Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Brandon Napier looks for an open teammate while being defended by Fort Thomas senior Brad Johnson. The Thatcher freshman was one of five Eagles providing double-digit scoring. Thatcher left Guitteau Gymnasium as the meet champion and Napier as a member of the all-tourney team.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – Fourth-seeded Thatcher upset second seed Fort Thomas 60-50 for the 57th annual Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney title. It was Thatcher’s 20th title earned and fourth back-to-back. The pairing of the two programs as tourney finalists was the seventh, with Fort Thomas having a 4-3 edge.
The Robby Martindell-coached Eagles (8-4 overall) bested fifth seed Duncan 66-28 in the first round and slipped past top seed Pima 56-48 in overtime during the semifinals. The Matthew Dona-coached Apaches (6-3) reached the championship game by running past seventh seed Willcox 87-38 in the first round and third seed Safford 61-42 in the semifinals.
Pima (9-2) defeated Safford (2-9) 51-31 for third place, Duncan (8-3) outlasted sixth seed Morenci (2-5) 43-40 for fifth place, and Saint David (5-5) outscored Willcox (2-8) 73-41 for seventh place.
Advancing in the consolation round were Morenci and Duncan with wins of 51-44 over Willcox and 57-47 over Saint David, respectively.
The other first-round winners were Safford (61-42 over Morenci) and Pima (58-28 over Saint David).
Championship Game
The Eagles took advantage of what was given them to pull away from the Apaches 16-2 in the opening quarter. Thatcher junior Michael Greer contributed half of his teams’ points, connecting on two 3-pointers during the opening two minutes.
“They were collapsing on our big guys inside,” tourney most valuable player Greer said. “I have been shooting (3-pointers) since I was 12.”
Thatcher led 18-2 before the Apaches scored their second field goal, a Cameron Anderson 3-pointer 38 seconds into the second quarter, and 24-6 with 4:58 left in the half.
The Apaches trailed 28-9 before reaching double figures on senior Skylar Kindelay’s field goal with 52 seconds left in the half. His ensuing free throw pared the deficit to 16 points at the mid-game break.
Fort Thomas cut the deficit to single digits with 2:20 elapsed in the second half, 22-30 on senior Malachi Rogers’ 3-pointer, and got within five, 33-38 on a Kindelay field goal with 21 seconds left in the third period.
The white-clad boys outscored Thatcher 21-12 in the third quarter to trail 33-40 at the start of the final eight minutes. The Apaches again got within five during the first 30 seconds, 35-40, but no closer.
Senior Latrell Titla’s 13th point of the game got the Apaches within six, 46-52 with 1:35 remaining, but a pair of freshman Brandon Napier free throws 11 seconds later and senior Spencer Stevens’ field goal four seconds after that expanded the margin to double figures, 46-56 in a 25-seconds span. The teams both added four points during the closing 52 seconds.
For the game, Thatcher netted 21 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 15-22 free throws versus 19 field goals (six 3-pointers) plus 6-12 free throws by Fort Thomas. Five Eagles had double-digit scoring compared to four by Fort Thomas.
Greer totaled 14 points on five field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 2-2 free throws, senior Collin Thompson 13 on five field goals plus 3-4 free throws, Napier 11 on three field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 4-8 free throws, freshman Bradley Curtis 10 on three field goals plus 4-4 free throws, and Stevens 10 on four field goals plus 2-4 free throws. Sophomore T.J. Reed added two points.
For the Apaches, Titla had 13 points on six field goals plus 1-1 free throws, Kindelay 11 on four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-3 free throws, senior Brad Johnson 11 on four field goals plus 3-4 free throws, and Rogers 10 on three 3-pointers plus 1-4 free throws. Anderson added three points and senior Jeconiah Edwards two.
Third Place
“I told the guys nobody wants to be in this game (at the start),” Pima head coach Cliff Thompson said. “So, let’s make the best of it.”
Pima scored first with 2:01 elapsed and led during the entire first quarter. But, Safford senior Mason Duros’ 3-pointer gave the Bulldogs a 13-12 edge 24 seconds into the second quarter. It was their only lead of the game.
