Roughriders host quarterfinal on Friday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
GRAHAM COUNTY – Three Graham County boys’ basketball teams remain in the hunt for a state title. Each joins the respective class tourneys following the Copper (1A/3A Open) tourney losses.
The 1A top seed Fort Thomas Apaches (19-0 seeding, 16.1782 rating) hosts No. 16 Flagstaff Basis (11-6, minus 5.1886) and 3A No. 5 Thatcher (14-3, 15.1834) hosts No. 12 Florence (11-7, 8.8683) on Tuesday, Feb. 17 while the 2A top ranked Pima Roughriders (15-3 seeding, 16.5213 rating) host a quarterfinal round game on Friday, Feb. 20.
This week (Feb. 16-21):
1A Round 1 (Feb. 17)
The 1A Round 1 has Nos. 1-8 hosting the Play-In winners on Feb. 17. The upper bracket pairings have No. 1 Fort Thomas (19-0 seeding, 16.1782 rating) hosting No. 16 Flagstaff Basis (11-6, minus 5.1886), No. 8 Rock Point (13-5, minus 1.8167) hosting No. 9 Heber Mogollon (10-7 seeding, 1.5650 rating), No. 5 Joseph City (14-5, 6.8836) hosting No. 12 Dishchii’bikoh (12-6, 0.8102), and No. 4 Tucson’s The Gregory School (13-5, 7.0759) hosting No. 13 Kearny Ray (12-6, minus 2.9532).
The lower bracket has No. 3 Williams (15-2, 8.3484) hosting No. 14 Wellton Antelope Union (11-3, minus 3.4144), No. 6 Bagdad (18-1, 2.9280) hosting No. 11 Phoenix Great Hearts Anthem (13-3, 0.9942), No. 7 Phoenix Valley Lutheran (12-6, 2.7984) hosting No. 10 Saint David (11-6, 1.5270), and No. 2 Winkelman Hayden (16-2, 9.7936) hosting No. 15 Sells Baboquivari (9-8, minus 3.8936).
The winners advance to the quarterfinals on Feb. 20. The semifinals are at Goodyear Millennium on Feb. 21, and the championship in the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 27.
Copper No. 7 / 1A No. 1 Fort Thomas (19-0 seeding, 16.1498 rating)
Fort Thomas (29-5 overall, 19-0 seeding, 7-0 region) is averaging a 74-53 (2,510-1,794) score per game or a 21-point margin through 34 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.
1A Play-in Round (Feb. 13)
The 1A Play-in Round participants included teams ranked Nos. 9-24, with all games played on Feb. 13. One upset was recorded, a lower seed defeating the higher seed.
Pairing results were No. 9 Heber Mogollon (10-7 seeding, 1.5650 rating) over No. 24 Duncan (7-12, minus 8.5154) 74-60, No. 10 Saint David (11-6, 1.5270) over No. 23 Peach Springs Music Mountain (9-8, minus 7.9423) 71-34, No. 11 Phoenix Great Hearts Anthem (13-3, 0.9942) over No. 22 Patagonia (9-8, minus 7.4405) 59-52, and No. 12 Dishchii’bikoh (12-6, 0.8102) over No. 21 Seligman (10-7, minus 6.6625) 63-52.
It was also No. 13 Kearny Ray (12-6, minus 2.9532) over No. 20 Saint Michael (9-9, minus 6.5746) 83-71, No. 14 Wellton Antelope Union (11-3, minus 3.4144) over No. 19 Teec Nos Pos Red Mesa (11-7, minus 6.4344) 55-48, No. 15 Sells Baboquivari (9-8, minus 3.8936) over No. 18 Colorado City El Capitan (9-7, minus 5.6638) 62-60, and No. 17 Flagstaff Basis (11-6, minus 5.1886) over No. 16 Scottsdale Cicero Prep (6-11, minus 4.2647) 57-55.
This week (Feb. 16-21):
2A Round 1 (Feb. 17)
The 2A state tourney Round 1 takes place on Feb. 17. The teams were re-ranked after the Copper (1A/3A Open) tourney quarterfinals, with advances by Gilbert San Tan Charter and Phoenix Country Day School, along with losses by Pima, Phoenix North Valley Christian, and Scottsdale Christian.
Upper bracket pairings have No. 1 Pima (15-3 seeding, 16.5213 rating) with a bye, No. 8 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (12-5, 8.5283) hosting No. 9 Saint Johns (14-4, 8.2811), No. 5 Fountain Hills (13-5, 11.8654) hosting No. 12 Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (14-5, 7.2912), and No. 4 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (14-4, 13.2081) hosting No. 13 Phoenix Christian (9-8, 6.6239).
The lower bracket has No. 3 Scottsdale Christian (14-4, 14.7650) with a bye, No. 6 Glendale Prep (13-5, 9.8273) hosting No. 11 Phoenix Veritas Prep (13-5, 7.5425), No. 7 San Carlos (11-6, 9.1119) hosting No. 10 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (10-8, 7.8213), and No. 2 Phoenix North Valley Christian (16-2, 15.3555) with a bye.
The quarterfinals are at the higher seeds on Feb. 20, while both the semifinals (Feb. 26) and the championship in the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum (Feb. 28).
Copper No. 6 / 2A No. 1 Pima Roughriders (15-3 seeding, 16.5213 rating)
Pima (25-6 overall, 15-3 seeding, 7-1 region) is averaging a 65-45 (2,026-1,397) score per game or a 20-point margin through 31 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 competed 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.
