Wildcats face Yellow Jackets for third time
By Raymundo Frasquillo
WILLCOX – The No. 13 Willcox Cowgirls (14-4 seeding, 7.3013 rating) host No. 18 Gilbert Leading Edge (9-7, 4.5165) for the 2A Play-in Round on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Pima (13-5, 11.9814) welcomes No. 24 Chandler Lincoln Prep (9-9, 1.1588) as No. 7 and No. 22 Morenci (9-8, 1.3641) heads to the ‘Town too tough to die,’ facing No. 9 Tombstone (15-2, 10.2399) for a third time. Tip-off for the three games is 7 p.m.
The 1A-3A Copper (open) tourney Round One had 2A No. 1 Phoenix Country Day School (16-2 seeding, 21.3309 rating) defeating No. 4 Fountain Hills (15-2, 13.8920) 57-32 as No. 2 versus as No. 15, No. 2 Miami (18-0, 20.1981) defeating 3A No. 9 Chandler Valley Christian (15-3, 15.1069) 72-40 as No. 4 versus No. 13,No. 3 San Carlos (16-2, 17.1392) defeating 3A No. 7 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (14-2, 16.1897) 58-52 as No. 7 versus No. 10, and 3A No. 1 Chinle (18-0, 26.8273) defeating No. 5 Saint Johns (15-3, 13.4835) 40-29 as No. 1 versus No. 16 on Feb. 11.
Surviving 2A entrants advanced to the quarterfinals, pairing Miami with 3A No. 3 Page (11-6, 18.5260) as No. 4 versus No. 5 and Phoenix Country Day with San Carlos as No. 2 versus No. 7 on Feb. 13.
The other Copper quarterfinalists, 3A No. 5 Tuba City (10-6, 17.0043) faces Chinle as No. 8 versus No. 1 and No. 6 Show Low (14-5, 17.4455) meets No. 2 Snowflake (16-3, 21.2021) as No. 6 versus No. 3.
2A State Play-in Round
The Play-in Round at the higher seed on Feb. 13 has No. 6 Glendale Prep (14-4 seeding, 12.6478 rating) hosting No. 25 Phoenix Christian (16-2, 21.3309) at 7 p.m., No. 8 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (13-5, 11.8636) hosting No. 23 Phoenix North Valley Christian (10-7, 1.2728) at 7 p.m., and No. 10 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (13-4, 8. 0679) hosts No. 21 Gilbert Classical (11-7, 1.6207) at 5 p.m.
Kingman Academy (14-3, 8.7726) hosts No. 20 Sanders Valley (10-8, 4.0074) as No. 11 at 7 p.m., No. 12 Scottsdale Prep (14-3, 8.6750) hosts No. 19 Benson (11-6, 4.1839) at 7 p.m., No. 14 Phoenix Horizon Honors (11-8, 6.7411) hosts No. 17 Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep (10-7, 4.7126) at 6 p.m., and No. 15 Eagar Round Valley (12-6, 6.6386) host No. 16 Many Farms (11-6, 4.9875) at 7 p.m.
2A Final State Rankings
The 2A final state rankings were Phoenix Country Day (16-2 seeding, 21.3309 rating) No. 1, Miami (18-0, 20.1981) No. 2, San Carlos (16-2, 17.1392) No. 3, Fountain Hills (15-2, 13.8920) No. 4, Saint Johns (15-3, 13.4835) No. 5, Glendale Prep (14-4, 12.6478) No. 6, Pima (13-5, 11.9814) No. 7, and Arizona Lutheran (13-5, 11.8636) No. 8,
Tombstone (15-2, 10.2399) was No. 9, Mohave Accelerated (13-4, 8. 0679) No. 10, Kingman Academy (14-3, 8.7726) No. 11, Scottsdale Prep (14-3, 8.6750) No. 12, Willcox (14-4, 7.3013) No. 13, Horizon Honors (11-8, 6.7411) No. 14, Round Valley (12-6, 6.6386) No. 15, and Many Farms (11-6, 4.9875) No. 16.
Rancho Solano Prep (10-7, 4.7126) was No. 17, Leading Edge (9-7, 4.5165) No. 18, Benson (11-6, 4.1839) No. 19, Sanders Valley (10-8, 4.0074) No. 20, Gilbert Classical (11-7, 1.6207) No. 21, Morenci (9-8, 1.3641) No. 22, Phoenix North Valley Christian (10-7, 1.2728) No. 23, and Lincoln Prep (9-9, 1.1588) No. 24.
