Duncan basketball girls post 5-6 record for January

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Duncan sophomore Kiley McGrath (20) and Chelsea Boyd-Flores (1) of Ray go after a first-half loose ball. The Bearcats left Duncan with a region win Jan. 25. The Wildkats close out their home slate with Tucson Immaculate Heart on Feb. 1.

By Raymundo Frasquillo

DUNCAN – The Eric Bejarano-coached Duncan girls’ basketball team has its final home game Feb. 1. The No. 21 Wildkats (7-10 seeding, minus 5.5038 rating) welcome No, 27 Tucson Immaculate Heart (6-19, minus 8.2312), a team handing them a 22-30 loss on Jan. 15.

Fort Thomas (7-0) is first in the 1A East Region, Arete Prep (6-1) second, Ray (4-3) third, Cibecue (4-2) fourth, Duncan (3-4) fifth, Hayden (3-4) sixth, NFL Yet (1-6) seventh and Superior (0-7) eighth.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Head coach Eric Bejarano points out a defensive assignment as assistant coach Burgandy Sexton looks on.

The only region contest remaining is Hayden at Cibecue Feb. 1.

Fort Thomas will host the region tourney on Tuesday, Feb. 4 and Friday, Feb. 7. The top two finishers qualify for the state meet.

The top 16 teams will make up the state tourney field. A play-in round at the higher seed is on Feb. 15. The eight winners meet for the quarterfinals on Feb. 21, with semifinals on Feb. 22 and the championship on Feb. 22.

Having started at No. 24 (2-4, minus 4.3019) in the initial Jan. 7 rankings, Duncan was ranked 21st of 35 1A teams on Jan. 31. Fort Thomas was No. 7 (13-4, 7.6220), Arete Prep No. 12 (13-4, minus 0.0061), Kearny Ray No. 13 (9-7, minus 0.0437), Cibecue No. 17 (8-7, minus 1.19353), Winkelman Hayden No. 19 (8-7, minus 4.5265), NFL Yet No. 31 (2-13, minus 14.7471), and Superior No. 35 (0-15, minus 19.1868).

The Wildkats have averaged a 28-36 (663-871) score per game or a 12-point deficit through 24 games. Duncan’s free throw shooting percentage is 44 (146-332) compared to 48 (118-245) for combined opponents.

Senior Kaktys Garcia leads the team in free-throw shooting percentage with 62 (16-26), followed by junior Melissa Claridge at 46 (57-124), sophomore Kiley McGrath at 46 (36-79), senior Kaitlyn Lunt at 38 (19-50), sophomore Kierra Lacey at 38 (6-16), junior Hailai Moreno at 36 (5-14), freshman Kaylee Kempton at 33 (7-21), and junior Mia Hoglan is 0-2.

The month’s wins were 35-17 over Phoenix NFL Yet (Jan. 7), 28-25 over San Simon (Jan. 9), 26-23 over Hayden (Jan. 21), 43-26 over Patagonia (Jan. 27), and 24-16 over Superior (Jan. 28). The other five losses were 36-50 to Valley Union (Jan. 10), 12-56 to Fort Thomas (Jan. 14), 19-26 to Arete Prep (Jan. 17), 28-56 to Valley Union (Jan. 23), and 15-40 to Ray (Jan. 25).

Duncan – 43, Patagonia – 26

“It was night and day,” Bejarano said of the Wildkats play against the Lobos versus play against the Bearcats.

Duncan led 6-5 after the opening period and 18-13 at halftime. An 18-8 third period outing gave the Wildkats a 36-21 advantage heading into the fourth period.

The Wildkats connected on 15 field goals (five 3-pointers) plus 6-16 free throws versus nine field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 6-8 free throws by the Lobos.

Claridge netted 17 points on seven field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws and Garcia 17 on seven field goals (three 3-pointers). McGrath added seven points and both Kempton and Moreno one each.

For the Lobos, Justice Urias had 10 points on four field goals (two 3-pointers). Lizzy Urias added six points, Karina Norton five, Amais Ochoa four, and Dahanna Hernandez one.

Ray – 40, Duncan – 15

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Sophomore Kierra Lacey has a shot attempt blocked by Emiley Rutter during the first half.

The scoreboard read 8-8 at the start of the second period. But, the game was delayed as the score was adjusted. The wrong side mistakenly was credited with two points. A 4-point, 6-10, deficit now faced the Wildkats before play resumed.

It took 7:09 to add the two points, on Duncan’s second field goal, while the guest doubled its productivity. The home team would not score another field during the rest of the game.

Duncan trailed by 25, 8-33, as it reached double figures with 48 seconds left in the third period.

The Wildkats totaled two field goals plus 11-22 free throws compared to 16 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 5-16 free throws by the Bearcats.

Claridge, Garcia, and McGrath contributed four points apiece, Kempton two, and Lacey one.

For the Bearcats, Emma Stuart had a game-high 12 points on six field goals and Marissa Borragon 11 on three 3-pointers plus 2-6 free throws. Chastity Kelley added eight points, Chelsea Boyd-Flores five, and Emiley Rutter four.

Valley Union – 56, Duncan – 28

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Junior Marissa Claridge was limited to single digits, making a field goal plus 2-6 free throws versus the Bearcats. She has contributed double-digit scoring in 15 of 23 games.

The host Blue Devils enjoyed a 50-21 three-quarters advantage, having scored in double figures during each quarter while the Wildkats were limited to single digits in each.

Duncan made 10 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 6-10 free throws while Valley Union had 20 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 8-17 free throws.

Claridge tossed in 13 points on three field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 6-10 free throws. Garcia added seven points, and both Lunt and McGrath four apiece.

For the Blue Devils, Victoria Armijo had 16 points on eight field goals plus 0-2 free throws, Rebekah Claus-Walker 14 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 5-9 free throws, and Emely Cuevas 10 on four field goals (two 3-pointers). Valerie De La Cruz and Lizet Sonke added five points apiece, Anet Fimbres four, and Amanda Hagerman two.

Duncan – 26, Hayden – 23

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Duncan freshman Kaylee Kempton drives around Ray defender Emma Stuart in the second half.

The Wildkats trailed 10-13 at halftime, but an 8-4 third period outing gave them an 18-17 edge at the start of the fourth period as an 8-6 effort assured the win.

Duncan made seven field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 10-29 free throws versus five field goals plus 13-26 free throws by Hayden.

Claridge notched a game-high 17 points on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 6-14 free throws. Garcia added three points, and Lacey, Lunt, and McGrath two each.

For the Lobos, Sarrah Perez had seven points, Clarissa Gonzalez six, Ahleah Arbizo and Julianna Hong three apiece, and both Ariea Castillo and Sonia Urias two each.