The Roughriders retook the lead 25 seconds later and had a 12-0 run which prompted a Safford timeout. Leading 24-13, Pima never trailed during the remainder of the game.
“We just moved the ball around,” Thompson said. “We had four guards that played extremely well.”
Pima led by 10 points, 27-17 at halftime; by 15, 40-25 heading into the fourth quarter; and by 20, 47-27 with 3:20 left to play. Field goals by Safford junior Emanuel Torres and J.J. Arbizo plus Pima seniors Levi Thygerson and Alec Judd capped off the scoring during the final 2:31.
The Roughriders made 21 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 5-11 free throws while Safford had 13 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 4-6 free throws. Pima had double-digit scoring in all four quarters while Safford did that in only one.
Senior Drew Thompson posted a game-high 16 points on six field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 2-3 free throws. Judd and junior Tim Salyer had nine points apiece, Thygerson six, both juniors Kaleb Blair and Reggie Stewart four each, sophomore Dallin Kartchner two, and senior Wyatt Schmidt one.
For Safford, Jejdrique Chavez netted 10 points on five field goals plus 0-2 free throws. Seniors Isaac Camarena and Jordan Turner along with junior Trett Wiltbank added four points apiece, Duros three, and Arbizo, junior Grant Smith and sophomore Christian Smith two each.
Fifth Place
Morenci broke a 38-38 tie, the games’ fifth and the third in the fourth quarter, on senior Dominik Waters’ field goal with 2:22 left. It would be the Wildcats’ final lead of the game.
Duncan junior Tommy Hille scored an inside field goal to give the white-clad Wildkats a 41-40 edge with 26 seconds left to play. It was the 11th lead change of the game. Team and classmate Jarrett French made a pair of free throws 20 seconds later for a 43-40 Duncan advantage.
A missed Morenci long distant shot attempt in the closing six seconds decided the outcome.
Morenci led 8-5 following the opening quarter, but Duncan had a 16-14 halftime advantage and a 27-26 second-half outing. The Wildkats scored in double figures during three quarters while the Wildcats did so in only two.
Duncan’s largest lead of the game was by eight points, 24-16 with 4:38 left in the third quarter, while Morenci’s was by five, 10-5 with 6:43 left in the second quarter.
The Wildkats tallied 16 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 8-17 free throws compared to 15 field goals plus 10-20 free throws by the Wildcats. Each team had six players contribute scoring with one in double figures.
Hille netted 10 points on five field goals plus 0-2 free throws. Senior Steven Pierpont added nine points, French eight, sophomore Conlon Jensen seven, senior Chris Smith five, and senior Cliff Hansen four.
For Morenci, sophomore Christian Mutengela Mpoyo totaled a game-high 19 points on seven field goals plus 5-8 free throws. Junior Maddux Martinez and freshman Derek Saenz had six points apiece, Waters four, junior Steven Shawn Michael Chavez Jr. three, and junior Jeremiah Rojas two.
Seventh Place
Willcox turned in a 14-12 third-quarter effort, but it was not enough to offset the 20-44 halftime deficit.
Saint David led 21-13 following the opening quarter and pulled away with a 23-7 second quarter outing. The Tigers added a 17-10 fourth quarter to their total to finish in seventh place.
The blue-clad Cochise County entrant totaled 31 field goals (eight 3-pointers) plus 3-6 free throws versus 18 field goals plus 8-12 free throws for the white-clad boys.
Eleven of 12 Tigers contributed to the scoring total. Junior Kason Jacquez had 20 points on nine field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-1 free throws and sophomore Hunter Awtrey 18 on eight field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 0-2 free throws. Junior Robby Gooding added eight points, junior Reo Larson seven, freshman Ryan Gooding five, senior James Clay four, freshman Koy Richardson three, and junior Payton Dixon, sophomore Jacob Goodman, senior Skyler Merrill, and freshman Kydin Richardson two apiece.
For Willcox, sophomore Rico Lunt netted a game-high 21 points on nine field goals plus 3-4 free throws. Junior Cael DeBaun added seven points, junior J.J. Lunt and sophomore Anthony Nuzzo four apiece, juniors J.T. Garza and Jacob Long three each, and junior Lake Kauffman two.