The initial rankings on Jan. 14 had Phoenix Country Day (9-1 seeding, 21.8916 rating) was No. 1, Miami (9-0, 19.5826) No. 2, Pima (8-0, 18.0622) No. 3, San Carlos (10-0, 17.7705) No. 4, Tombstone (9-1, 16.0795) No. 5, Saint Johns (8-1, 14.2279) No. 6, Fountain Hills (6-2, 13.0688) No. 7, Arizona Lutheran (6-2, 13.0024) No. 8, Scottsdale Prep (7-2, 9.3257) No. 9, Horizon Honors (5-5, 8.0484) No. 10, Mohave Accelerated (8-3, 8.0249) No. 11, Willcox (7-2, 7.6845) No. 12, Many Farms (8-2, 7.4086) No. 13, Kingman Academy (7-2, 7.3267) No. 14, Glendale Prep (5-4, 7.1340) No. 15, Round Valley (7-3, 7.0496) No. 16, Rancho Solano Prep (7-3, 6.4483) No. 17, Leading Edge (5-3, 6.3091) No. 18, North Valley Christian (6-3, 5.2425) No. 19, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (6-2, 4.8895) No. 20, Gilbert Classical (6-2, 3.1964) No. 21, Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (6-3, 2.4776) No. 22, Morenci (5-4, 2.2950) No. 23, and Phoenix Christian (6-4, 2.0609) No. 24.
The final state rankings for the other five South Region teams were Saint Augustine (10-7, minus 0.3258) No. 27, Bisbee (9-7, minus 0.6911) No. 29, Tucson Desert Christian (7-11, minus 6.2767) No. 35, Tucson Santa Rita (3-14, minus 14.9282) No. 41, and Tucson San Miguel Catholic (0-14, minus 25.1787) No. 49.
During the initial rankings, Benson (4-5, 0.8754) was No. 28, Bisbee (4-5, minus 0.7812) No. 32, Desert Christian (3-5, 3.9544) No. 36, Santa Rita (3-6, minus 9.9235) No. 39, and San Miguel (0-18, minus 24.5945) No. 49.
2A South Region Final Standings
The South Region final standing were Tombstone (23-5 overall, 15-2 seeding, 7-1 region) first, Willcox (20-8, 14-4, 6-2) second, Benson (18-10, 11-6, 5-3) third, Bisbee (14-10, 9-7, 5-3) fourth, Morenci (12-16, 9-8, 5-3) fifth, Saint Augustine (14-12, 10-7, 4-4) sixth, Desert Christian (10-15, 7-11, 3-5) seventh, Santa Rita (3-14, 3-14, 1-7) eight, and San Miguel (0-18, 0-18, 0-8) ninth.
The region wins were Tombstone over Desert Christian (53-15, Jan. 7), Bisbee (58-47, Jan. 9), Benson (53-48, Jan. 10), San Miguel (78-9, Jan. 21), Santa Rita (69-13, Jan. 28), Morenci (56-45, Jan. 30), and Saint Augustine (61-32, Feb. 5); Willcox over Benson (50-47, Jan. 7), Saint Augustine (54-40, Jan. 9), Tombstone (54-47, Jan. 24), San Miguel (73-15, Jan. 28), Desert Christian (45-10, Jan. 30), and Santa Rita (53-19, Feb. 6); Benson over Santa Rita (60-11, Jan. 16), Saint Augustine (62-30, Jan. 21), Bisbee (49-15, Jan. 23), San Miguel (69-22, Jan. 30), and Desert Christian (48-30, Feb. 6); Bisbee over Desert Christian (42-40, Dec. 19), Willcox (41-40, Jan. 16), Santa Rita (54-22, Jan. 21), San Miguel (70-10, Feb. 3), and Morenci (44-38, Feb. 6); Morenci over San Miguel (80-18, Jan. 7), Desert Christian (41-21, Jan. 21), Willcox (45-38, Jan. 23), Benson (45-37, Jan. 28), and Santa Rita (55-17, Feb. 3); Saint Augustine over Santa Rita (52-26, Jan. 7), Morenci (55-41, Jan. 16), San Miguel (77-18, Jan. 23), and Bisbee (43-42, Jan. 30); Desert Christian over San Miguel (48-16, Jan. 15), Santa Rita (49-11, Jan. 23), and Saint Augustine (39-33, Feb. 3); and Santa Rita over San Miguel (55-10, Jan. 9).
2A East Region Final Standings
The final East Region standings were Miami (18-0 seeding, 8-0 region) first, San Carlos (16-2, 7-1) second, Pima (13-5, 6-2) third, Leading Edge (13-5, 5-3) fourth, Lincoln Prep (9-9, 4-4) fifth, Gilbert Classical (11-7, 3-5) sixth, Arete Prep (10-8, 2-6) seventh, Chandler Prep (3-15, 1-7) eighth, and San Tan Charter (1-15, 0-8)ninth.
