By Jon Johnson
PHOENIX – In a commanding display of defensive prowess and offensive efficiency, the No. 1 Joseph City Wildcats clinched their second consecutive Arizona 1A Girls Basketball State Championship on Friday, Feb. 27, dismantling the No. 2 Fort Thomas Apaches 66-34 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. This victory marked the Wildcats’ fourth straight appearance in the championship game, solidifying their dynasty in the division.
After a grueling 30-plus-game season, the top-seeded Wildcats entered the final hoping to repeat their success from the previous year against the same opponent. They wasted no time asserting dominance, jumping to a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter behind senior guard Audrey Neill, who converted an entry pass from her twin sister, Amber Neill, for an easy bucket. Audrey Neill
Fort Thomas responded in transition, with Raeleigh Hawkins missing on a drive but Corey Cody securing the put-back to get the Apaches on the board. The Apaches then ignited from beyond the arc, as Leilynn Wesley drained back-to-back three-pointers to close the gap to within a possession. Jalayah Johnson added her own sharpshooting flair, hitting consecutive threes to make it a two-point game with 40 seconds left in the opening frame. However, Amber Neill’s steal from Kirah Moses led to a bucket and a foul, helping Joseph City maintain an 18-14 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter saw Fort Thomas’ offense sputter, managing only one field goal — a three from Hawkins — while the Wildcats pounded the glass and extended their advantage. Audrey Neill was instrumental, scoring on drives, drawing fouls, and converting in transition to push the lead to double digits. Her jumper late in the half propelled Joseph City to a 31-18 halftime edge.
Coming out of the break, the Wildcats kept up the pressure. Audrey Neill sparked fast breaks with rebounds, including a running jumper off a block and a short pull-up after a missed free throw, ballooning the lead to 40-19. Fort Thomas mounted a brief rally with Wesley’s third and fourth threes of the night. But Joseph City closed the third strong, with Audrey Neill cutting to the basket and Amber finding her on a fast break for a layup, entering the final period up 46-28.
The fourth quarter was a Wildcats rout, as McKenzie Jesmer added putback rebounds and Audrey Neill showcased her versatility with steals, layups, and a three-pointer from the top of the key. Fort Thomas scored just one field goal — a putback by Kynnedee Bryce — as Joseph City sealed the 66-34 victory.
Audrey Neill, a Yavapai College commit, was the undisputed star, earning MVP honors with 33 points on 14-of-27 shooting, 11 rebounds, and multiple steals that fueled transition scoring. Her all-around performance anchored a team effort that overwhelmed the Apaches on both ends of the floor.
Joseph City finishes 33-3, with its only losses to 3A state semifinalist Window Rock (68-56), 2A Champion St. Johns (33-31), and 3A Chinle (56-35), who made the Elite 8 in 3A.
Fort Thomas finishes its season as the State Runner-Up with a 26-5 overall record. The only team in its conference that the Apaches lost to was the state champion Joseph City Wildcats.