2019 All-tourney
Thatcher senior Collin Thompson (33 total points, 11.0 average per game) and freshman Brandon Napier (29, 9.7) along with Fort Thomas seniors Skylar Kindelay (40, 13.3), Malachi Rogers (48, 16.0), and Latrell Titla (38, 12.7) were selected to the all-tourney team.
Thatcher junior Michael Greer (33, 11.0) was tabbed as the most valuable player.
The rest of the 14-member team included Pima seniors Alec Judd (31, 10.3) and Drew Thompson (46, 15.3), Safford juniors Jejdrique Chavez (42, 14.0) and Noah Bevens (7, 2.3), Duncan junior Jarrett French (25, 8.3), Morenci sophomore Christian Mutengela Mpoyo (33, 11.0), Saint David junior Kason Jacquez (60, 20.0), and Willcox sophomore Rico Lunt (56, 18.7).
Five student-athletes were repeating all-tourney members. Chavez, Judd, and Kindelay were 2018 selectees while Rogers and Collin Thompson were singled out in 2017.
Tourney Records
It was the fifth straight year with the same eight teams. Pima is 12-3; Thatcher 11-4; Safford 10-5; Fort Thomas 9-6, Morenci 7-8, Duncan 5-10, Saint David 4-11, and Willcox 2-13 in the same 5-year span.
Beginning as a six-team, two-day, Friday-Saturday meet with two games on the first day and five on the second day, the ensuing 56 tourneys included eight teams with four games each in three days, unless a last-minute cancelation occurred, and one team ended with three wins, three 2-1, three 1-2, and one 0-3. Sierra Vista Buena topped Duncan 87-63 for the title, Clifton edged Fort Thomas 68-66 for third place, and Thatcher slipped past Pima 50-46 in overtime for fifth place.
Traditionally held after Christmas since its inception, the most recent four tourneys (2016-19) have each been started and completed before Christmas.
Academia Juarez opened the new millennium as the first non-Arizona entrant to be the top seed. The Lobos fell 71-60 to sixth seed Willcox in the title game.
The top two seeds have met in the final seven of the previous 20 (37th-56th) tourneys held. The No. 1 seed has prevailed in 12 (12-4) meets in the same span. The other champions have been the second seed (2-7), the third seed (4-3), the fourth seed (1-2), and the sixth seed (1-2). The other title game qualifier was a fifth seed (0-1).
Sixteen teams have participated in the single score 21st-century tourneys. In those 20 (38th-57th) meets, Thatcher is 47-12 with only two games played in 2001, Safford 43-17, Pima 31-29, Duncan and Willcox both 23-37, and Fort Thomas 20-40. Morenci is 18-20 in 12 tourneys (45th-57th), Clifton 5-16 in seven (38th-44th), Holbrook 14-4 in six (42nd-47th), Saint David 4-14 in five (41st, 53rd-57th), Tucson Tanque Verde 4-5 in three (50th-52nd), and five one-time entrants, Mexico Academia Juarez 2-1 (38th), Globe 2-1 (48th), Payson 2-1 (40th), Benson 1-2 (48th), and Bowie 0-3 (41st).
Four teams have been in all 57 meets. Thatcher is 113-53 overall (two games in 1963, 1967, 1973, 1979), Pima 87-82, Fort Thomas 79-91, and Duncan 72-78 (two games in 1998).
A total of 28 different schools have been represented on the Gila Monsters’ campus. Safford is 92-44 in 46 meets (did not enter the first 11), Clifton ended 41-89 in 44 (1st-44th), Willcox 60-70 in 40 (14th-19th, 23rd-57th) and Morenci 57-44 in 36 (4th-7th, 18th-37th, 45th-57th), Eagar Round Valley 11-7 in six (6th, 10th, 15th-16th, 20th-21st), Bowie 1-14 in five (2nd-3rd, 9th-10th, 41st), Sahuarita 4-8 in four (8th-11th), Kearny Ray 8-1 in three (2nd-4th), Winkelman Hayden 6-3 in three (5th-7th), New Mexico Lordsburg 3-6 in three (7th-9th), Elfrida Valley Union 2-7 in three (3rd, 12th-13th), Show Low 2-7 in three (12th-13th, 22nd), Superior 4-2 in two (2nd, 4th), Buena 3-0 in one (1st), Tombstone 3-0 in one (14th), San Simon 2-1 in one (8th), and Apache Junction 0-2 in one (two in 11th).