No. 7 Pima Roughriders (19–8)
Pima (19-8 overall, 13-5 seeding, 6-2 2A East Region) is averaging a score of 54-26 (972-461) per seeding game or a 28-point margin. The Roy Corona-coached Roughriders had seeding wins over Benson (59-25, Dec. 3), Eagar Round Valley (52-22, Dec. 7), Lakeside Blue Ridge (46-18, Dec. 9), Safford (61-15, Dec. 17), Scottsdale Christian (78-6, Jan. 7), Morenci (51-17, Jan. 9), Chandler Prep (46-16, Jan. 10), Arete Prep (64-6), Thatcher (50-26, Jan. 15), Leading Edge (62-32, Jan. 16), Gilbert Classical (61-13, Jan. 21), Lincoln Prep (61-11, Jan. 28), and San Tan Charter (72-11) along with losses to Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (47-49, Jan. 18), Miami (42-61, Jan. 24), Arizona Lutheran (36-37, Jan. 25), San Carlos (40-49, Jan. 31), and New Mexico Silver (44-47, Feb. 1).
Additionally, the Roughriders went 4-1 during the 3-day 48th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament and 2-2 during the 3-day Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney.
Pima topped Globe (87-7, Dec. 19), El Mirage Dysart (55-29, Dec. 19), Thatcher (55-33, Dec. 20), Saint David (80-20, Dec. 20), Chandler Arizona College Prep (39-31, Jan. 2) and Glendale Deer Valley (54-47, Jan. 3). The losses were to Snowflake (27-32, Dec. 21), Queen Creek Casteel (29-41, Jan. 3), and Mesa Red Mountain (33-51, Jan. 4). The Roughriders are averaging an overall score of 53-30 (1,431-822) per game or a 23-point margin.
The Roughriders have an 11-member team of five seniors, two juniors, and four sophomores. The roster includes seniors Kashlee Alder (11), Kelsi Brimhall (23), Adyson Hoopes (43), Kennedy Minors (21), and Sadie Richardson (22); juniors Macy Allred (12) and Alana Apodaca (25); and sophomores Cheyanne Alder (5), Hanna Ashby (14), Page Ashby (30), and Morgan Russell (42).
Pima competed in the 9-member 2A East Region with the Miami Vandals, the San Carlos Braves, the Chandler Prep Titans, the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning along with Gilbert schools Arete Prep Chargers, the Gilbert Classical Spartans, the Leading Edge Spartans, and the Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners,
No. 13 Willcox Cowgirls (20-8)
Willcox (20-8 overall, 14-4 seeding, 6-2 2A South Region) is averaging a score of 54-34 (967-607) per seeding game or a 20-point margin. The Susie Pritchard-coached Cowgirls have seeding wins over Tucson Catalina (54-18, Dec. 3), Bisbee (50-26, Dec. 6), Tucson Empire (70-14, Dec. 9), Safford (63-41, Dec. 10), Benson (50-47, Jan. 7), Saint Augustine (54-40, Jan. 9), Tombstone (42-40, Jan. 14), Globe (72-42, Jan. 21), Tombstone (54-47, Jan. 24), San Miguel (73-15, Jan. 28), Desert Christian (45-10, Jan. 30), Duncan (49-36, Feb. 3), Patagonia (55-17, Feb. 4), and Santa Rita (53-19, Feb. 6) while the losses are to Morenci (43-46, Jan. 10), Saint David (62-63, Jan. 13), Bisbee (40-41, Jan. 16), and Morenci (38-45, Jan. 23).
In addition, the Cowgirls went 4-1 during the 3-day Gregory School tourney and 2-3 during the 3-day Phoenix South Mountain tourney. The wins were over Bisbee (39-33, Nov. 25), The Gregory School (46-32, Nov. 25), Tucson Desert View (40-26, Nov. 26), Desert Christian (50-19, Nov. 26), Scottsdale Coronado (75-21, Dec. 27), and Queen Creek (56-40, Dec. 27). The losses were to Tombstone (45-55, Nov. 27), Laveen Cesar Chavez (31-77, Dec. 26), Anthem Boulder Creek (39-46, Dec. 28), and Phoenix North (39-72, Dec. 28). The Cowgirls are averaging an overall score of 50-38 (1,388-1,067) per game or a 12-point margin.
Willcox has a 10-member team of four seniors, three juniors, one sophomore, and two freshmen. The roster includes seniors Maddie Bennett (14), Jesmin Ceballos (2), Darlene Cecena (1), and Gabriela Galaz (15); juniors Addison Burright (11), Kennedy Ebert (5), and Darielys Ruiz (3); sophomore Paislee Adams (13); and freshmen Annel Arredondo (4) and Taytum Defeo (10).
