Raymundo Frasquillo File Photo/Gila Herald: Top seed Pima captured its fifth Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney title, 53-42 over No. 2 Thatcher on Dec. 21. The Roughriders defeated No. 5 Saint David 49-23 in the semifinals and No. 8 Duncan 64-9 in the first round. Members of the team, not in order, were Kashlee Alder, Kelsi Brimhall, Ashlynn Chlarson, Madison Gann, Ady Hoopes, Lea Llamas, Kyli Mattice, Jaci McClain, Sadie Richardson, Jessica Schmidt, and Ella Wiltbank. The 2023 meet opens with Fort Thomas meeting Thatcher at 10 a.m.
Second time girls and boys meet held on the same days
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – The three-day 47th annual Eastern Arizona Girls Holiday Tourney gets underway in Guitteau Gymnasium on Wednesday, Dec. 27. It will be the first time the girls’ meet has started after Christmas, the second time it coincides with the boys meet on the same three days (1998), and the sixth time (1977, 1989, 1995, 2007, 2011, 2023) with a Wednesday-Friday duration.
The initial game pairs No. 4 seed Fort Thomas (9-5 overall) with No. 5 seed Thatcher (2-7) at 10 a.m., Game 3 has No. 2 seed Saint David (12-0) taking on No. 7 seed Morenci (5-5) at 1 p.m., Game 5 has No. 3 Miami (7-2) meeting No. 6 Safford (2-9) at 4:30 p.m., and Game 7 has No. 1 Pima (7-2) versus No. 8 Valley Union (7-8) at 7:30 p.m.
Day two has the loser of Game 1 (Fort Thomas – Thatcher) meeting the loser of Game 3 (Saint David – Morenci) at 8:30 a.m. and the loser of Game 5 (Miami – Safford) meeting the loser of Game 7 at11:30 a.m.
The semifinals have Game 1 – Game 3 winners meeting at 4:30 p.m. and the Game 5 – Game 7 winners meeting at 6 p.m.
Final round pairings on the third day decide seventh place at 8:30 a.m., fifth place at 3 p.m., third place at 11:30 a.m., and champion at 6 p.m.
Game 1: No. 4 Fort Thomas vs. No. 5 Thatcher, 10 a.m.
The Lee Haws-coached 2A Copper Region Fort Thomas Apaches (9-5 overall, 5-3 seeding, 0-0 region) are averaging a 47-36 (659-508) score per game or an 11-point margin. Meanwhile, the Elaina Estrada-coached 3A South Region Thatcher Eagles (2-7, 1-3, 0-0) have a 37-50 (332-452) average score per game or 13-point deficit per game.
Fort Thomas has a 12-member roster comprised of two seniors, seven sophomores, and three freshmen while Thatcher numbers 15 with five seniors, six juniors, and four sophomores.
Game 3: No. 2 Saint David vs. No. 7 Morenci, 1 p.m.
The Matt Brogan-coached 1A Tucson Southeast Region Saint David Tigers (12-0, 7-0, 0-0) are averaging a 52-27 (619-322) score per game or a 25-point margin. Meanwhile, the Albert Ortega-coached 2A East Region Morenci Wildcats (5-5, 4-2, 3-0) have a 38-43 (383-427) average score per game or a 5-point deficit.
The 11-member Tigers include four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman while the dozen Wildcats are four seniors, three juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen.
Game 5: No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6 Safford, 4:30 p.m.
The Crystal Pietila-coached 2A Valley Region Miami Vandals (7-2, 6-0, 2-0) are averaging a 69-37 (619-334) score per game or a 32-point margin per game. Meanwhile, the Kristin Baldwin-coached 3A South Region Safford Bulldogs (2-9, 0-6, 0-0) have a 37-52 (411-568) average score per game or 15-point deficit per game.
Miami’s 14-member squad has two seniors, seven juniors, a sophomore, and three freshmen while the Safford dozen include three seniors, a junior, four sophomores, and four freshmen.
