10, minus 0.0912) No. 23, and Keams Canyon Hopi (7-11, minus 0.8059) No. 24.
The state rankings for the other six 2A South Region members were Morenci (7-11, minus 2.5122) No.25, Tucson Desert Christian (11-7, minus 4.4454) No. 30, Tucson Santa Rita (10-7, minus 5.3416) No. 33, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (8-9, minus 6.8072) No.35, Tombstone (5-13, minus 12.7336) No. 40, and San Miguel (0-17, minus 25.7140) No. 48.
Rankings for the other four East Region members were No. 26 for Gilbert Classical 10-7, minus 2.6602), No. 34 Gilbert Leading Edge (4-11, minus 6.3979), No. 39 Chandler Prep (3-14, minus 11.2939), and No. 45 Gilbert San Tan Charter (1-16, minus 18.3921).
3A State Pool Play (Feb. 12)
The 3A state tourney Round 1 at the higher seeds have No. 1 Fort Defiance Window Rock (13-5, 17.0413) with a bye, No. 8 Kayenta Monument Valley (9-8, 11.4815) hosts No. 9 Payson (14-5, 11.0419), No. 5 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (16-2, 14.0058) hosting No. 12 Winslow (6-12, 4.9580), and No. 4 Whiteriver Alchesay (11-7, 14.4229) hosting No. 13 Ganado (5-12, 3.9252) in the upper bracket.
The lower bracket has No. 3 Yuma Catholic (16-1, 14.8550) with a bye, No. 6 Show Low (10-8, 12.7132) hosts No. 11 Holbrook (7-10, 9.2378), No. 7 No. 7 Chinle (9-9, 12.5184) hosts No. 10 Gilbert Christian (13-4, 10.9139), and No. 2 Page (11-7, 15.4431) has a bye.
The quarterfinals are also at the higher seeds on Feb. 21, and both the semifinals (Feb. 27) and the championship (Feb. 28) will be held in the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum.
3A State Pool Play (Feb. 12)
The 3A state Pool Play pairings at the higher seeds had two upsets, No. 19 Ganado (5-12, 3.9252) over No. 14 Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (12-5, 10.4657) 56-51 in overtime, and No. 17 Winslow (6-12, 4.9580) over No. 16 Kingman (14-5, 6.4341) 60-25.
Also advancing were No. 9 Show Low (10-8, 12.7132) over No. 24 Florence (9-8, 0.6482) 44-22, No. 10 Chinle (9-9, 12.5184) over No. 23 Mohave Valley River Valley (12-7, 1.3238) 85-37, No. 11 Kayenta Monument Valley (9-8, 11.4815) over No. 22 Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (10-9, 2.1140) 92-38, No. 12 Payson (14-5, 11.0419) over No. 21 Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (12-7, 2.3426) 45-9, No. 13 Gilbert Christian (13-4, 10.9139) over No. 20 Thatcher (10-7, 3.1788) 50-28, and No. 15 Holbrook (7-10, 9.2378) over No. 18 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (10-8, 4.1032) 68-39.
3A State Rankings
The 3A State Rankings for the Top 24 of 43 teams as of 10 a.m. on Feb. 7 were Snowflake (18-0 seeding, 27.3945 rating) No. 1, Tuba City (15-2, 24.1859) No. 2, Chandler Valley Christian (15-2, 17.7759) No. 3, Fort Defiance Window Rock (13-5, 17.0413) No. 4, Page (11-7, 15.4431) No. 5, Yuma Catholic (16-1, 14.8550) No. 6, Whiteriver Alchesay (11-7, 14.4229) No. 7, and Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (16-2, 14.0058) No. 8.
Show Low (10-8, 12.7132) was No. 9, Chinle (9-9, 12.5184) No.10, Kayenta Monument Valley (9-8, 11.4815) No. 11, Payson (14-5, 11.0419) No. 12, Gilbert Christian (13-4, 10.9139) No. 13, Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (12-5, 10.4657) No. 14, Holbrook (7-10, 9.2378) No. 15, and Kingman (14-5, 6.4341) No. 16.
Winslow (6-12, 4.9580) was No. 17, Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (10-8, 4.1032) No. 18, Ganado (5-12, 3.9252) No. 19, Thatcher (10-7, 3.1788) No. 20, Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (12-7, 2.3426) No. 21, Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (10-9, 2.1140) No. 22, Mohave Valley River Valley (12-7, 1.3238) No. 23, and Florence (9-8, 0.6482) No. 24.
The rankings for the other five South Region members were Safford (8-10, minus 0.7344) No. 27, Sabino (7-11, minus 5.6892) No. 30, Palo Verde Magnet (4-13, minus 14.4023) No. 37, Tanque Verde Magnet (3-14, minus 16.6528) No. 38, and Empire (2-16, minus 18.5252) No. 40.