The Cowgirls are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Morenci, Tombstone, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
No. 9 Tombstone Yellow Jackets (23–5)
Tombstone (23-5 overall, 15-2 seeding, 7-1 2A South Region) is averaging a score of 52-32 (625-382) per seeding game or a 20-point margin. The Thomas Valenzuela -coached Yellow Jackets have seeding wins over Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (60-34, Dec. 2), Desert Christian (51-17, Dec. 3), Saint David (42-34, Dec. 6), Bisbee (40-31, Dec. 9), Morenci (40-31, Dec. 16), Elfrida Valley Union (58-20, Dec. 17), Desert Christian (53-15, Jan. 7), Bisbee (58-47, Jan. 9), Benson (58-48, Jan. 10), San Miguel (78-9, Jan. 21), Patagonia (49-5, Jan. 27), Santa Rita (69-13, Jan. 28), Morenci (56-45, Jan. 30), Valley Union (44-17, Feb. 3), and Saint Augustine (61-32, Feb. 5) along with losses to Willcox (40-42, Jan. 14) and Willcox (47-54, Jan. 24).
Additionally, the Yellow Jackets went 4-1 during The Gregory School 3-day tourney and 4-2 during the 3-dayBenson tourney. The wins were over San Simon (35-29, Nov. 25), Saint Augustine (66-21, Nov. 25), Patagonia(68-14, Nov. 26), Willcox (55-45, Nov. 27), Florence (38-30, Dec. 12), Valley Union (38-29, Dec. 13) while the losses were to Joseph City (35-57, Nov. 27) and Benson (50-53, Dec. 13). Tombstone is averaging an overall score of 51-33 (1,010-660) per game or an 18-point margin.
Tombstone has an 11-member team with six seniors, three juniors, and two freshmen. The roster includes
seniors Jessa Maldonado (1), Brooklyn Penrose (13), Emma Rivera (23), Briella Schuller (21), Ed’JerricaSpencer (2), and Rachel Thursby (22); juniors Arabella Alvarez (24), Lily Garcia (14), and Espi Lepley (15); and freshmen Damaris Alvarez (11) and Breia Keift (5).
The Yellow Jackets are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Morenci, Willcox, and Tucson schools Saint Augustine Catholic, Desert Christian, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
No. 22 Morenci Wildcats (12-16)
Morenci (12-16 overall, 9-8 seeding, 5-3 2A South Region) is averaging a score of 42-39 (716-658) per seeding game or a 3-point margin. The Albert Ortega-coached Wildcats have seeding wins over Santa Rita (65-14, Dec. 2), Empire (68-17, Dec. 5), Thatcher (48-42, Dec. 9), San Miguel (80-18, Jan. 7), Willcox (46-43, Jan. 10), Desert Christian (41-21, Jan. 21), Willcox (45-38, Jan. 23), Benson (45-37, Jan. 28), Santa Rita (55-17, Feb. 3) while the losses are to Tombstone (31-40, Dec. 16), San Carlos (15-57, Dec. 17), Pima (17-51, Jan. 9), Round Valley (25-49, Jan. 13), Saint Augustine (41-55, Jan. 16), Saint Johns (11-63, Jan. 18), Tombstone (45-56, Jan. 30), and Bisbee (38-44, Feb. 6).
In addition, the Wildcats went 1-4 during the 3-day Eagar Round Valley tourney and 2-3 during the 3-day 48th Eastern Arizona Holiday tourney. The wins were recorded over Dishchii’bikoh (58-45, Dec. 13), Empire (59-25, Dec. 19), and Peoria Centennial (43-33, Dec. 21). The losses were to Whiteriver Alchesay (25-60, Dec. 12), Saint Johns (24-58, Dec. 12), Sanders Valley (57-60, Dec. 12), Manny Farms (27-52, Dec. 14), Fort Thomas (16-66, Dec. 19), Saint David (40-55, Dec. 20), and Thatcher (25-55, Dec. 20). Morenci is averaging an overall score of 39-42 (1,090-1,171) per game or a 3-point deficit.
Morenci has a 13-member team of four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores, and five freshmen. The roster includes seniors Arianna Burnette (11), Talia McCabe (12), Tayah Wilkes (4), and Jayla Wilson (33); juniors Adriana Carbajal (5) and Rozlyn Funari (10); sophomores Tiara Jones (20) and Mayeli Salazar (13); and freshmen Arwa Abdulqadar (2), Jaylianna Guzzo (1), Khloee Kouts (14), Aiyanna Merino (24), and Arisela Salazar (30).
The Wildcats competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
