Apaches end rival’s season in Round 1 of state playoffs

Steve Carter Photo/Special to the Gila Herald: Tyesha Wilson (14) drives on Kelsey Lane (1) in the opening round of the 1A Girls State Championship

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

FORT THOMAS – Jerry Hancock Gymnasium in Fort Thomas was jumping Tuesday night as a capacity house cheered the Apaches to a Round 1 victory of the 1A Girls State playoffs over the Dishchii’bikoh Wildcats, 56-38.

The Fort (8-2 1A Copper, 26-6 overall) have won seven in a row and hope to make it an even 10 and bring home the state championship on Feb. 18. The Apaches will next have to get through the No. 4 Williams Vikings, however. The game will be at Fort Thomas on Friday, Feb. 10, starting at 5:30 p.m. Click here to purchase tickets from Go Fan.

Williams (10-0 1A Canyon, 21-6 overall) made it into the quarterfinals by defeating the Red Mesa Redskins, 51-42. 

Fort Thomas 56 – Dishchii’bikoh 38

Steve Carter Photo/Special to the Gila Herald: Raeleigh Hawkins drives the lane for 2 of her 6 points.

Tyesha Wilson continued her post-season dominance and led The Fort with 18 points through consistent scoring throughout the game. 

But early on, it was Kaylee Benally who went for all 7 of her points in the first period to help pace the Apaches to a 16-9 opening lead. 

Fort Thomas then stretched that lead in the second as Wilson went off and the Apaches doubled up the Wildcats by halftime, 33-16. 

Steve Carter Photo/Special to the Gila Herald: Alleenna Gilbert attacks the rim. Gilbert finished with 10 points.

The third period was a repeat of the second except with McKenna Rogers (7 points) popping off. The Fort kept its lead double the Wildcats’ points for pretty much the rest of the game as Allena Gilbert (10 points) scored in every period, and the Apaches were up 49-27 with 5:26 left to play, and the bench was soon emptied.

Other scorers for Fort Thomas included Raeleigh Hawkins with 6, Shoogie Bryce with 4, and Haleigh Kitcheyan and Jayla Wilson with 2 points each.    

The starters cheered as the reserves enjoyed their playoff time and The Fort finished off Dishchii’bikoh, 56-38. 

Kelsey Lane and Candace Hooke led the Wildcats with 7 points each.

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