Game 7: No. 1 Pima vs. No. 8 Valley Union, 7:30 p.m.
The Roy Corona-coached 2A East Region Pima Roughriders (7-2, 4-0, 3-0) are averaging a 52-32 (464-292) score per game or 20-point margin. Meanwhile, the William Hahn-coached 1A Tucson Southeast Region Valley Union Blue Devils (7-8, 5-4, 1-0) have a 29-33 (437-495) average score per game or 4-point deficit.
Pima has a roster including five seniors, four juniors, a sophomore, and a freshman while Valley Union is comprised of four seniors, three juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman.
46th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney capsule
Top seed Pima pulled away from second seed Thatcher 53-42 to capture the 46th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney title on Dec. 21, 2022. It was the ninth meeting of the top two seeds in the finale and the fifth straight win for the top seed in the most recent 13 tourneys (35th-46th). The second seed won eight times and the third seed once during the same 14-year (2008-2021, not held in 2020) span.
Pima reached the championship game with wins of 64-9 over eighth-seed Duncan in the first round and 49-23 over fifth-seed Saint David in the semifinals.
Thatcher advanced with a 71-25 first-round win over seventh-seed Morenci and a 46-21 semifinal win over sixth-seed Safford.
Saint David ran past Safford 56-24 for third place, fourth-seed Miami upset third-seed Fort Thomas 60-51 for fifth place, and Morenci pulled away from Duncan 49-30 for seventh place.
Safford (35-30 over Fort Thomas) and Saint David (61-52 over Miami) were the other first-round winners.
Advancing in the consolation round were Fort Thomas and Miami with wins of 67-43 over Morenci and 57-13 over Duncan, respectively.
The 2022 girl’s tourney was the 10th (1981, 1987, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2010) with a Monday start and Wednesday finish.
46th annual Eastern Arizona Holiday Girls All-Tourney Team
Meet champion Pima and runner-up Thatcher both landed three players on the 2022 honor team. Pima had Jayci McClain and Ella Wiltbank, as well as the most valuable player Ashlynn Chlarson. Thatcher had seniors Haley Nicholas and Ashlynn Thompson and junior Macey Carter.
Third place Saint David had juniors Anissa Jacquez and Mayla Trejo, fourth place Safford seniors Brianna Camarena and Lexi Lucas, fifth place Miami junior Layla Thompson, sixth place Fort Thomas senior Aleena Gilbert, seventh place Morenci senior Mia Ontiveros, and eighth place Duncan sophomore Emily Kempton.
Trejo contributed 59 points and averaged 19.7 points per game, Chlarson (54, 18.0), Nicholas (47, 15.7), Jacquez (45, 15.0), Layla Thompson (43, 14.3), Gilbert (41, 13.7), Ashlin Thompson (37, 12.3), McClain (36, 12.0), Wiltbank (33, 11.0), both Camarena and Ontiveros (30, 10.0), Lucas (23, 7.7), Carter (22, 7.3), and Kempton (20, 3.7).
Jacquez, Lucas, Nicholas, and Ashlyn Thompson were also on the 2021 team. Thompson was also on the 2019 team.
Championship: Pima – 53, Thatcher – 42
Pima junior Lea Llamas scored four seconds after the opening tip, Thatcher senior Hailey Nicholas tied it with a pair of free throws 14 seconds later, and Pima senior Ashlynn Chlarson cemented her bid for the most valuable player by adding the next 11 Roughriders points. The Eagles were unable to neutralize her during the rest of the game. Her game-high 29 points tied the offensive efforts of five others during the previous 45 meets and that of Fort Thomas senior Aleena Gilbert’s total two days prior.
Thatcher never led but fought back to trail by three, 13-16, following the first quarter. Pima went on a 16-3 second-quarter run with Chlarson adding half of the points. The Roughriders had a 2-to-1, 32-16, halftime advantage. The Eagles came within nine twice during the second half, 25-36 with 1:52 left in the third quarter and 37-46 with 3:10 left in the fourth quarter, but no closer.