This week (Feb. 16-21):
Copper (1A/3A Open) Semifinals (Feb. 21)
Copper (1A/3A Open) semifinals at Winslow have No. 1 Snowflake (18-0 seeding, 27.3945 rating) hosting No. 4 Chandler Valley Christian (15-2, 17.7759) at 3 p.m. and No. 2 Tuba City (15-2, 24.1859) hosting No. 3 Pima (17-1, 19.1660) at 6 p.m.
The championship is on Feb. 28.
Copper No. 2 / 3A No. 2 Tuba City Warriors (15-2 seeding, 24.1859 rating)
Tuba City (26-3 overall, 15-2 seeding, 9-1 region) is averaging a 61-40 (1,778-1,165) score per game or a 21-point margin through 29 games.
A 15-member roster has four seniors, seven juniors, a sophomore, and three freshmen. The seniors are Aubrey Begaye (10), Thaila Clitso (3), Raquel Lee (12), and Justice Nez (4); juniors Jaylinn Acothley (2), Donna Deswood (23), Tia Lincoln (32), Evette Nocki-Redbear (14), Alexis Tom (22), Makayeli Tsinnie (15), and Jana West (42); sophomores Nakota Tallman (5); and freshmen Peyton Black (35), Layla Curtis (24), and Mari Salabye (30).
The Pete Butler-coached Warriors competed in the 6-member 3A North Region with the Chinle Wildcats, the Fort Defiance Window Rock Fighting Scouts, the Ganado Hornets, the Kayenta Monument Valley Mustangs, and the Page Sand Devils.
Copper No. 3 / 2A No. 1 Pima Roughriders (17-1 seeding, 19.1660 rating)
Pima (24-4 overall, 17-1 seeding, 6-1 region) is averaging a 54-26 (1,516-740) score per game or a 28-point margin through 28 games.
A 13-member roster has three seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Macy Allred (22), Alana Apodaca (33), and Maddi Dwyer (13); juniors Cheyanne Alder (5), Hanna Ashby (14), Page Ashby (30), Shante Butler (43), and Morgan Russell (42); sophomores Audrey Brimhall (32), Kera Clifford (15), and Jailey Tilley (10); and freshmen Taylor Ashby (21) and Jacey Tilley 11().
The Roy Corona-coached Roughriders competed in the 9-member 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 (1A/3A Open) Quarterfinals (Feb. 12)
The top bracket had No. 1 Snowflake (18-0 seeding, 27.3945 rating) over No. 8 Page (11-7, 15.443) 59-44 and No. 4 Chandler Valley Christian (15-2, 17.7759) over No. 5 San Carlos (15-1, 17.6998) 77-62.
Lower bracket pairings had No. 3 Pima (17-1, 19.1660) over No. 6 Fort Defiance Window Rock (13-5, 17.0413) 48-42, and No. 2 Tuba City (15-2, 24.1859) over No. 7 Saint Johns (15-2, 16.9339 59-43.
Copper (1A/3A Open) Tourney First Round:
No. 3 Pima – 48, No. 6 Window Rock – 44 (Feb. 12)
The final eight points were scored from the free throw line, five by the Roughriders and three by the Fighting Scouts. Pima broke a 33-33 three-quarters tie with a 15-9 fourth-quarter outing.
It was a 3-point game with 25.5 seconds remaining. Window Rock freshman Tiana Edison made 1-2 free throws with 16.8 seconds left, but Pima junior Morgan Russell sank 2-2 two seconds later, and freshman Taylor Ashby made 2-2 with 6.6 seconds remaining to complete the scoring.
Window Rock led 11-6 following the opening quarter and 22-19 at halftime.
On the evening, Pima connected on 16 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 12-18 free throws versus 15 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 9-16 free throws by Window Rock.
Junior Hanna Ashby tallied a team-high 14 points on field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-4 free throws, and junior Cheyanne Alder tallied 12 points on three 3-pointers plus 3-5 free throws. Junior Morgan Russell added nine points, senior Macy Allred five, and both junior Page Ashby and freshman Taylor Ashby four apiece.
For Window Rock, senior Kourtney Bitselley netted a game-high 16 points on three field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-2 free throws, and Edison 12 on three field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 5-10 free throws. Freshman Naomi James added seven points, sophomore Leilani Williams four, and senior Kelly James three.
No. 3 Pima – 58, No. 14 Alchesay – 43 (Feb. 10)
Junior Page Ashby sank a 3-pointer with 53 seconds elapsed, and the host 2A East Region Roughriders never trailed the rest of the game. The visiting 3A East Region Falcons scored 14 seconds later but never tied or took the lead.