2A Play-in Round (Feb. 13)
The 2A Play-in Round participants included teams ranked Nos. 7-24, with all games played on Feb. 13. Morenci made the field and bumped out No. 24 Camp Verde (6-12, 0.9694) via a region second-place finish. One upset was recorded.
Results were No. 7 Fountain Hills (13-5 seeding, 11.8654 rating) over No. 24 Morenci (9-9, minus 0.2807) 76-55, No. 8 Glendale Prep (13-5, 9.8273) over No. 23 Avondale Highland Prep West (8-8, 2.0927) 48-46, No. 9 San Carlos (11-6, 9.1119) over No. 22 Chandler Lincoln Prep (10-8, 2.1593) 63-54, No. 10 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (12-5, 8.5283) over No. 21 Benson (11-7, 2762), and No. 11 Saint Johns (14-4, 8.2811) over No. 20 Willcox (13-5, 2.8273) 67-49.
Other results included No. 12 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (10-8, 7.8213) over No. 19 Eagar Round Valley (12-7, 5.0342) 63-42, No. 13 Phoenix Veritas Prep (13-5, 7.5425) over No. 18 Flagstaff Northland Prep (11-6, 5.3410) 64-34, No. 14 Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (14-5, 7.2912) over No. 17 Phoenix Horizon Honors (11-7, 6.5861) 60-51, and No. 16 Phoenix Christian (9-8, 6.6239) over No. 15 Gilbert Classical (13-4, 7.1680) 66-56.
This week (Feb. 16-21):
3A Round 1 (Feb. 17)
The 3A state tourney Round 1 pairings are set with the Top 16 teams based on advancements and losses from the Copper (1A/3A Open) meet. The affected teams included Tucson Palo Verde Magnet, Payson, Coolidge, Thatcher, and Chinle.
Round 1 pairings are No. 1 Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (16-2 seeding, 18.4906 rating) with a bye, No. 8 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (14-4, 12.2334) hosting No. 9 hosting Gilbert Christian (10-8, 12.0291), No. 5 Thatcher (14-3, 15.1834) hosting No. 12 No. 12 Florence (11-7, 8.8683), and No. 4 Chandler Seton Catholic Prep (14-4, 15.5681) hosting No. 13 Mohave Valley River Valley (16-2, 8.5262) in the upper bracket.
Lower bracket pairings have No. 3 Coolidge (14-5, 15.8211) hosting No. 14 Winslow (11-7, 8.3368), No. 6 Chinle (14-4, 14.0481) hosting No. 11 Yuma Catholic (12-6, 10.6103), No. 7 Holbrook (13-4, 13.1395) hosting No. 10 Snowflake (10-7, 10.9519), and No. 2 Payson (14-5, 16.0987) hosting No. 15 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (12-7, 6.5430).
The quarterfinals are on Feb. 20 at the higher seeds. The semifinals (Feb. 27) and championship (Feb. 28) are both in the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum.
Copper No. 7 / 3A No. 5 Thatcher Eagles (14-3 seeding, 15.1834)
Thatcher (20-8 overall, 14-3 seeding, 7-1 region) is averaging a 65-56 (1,833-1,557) score per game or a 9-point margin through 28 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.
3A Pool Play Round (Feb. 13)
The 3A Pool Play Round participants include teams ranked Nos. 10-25, all games were played on Feb. 13 with one upset. The Top 9 teams participated in the Open meet and had the option to join the 3A First Round.
Pool Play results included No. 10 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (14-4 seeding, 12.2334 rating) over No. 25 Phoenix Northwest Christian (6-12, 1.8425) 55-37, No. 11 Gilbert Christian (10-8, 12.0291) over No. 24 Parker (11-7, 2.4243) 72-38, No. 12 Snowflake (10-7, 10.9519) over No. 23 Tuba City (11-7, 4.5083) 65-46, and No. 13 Yuma Catholic (12-6, 10.6103) over No. 22 Tucson Sabino (11-8, 4.9497) 58-43.
The other results were No. 14 Florence (11-7, 8.8683) over No. 21 Safford (10-8, 5.5947) 78-57, No. 15 Mohave Valley River Valley (16-2, 8.5262) over No. 20 Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (8-10, 6.2754) 73-71, No. 19 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (12-7, 6.5430) over No. 16 Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (12-7, 8.3833) 79-77 in overtime, and No. 17 Winslow (11-7, 8.3368) over No. 18 Whiteriver Alchesay (11-7, 8.3225) 55-51.
1A No. 24 Duncan (7-12 seeding, minus 8.4897 rating)
Duncan (9-15 overall, 7-12 seeding, 2-5 region) averaged a 45-49 (1,088-1,176) score per game or a 4-point deficit through 24 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.
2A No. 20 Willcox Cowboys (13-5 seeding, 2.8273 rating)
Willcox (20-7 overall, 13-5 seeding, 7-1 region) is averaging a 58-50 (1,557-1,354) score per game or an 8-point margin through 27 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. 25 Morenci Wildcats (9-9 seeding, minus 0.2807 rating)
Morenci (13-17 overall, 9-9 seeding, 7-1 region) is averaging a 59-61 (1,780-1,843) score per game or a 2-point deficit through 30 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.
3A No. 21 Safford Bulldogs (10-8 seeding, 5.5947 rating)
Safford (14-15 overall, 10-8 seeding, 5-3 region) is averaging a 60-63 (1,748-1,824) score per game or a 3-point deficit through 29 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.