Pima totaled 24 field goals (five 3-pointers) plus 0-5 free throws and Thatcher 13 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 13-23 free throws.
Chlarson’s offensive output was on 14 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 0-3 free throws and senior Jaci McClain had 11 on four field goals (one 3-pointer). Llamas added six points, sophomore Sadie Richardson three, and both junior Ella Wiltbank and sophomore Ady Hoopes two each.
For Thatcher, Nicholas had a team-high 14 points on three field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 7-8 free throws. Senior Ashlyn Thompson added nine points, junior Macey Carter eight, senior Jaiden Davis six, senior Makenzie Sweet four, and junior Emma Green one.
3rd Place: Saint David – 56, Safford – 24
Saint David junior Mayla Trejo scored from inside five seconds into the game (2-0), and from outside 1:25 later (5-0), and the Tigers led 9-0 before Safford seniors Lexi Lucas and Brianna Camarena scored 41 seconds apart. The 5-point deficit (4-9) would be the closest the Bulldogs would come during the rest of the game.
The Tigers led 13-4 after the opening quarter, 28-13 at halftime, and 38-17 heading into the fourth quarter. The designated home team enjoyed its biggest margin with 2:17 remaining, 54-22.
Saint David made 23 field goals (six 3-pointers) plus 4-5 free throws while Safford had 10 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 2-8 free throws.
Trejo tossed in a game-high 26 points on 11 field goals (four 3-pointers) and junior Anissa Jacquez 17 on seven field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-3 free throws. Freshman Emelynn Jacquez added seven points, and sophomore Gracey Crockett, junior Halee Deskins, and senior Taylee Jacquez two apiece.
For Safford, Camarena had 11 points on four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-3 free throws, and Lucas 10 on five field goals. Junior Camille Smith added two points and senior Brynzee Hansen one.
Trejo’s 26 points tied the offensive efforts of 11 previous participants scoring that amount. Her game-high 29 points during the first-round win over Miami tied five others from the prior 45 meets.
5th Place: Miami – 60, Fort Thomas – 51
Miami had a 7-0 advantage before Fort Thomas sophomore Jayla Wilson dialed long distance, getting the Apaches on the scoring column, with 2:35 elapsed in the game. The Apaches never led and the 4-point (3-7) deficit was the closest they would get. Miami led by as much as 16 (44-28) with 2:18 left in the third quarter, and the Apaches drew within seven (43-50) with 3:48 left to play, but no closer.
The Vandals led by eight (20-12) after a quarter, by seven (31-24) at halftime, and by 12 (44-32) heading onto the fourth quarter.
For the game, the Vandals connected on 21 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 15-20 free throws compared to 18 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 11-23 free throws by the Apaches. Miami had four starters contribute double-digit scoring compared to three by Fort Thomas.
Miami junior Layla Thompson netted 22 points on six field goals plus 10-12 free throws, sophomore Demetria Dosela 14 on six field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-2 free throws, sophomore Savannah Pietila 11 on four field goals plus 3-4 free throws, and sophomore Areiana Brown 10 on four field goals (two 3-pointers). Senior Alene Roberts added two points and sophomore Leeyah Goss one.
The Fort got 13 points from junior Tyesha Wilson on four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 3-4 free throws, 10 from senior Kenia McCabe on four field goals plus 2-5 free throws, and 10 from Jayla Wilson on four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 0-2 free throws. Freshman Kaylee Benally added six points, senior Aleena Gilbert five, freshman Makayla Chapman four, senior McKenna Rogers two, and senior Haleigh Kitcheyan one.
7th Place: Morenci – 49, Duncan – 30
Five different Wildcats accounted for a 15-9 third-quarter offensive effort, breaking a 13-13 halftime deadlock. It allowed Morenci to start the fourth quarter with a 28-22 advantage. The Wildcats had a 20-point (42-22) advantage by the time their southern Greenlee County opponent scored.