Six of the current eight participants have accounted for 49 tourney champions. Thatcher has qualified for 34 finals (20-14) with four in a row from 2010-13 (48th-51st) and four repeats from 1977-78 (15th-16th), 1989-90 (27th-28th), 2001-02 (39th-40th), and 2018-19 (56th-57th); Safford 20 (9-11) with two in a row twice, 1984-85 (9th-10th) and 2003-04 (41st-42nd); Fort Thomas 13 (9-4) with three in a row from 1992-94 (31st -33rd) and a repeat in 1966-67 (4th-5th); Pima 14 (7-7) with a meet record five straight wins from 1970-74 (8th-12th) and a repeat in 2015-16 (53rd-54th); Morenci 10 (3-7); Willcox two (1-1); and Duncan has finished second thrice (0-3).
Six other teams have been champions, Holbrook twice (2-3) in 2005 (43rd) and 2009 (47th); Kearny Ray twice (2-1) in 1964-65 (2nd-3rd); Clifton once (1-1) in 1982 (20th); Round Valley once (1-1) in 1968 (6th); Tombstone once (1-0) in 1976 (14th); and Buena once (1-0) in the inaugural tourney of 1963.
The other finalists were Tanque Verde in 2012 (50th), Academia Juarez in 2000 (38th), Hayden in 1969 (7th), and Superior in 1965 (2nd).
Twelve Fort Thomas 3-pointers made during the 57th tourney opener against Willcox (Dec. 16, 2019) tied for second-most made by a team. Safford sank a dozen against Willcox during a 45th (2007) tourney semifinal 81-65 win and totaled the second-most 3-pointers made in three games (28). The Bulldogs left with the meet title.
Holbrook netted a dozen against Duncan during the 46th (2008) tourney 75-67 game two win and wound up with a three-game record of 29 as the meet runner-up.
Pima has made the most 3-pointers in a game, 14 during a 42nd (2004) tourney semifinal 61-70 loss to Safford.
Tourney Individual Records
The 28 points scored by Fort Thomas senior Malachi Rogers in the 57th tourney opener with Willcox tied 21 other individual efforts for the same amount.
The first by Clifton’s Karl Shade during a 68-66 third-place win in the first meet (1963) and Morenci’s Jordan Leonard in the fifth-place game of the 55th tourney with Duncan was the most recent. Prior to that, Duncan’s Jason Attaway reached that total during a 65-73 semifinal loss to Thatcher in the 34th meet (1996).
Leonard’s seven 3-pointers during the 57-67 first-round loss to Fort Thomas tied three other efforts, Morenci’s Jeremy Vanegas during the 26th tourney (1988) seventh-place 54-53 win over Duncan, Clifton’s Marc Cueto during the 33rd (1995) third-place 67-76 loss to Fort Thomas, and Holbrook’s Kory Koerperich during the 46th (2008) game two first-round 75-67 win over Duncan.
Thatcher’s Carson Goodman holds the single-game most 3-pointers scored, eight during a game two first-round 58-37 win over Fort Thomas in the 52nd meet (2014).
Frank Campos of Superior has scored the single game most points, 47 during a 70-72 loss to Kearny Ray in the game three first round of the 4th meet and three others have scored 42 or more points.
Duncan’s Daniel Corona holds the three-game scoring record with 104 points notched during the 52nd (2014) tourney. He netted 34 field goals (eight 3-pointers) plus 28-30 free throws, with 36 points versus Safford (67-81 game three loss), 31 versus Willcox (54-53 consolation round win), and 37 versus Pima (53-62 5th place loss). Corona’s 37 points on 11 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 11-12 free throws stand unmatched
His 36 point outing is tied with six others, the first being Clifton’s Rory Laney in a 61-78 semifinal loss to Safford during the 12th (1975) tourney. His 31 points tied eight others, the first being Pima’s Mark McBride during the 60-49 game four first-round win over Morenci in the 4th (1966) meet.