Pima led 18-10 following the first quarter, 36-22 at halftime, and 43-33 heading into the fourth quarter.
Alchesay started the fourth quarter trailing by 10, 33-43, matched the deficit with 2:37 remaining, 40-50, but was unable to narrow it further.
For the game, Pima totaled 25 field goals (five 3-pointers) plus 11-20 free throws compared to 14 field goals plus 15-26 free throws by Alchesay.
Junior Morgan Russell netted a game-high 12 points on three field goals (five 3-pointers) plus 6-10 free throws, Page Ashby and freshman Taylor Ashby 11 points on five field goals (one 3-pointer) and four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws, respectively, and junior Hanna Ashby 10 on four field goals plus 2-2 free throws. Senior Macy Allred added seven points, freshman Jacey Tilley four, and junior Cheyanne Alder three.
For Alchesay, junior Kamare Classay had 11 points on four field goals plus 3-6 free throws. Junior Leeya Lupe added six points, sophomore Kylie Mansfield and Peyton Parker five each, seniors Imonie Beach, Alyssa Jim, and Kioni Nashio four apiece, and senior Hannah Quintero and freshman Uriyah Burnette two each.
Copper (1A/3A Open) Pairings (Feb. 10)
Copper (1A/3A Open) pairings feature the Top 16 of 130 schools across three classifications competing against one another, beginning with the first round on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
The top bracket had No. 1 Snowflake over No. 16 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (16-2, 14.0058) 55-29, No. 8 Page over No. 9 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (16-1, 15.4309) 58-21, No. 5 San Carlos over No. 12 Yuma Catholic (16-1, 14.8550) 51-42, and No. 4 Valley Christian over No. 13 Fort Thomas (16-2, 14.7322) 81-47.
Lower bracket pairings included No. 3 Pima over No. 14 Whiteriver Alchesay (11-7, 14.4229) 58-43, No. 6 Window Rock over No. 11 Joseph City (17-1, 15.0476) 68-56, No. 7 Saint Johns over No. 10 Fountain Hills (19-0, 15.1719) 51-40, and No. 2 Tuba City over No. 15 Eagar Round Valley (16-3, 14.2319) 56-50.
2A No. 25 Morenci Wildcats (7-11 seeding, minus 2.6602 rating)
Morenci (11-17 overall, 7-11 seeding, 5-3 region) averaged a 40-45 (1,112-1,164) score per game or a 5-point deficit through 28 games.
A 13-member roster has four seniors, three juniors, and six sophomores. The seniors are Adriana Carbajal (12), Rozlyn Funari (10), Jaliyah Hernandez (44), 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), Tracy Mianda (24), Aiyanna Merino (3), and Arisela Salazar (14).
The Albert Ortega-coached Wildcats are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcox Cowgirls, and the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, San Miguel Vipers, and Santa Rita Eagles.
3A No. 20 Thatcher Eagles (10-7 seeding, 3.1788 rating)
Thatcher (14-13 overall, 10-7 seeding, 5-1 region) is averaging a 39-39 (1,062-1,052) score per game or a tie through 27 games.
A 12-member roster lists seven seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores. The seniors are Clara Barron (5), Leah Bryce (13), Ragan Buhr (23), Indiana Jones (3), Makenzi Lunt (11), Emry Nelson (2), and Claire Palmer (1); juniors Taylor Henrie (33), Sarah Sampson (4), and Jaiden Wakefield (12); and sophomores Jocelyn Lunt (14) and Brinlee Skousen (10).
The Brandon Lunt-coached Eagles competed in the 7-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, along with the Tucson schools Empire Ravens, Palo Verde Magnet Titans, Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, Sabino Sabercats, and Tanque Verde Hawks.
3A No. 27 Safford (8-10 seeding, minus 0.7344 rating)
Safford (11-16 overall, 8-10 seeding, 4-2 region) averaged a 33-42 (889-1,131) score per game or a 9-point deficit through 27 games.
A 14-member roster has five seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Mika Durazo (2), Savannah Gonzales (10), Jazzlyn Mortensen (3), Cambree Reynolds (0), and Alexis Rope (20); juniors Makenna Macario (23), Leticia Ogas (1), Andrea Todd (5), and Lily Vise (4); sophomores Kailana Beck (12), Alecia Torres (15), and Sophia Vise (11); and freshmen Milee Carter (21) and Khloe Clark (25).
The Mia Carter-coached Bulldogs competed in the 7-member 3A South Region with the Thatcher Eagles, along with the Tucson schools Empire Ravens, Palo Verde Magnet Titans, Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, Sabino Sabercats, and Tanque Verde Hawks.