Three Duncan starters watched from the bench, seated with five fouls apiece, as 1-2 free throws went in with 3:51 left to play. Eighteen of the 20 free throws attempted by the Wildkats were in the fourth quarter. Eight went in.
Morenci led 5-4 following the opening quarter and Duncan had a 9-8 effort to tie at halftime.
For the game, Morenci connected on 19 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 8-20 free throws while Duncan made 10 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 9-20 free throws.
Senior Mia Ontiveros contributed 13 points on six field goals plus 1-2 free throws, senior Keirah Chee 11 on three field goals plus 5-10 free throws, and senior Cambri McCauley 10 on five field goals plus 0-2 free throws. Junior Elena Leonard added six points, and junior Ciantae Dosela, plus freshmen Adriana Carbajal and Rozlyn Funari three apiece.
For Duncan, junior Emily Kempton had nine points, senior Kaylee Kempton eight, freshman Brendy Paz five, senior Ariel Harrington and junior Aubrey Evans three each, and Camille Miller two.
Girls Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney Records
Beginning as a four-team, two-day meet with two games each day during the nation’s 1976 Bicentennial year, the ensuing 45 tourneys included eight teams with four games in three days. 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.
Three championship games have needed an extra period to decide the outcome. Safford topped Pima by six (52-46) in 1991 (16th), Thatcher slipped past Safford by five (47-42) in 2002 (27th), and Fort Thomas defeated Pima by five (60-55) in 2005 (30th).
Safford is 96-40 (.706) overall in 46 tourneys, playing only two games in the 1998 meet because the seventh place game was not held; Thatcher 93-44 (.679) in 46 tourneys; Pima 72-57 (.558) and Fort Thomas 62-67 (.481) in 43 tourneys, Morenci 60-65 (.480) in 42 tourneys, Miami 5-13 (.278) in six tourneys, and Saint David 3-3 (.500) in two tourneys.
Eleven other teams have also participated, Duncan 55-80 (.407) in 45 tourneys, Willcox 52-81 (.391) in 44 tourneys, shuttered Clifton 19-72 (.209) in 31 tourneys; New Mexico Cliff 9-6 (.600) in five tourneys; Globe and San Carlos both 5-1 (.833) and San Simon 1-5 (.167), each in two tourneys; and Ajo 1-2 (.333), Eagar Round Valley 1-2 (.333), New Mexico Bayard Cobre 1-2 (.333), and Tucson Green Fields Country Day School 0-3, in one tourney apiece.
Safford is 96-40 (.706) overall in 46 tourneys, playing only two games in the 1998 meet because the seventh place game was not held; Thatcher 93-44 (.679) in 46 tourneys; Duncan 55-80 (.407) in 45 tourneys; Pima 72-57 (.558) and Fort Thomas 62-67 (.481) in 43 tourneys, Morenci 60-65 (.480) in 42 tourneys, Miami 5-13 (.278) in six tourneys, and Saint David 3-3 (.500) in two tourneys.
Ten other teams have also participated, Willcox 52-81 (.391) in 44 tourneys, shuttered Clifton 19-72 (.209) in 31 tourneys; New Mexico Cliff 9-6 (.600) in five tourneys; Globe and San Carlos both 5-1 (.833) and San Simon 1-5 (.167), each in two tourneys; and Ajo 1-2 (.333), Eagar Round Valley 1-2 (.333), New Mexico Bayard Cobre 1-2 (.333), and Tucson Green Fields Country Day School 0-3, in one tourney apiece.
Safford is 16-9 in title games, won five in a row from 2014-18 (39th-43rd), three straight from 1983-85 (8th-10th), and winning back-to-back in 1990-91 (15th-16th), and once six times, in 1977 (2nd), in 1980 (5th), in 1994 (19th), in 1996 (21st), in 2009 (34th), in 2011 (36th); Thatcher 12-11 with the meet record for most consecutive title wins, seven from 1997-2003 (22nd-28th), back-to-back twice, in 1981-82 (6th-7th) and in 1997-98 (22nd-23rd), and once in 2010 (35th); Pima 5-8, winning back-to-back twice in 1992-93 (17th-18th) and in 2021-22 (45th, 46th), and once in 2008 (33rd); Morenci 3-6, winning in 1976 (1st), in 1978 (3rd), and in 2007 (32nd); Duncan 2-3, winning in 1995 (20th) and in 2012 (37th); and Fort Thomas 2-3, winning back-to-back in 2005-06 (30th-31st).
Six other finalists have six titles between them. Willcox is 3-2, winning back-to-back in 1988-89 (17th-18th, 4th); Globe (29th) and San Carlos (44th) are both 1-1; Cliff 1-0 (38th); and both Clifton and Round Valley 0-1 in the championship games.
The two most recent top seeds, Pima and San Carlos, both turned in 92-point scoring efforts in first-round pairings versus eighth seeds.
Pima tied the recently set single-game scoring total record with its 78-point, 92-14 win over Willcox in the 2021 game 4 (Dec. 18, 2021). The Roughriders made 41 field goals (six 3-pointers) plus 4-10 free throws.
San Carlos re-set the meet single-game scoring record with its 71-point, 92-21 win over Duncan in the 2019 game 2 (Dec. 12, 2019). The Braves made 37 field goals (eleven 3-pointers) plus 7-12 free throws.
The previous high was 91 points by top seed Thatcher against eighth seed Clifton during game four of the 25th tourney first round (Dec. 20, 2000). The Eagles ended with 40 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 10-13 free throws for a 61-point margin, 91-30.
Individually, Heaven Cosen became the third player to score 35 points in a game during the 2019 tourney, tying Pima’s Shari Lunt and Clifton’s Roberta Lopez.
Cosen tossed in 15 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 2-4 free throws against Duncan. It was during the first round of game two of the 44th tourney (Dec. 12, 2019). The Braves advanced to the semifinals.
Lunt connected on 13 field goals plus 9-14 free throws against Clifton. It was during the first round game 3 of the 11th tourney (Dec. 18, 1986). The Roughriders won 59-44.
Lopez made 13 field goals plus 9-17 free throws against Morenci. It was during the consolation round game 6 of the 13th tourney (Dec. 21, 1988). The Trojans prevailed 61-50.
Clifton’s Toni Navarrete scored 34 points against Morenci in a 61-43 losing effort during the 3rd place game of the 2nd tourney (Dec. 23, 1977); Shari Lunt and Jovita Titla (Fort Thomas) both tossed in 33 points, Lunt against Fort Thomas in a 47-45 3rd place win during the 11th tourney (Dec. 20, 1986) and Titla against Willcox in a round one 57-49 win during the 17th tourney (Dec. 21, 1992); 32 points were added by Morenci’s Stephanie Upton against Pima in a 70-20 round one win during the 4th tourney (Dec. 20, 1979), Lori Browning of Willcox in a 71-49 round one win over Safford during the 23rd tourney (Dec. 21, 1998), Marylita Moses of Fort Thomas in the 68-59 two overtimes loss to Willcox during the 25th tourney (Dec. 20, 2000), and Tori Davis of Willcox in the 67-60 5th place loss to Fort Thomas during the 26th tourney (Dec. 22, 2001); and Roberta Lopez twice scored 31 points during the 14th tourney, in a 58-48 round one loss to Morenci (Dec. 20, 1989) and in a 48-44 consolation round win over Duncan (Dec. 21, 1989).
Thirty points were netted by Dodo Chavez of Morenci in the 61-43 3rd place win over Clifton during the 2nd tourney (Dec. 23, 1977), Kim Mack of Thatcher in the 60-40 championship game win over Duncan during the 12th tourney (Dec. 23, 1987), and Shawn Coder of Willcox in the 44-30 championship game win over Thatcher during the 13th tourney (Dec. 22, 1988).
Maya Trejo of Saint David and Ashlynn Chlarson of Pima tied five others in scoring 29 points. Trejo made 11 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 3-3 free throws during a 62-51 first-round win over Miami (Dec. 19, 2022). Chlarson had 14 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 0-3 free throws during the 53-42 championship game win over Thatcher (Dec. 21, 2022).
Rhonda Pike of Fort Thomas single-handedly matched Clifton’s 29 points in a 43-29 consolation round win during the 6th tourney (Dec. 22, 1981); Michelle Castaneda of Clifton first matched that amount in a 53-14 consolation round win over Morenci during the 11th tourney (Dec. 19, 1986); Coder did twice, in a 60-44 round one win over Fort Thomas during the 12th tourney (Dec. 21, 1987) and in a 53-48 semifinal win over Pima during the 13th tourney (Dec. 21, 1988); and Cailee Huffman of Thatcher in a 51-43 3rd place win over Duncan during the 30th tourney (Dec. 21, 2005).
Aleena Gilbert of Fort Thomas dropped in 28 points against Morenci during the consolation round (Dec. 20, 2022), connecting on 13 field goals plus 2-2 free throws. She tied the offensive output of seven others.
Dodo Chavez first reached 28 points against Fort Thomas in a third tourney 71-15 first-round win (Dec. 28, 1978); tied by Thatcher’s Vicki Ward against Morenci in a 10th tourney 54-52 semifinal win (Dec. 20, 1985); Melba Moses of Fort Thomas against Pima in a 14th tourney 59-51 consolation round win (Dec. 21, 1989); Tori Davis of Willcox during the 25th tourney twice, against Clifton in a 53-14 consolation win (Dec. 19, 2000) and in a 68-59 two overtimes 5th place win (Dec. 20, 2000); by Deon Abalos of Safford against Thatcher in a 40th tourney 60-50 semifinal win (Dec. 19, 2015); and by Morenci’s Zenayah Cortez and Pima’s Sadie Allred, both during the final round (Dec. 21, 2021). Cortez made nine field goals plus 10-15 free throws in a 72-68 loss to Fort Thomas in the third-place game. Allred had seven field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 10-13 free throws in the 56-33 title game win over Thatcher (Dec. 21, 2021).
Jasmine Olivar of Fort Thomas made eight field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 8-10 free throws for 26 points in the third-place win over Morenci. It tied 10 others, the first being Dodo Chavez of Morenci in a 53-51 semifinal game loss to Eagar Round Valley during the 2nd tourney (Dec. 22, 1977). Clifton’s Martha Tellez tied a year later in a 55-20 game 3 win over Thatcher (Dec. 28, 1978) and Gayle Kirby of Willcox in a game 4 46-43 loss to Round Valley both in round one of the 3rd tourney.
Kim Sharp of Thatcher also tossed in 26 points against Fort Thomas in a 16th tourney 60-45 third place win (Dec. 21, 1991); Sarah Nickasch of Willcox against Safford in a 20th tourney 60-49 consolation loss (Dec. 21, 1995); Vanna Moses of Fort Thomas twice against Duncan during the 30th tourney, in a 62-58 team third game loss (Dec. 19, 2005) and in a 63-56 semifinal win (Dec. 20, 2005); Shayla Tipton of Duncan against Thatcher in a 31st tourney 53-44 round one win (Dec. 19, 2006); Lena Moses of Fort Thomas against Safford in a 32nd tourney 63-44 round one loss (Dec. 19, 2007); and Kindra Holiday of Miami against Morenci in a 35th tourney 61-45 seventh place loss (Dec. 22, 2010).
Ashley Sherwood of Pima matched 13 others with her 25 game 4 points, most recently teammate Sadie Allred’s semifinal game output against Thatcher in the 44th tourney (Dec. 13, 2019). Sherwood connected on 12 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 0-2 free throws. The first to score 25 points was Lisa Moses of Fort Thomas against Round Valley in a 51-38 round one loss during the 2nd tourney (Dec. 21, 1977).
