Apaches outrun Tigers for tourney third place
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – First-time participant Snowflake claimed the girl’s 48th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament title, dethroning 3-time champion Pima 32-27 in Guitteau Gymnasium on Dec. 21. The Lobos ousted Fort Thomas 53-45 during the semifinals and El Mirage Dysart 57-28 during the first round, both at EAC on Dec. 20, and Winkelman Hayden 69-5 and Thatcher 63-21 during pool play in Thatcher on Dec. 19.
Pima reached the finale via wins of 80-20 over Saint David during the semifinals, 55-33 over Thatcher during the first round, 55-29 over Dysart, and 87-7 over Globe during pool play in Pima.
Saint David defeated Fort Thomas 60-27 for third place, Dysart defeated Thatcher 46-36 for fifth place, and Morenci defeated Peoria Centennial 43-33 for seventh place
The other opening round results were Saint David 55-38 over Morenci and Fort Thomas 59-22 over Centennial.
Thatcher advanced during the consolation round 55-25 over Morenci and Dysart 40-22 over Centennial, respectively.
Beginning as a 4-team, 2-day meet with two games each day during the nation’s 1976 Bicentennial year; the ensuing 47 tourneys included four games played by eight teams in three days or a total of 12 games. Morenci defeated Clifton 55-42 for the title after the Wildcats topped Thatcher 56-11, and the Trojans downed Safford 29-15 on the first day. Safford ended third with a 33-21 win over Thatcher.
The 2025 tourney marks the first time 12 teams played two games on the first day at four different sites, 12 teams played two games on the second day at three different sites, the third time the boys and girls meets occurred on the same days and dates, and the 44th year the girl’s tourney was held before Christmas. A total of 30 games were played during the 48th tourney.
48th Eastern Arizona Holiday All-Tourney Team
Meet champion Snowflake and runner-up Pima both landed three players on the 2024 honor team. Snowflake had seniors Nicole Hipps (10) and Kenadi Stuart (3), along with junior Ryah Denhalter (1). Pima had seniors Adysen Hoopes (43) and Sadie Richardson (22) as well as sophomore Hannah Ashby (14). Denhalter received the Most Valuable Player award.
Third place Fort Thomas had seniors Adaia Lorenzo (23) plus juniors Kaylee Benally (33) and Makayla Chapman (25), fourth place Saint David senior Myya Deneweth (20), fifth place Dysart senior Brianna Brown (23), sixth place Thatcher senior Audrey Smith (22), seventh place Morenci junior Rozlyn Funari (10), eighth place Centennial junior Madison Jacobs (12), and Safford junior Oaklee Welchman (23).
Hoopes and Richardson were also on the 2023 team.
Championship: Snowflake – 32, Pima – 27
Pima outscored Snowflake 4-2 during the final 1:14, but it was not enough to offset the deficit of 13 seconds earlier. The Lobos led by eight, 31-23, with 1:27 remaining.
Snowflake broke a 15-15 halftime deadlock with a 17-12 second-half effort. The visiting Lobos led 8-7 after the first quarter and 23-21 heading into the final quarter.
Junior Ryah Denhalter added a field goal with 21 seconds elapsed in the fourth, and Pima sophomore Hanna Ashby matched the scoring four seconds later, but the Roughriders would get no closer during the rest of the game.
Snowflake totaled 13 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 5-8 free throws as two of six Lobos scoring contributed double figures. Denhalter netted 11 points on four field goals plus 3-4 free throws, and senior Kenadi Stuart 10 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-2 free throws. Senior Nicole Hipps added five points, and juniors Hancock and Ranell West, along with freshman Josie Clare, two apiece.
Pima is 79-58 in 45 tourneys and first-time participant Snowflake 5-0. The Roughriders are 6-9 as finalists, thrice finishing first in the most recent four meets (2021-23).
The Pima Roughriders (8-1 overall, 4-0 seeding, 0-0 region) compete in the 9-member 2A East Region with Gilbert Classical (6-0 seeding, 0-0 region), San Carlos (7-0, 0-0), Miami (5-0, 0-0), Gilbert Arete Prep (5-2, 0-0), Gilbert Leading Edge (3-1, 0-0), Chandler Prep (2-5, 0-0), Gilbert San Tan Charter (1-3, 0-0), and Chandler Lincoln Prep (2-3, 0-0).
Snowflake (8-1 overall, 4-0 seeding, 0-0 region) competes in the 6-member 3A East Region with
Lakeside Blue Ridge (4-5 seeding, 2-0 region), Winslow (2-7, 1-1), Whiteriver Alchesay (3-4, 0-0), Show Low (2-3, 0-0), and Holbrook (1-5, 0-2).
3rd Place: Fort Thomas – 60, Saint David – 27
Saint David scored the first three field goals of the game for a 6-0 advantage with 2:15 elapsed. Fort Thomas countered with an 11-5 run to tie, and sophomore Jamie Johnson’s 3-pointer with 4:22 left in the opening quarter gave the Apaches the lead for good.
Fort Thomas led 16-11 heading into the second quarter. A 12-2 run expanded the margin to 15, 28-13, with 2:41 left in the first half. The Apaches led by 16, 34-18, at halftime and by 29, 56-27, heading onto the fourth quarter.
Saint David made 11 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 2-4 free throws, while Fort Thomas had 22 field goals (ten 3-pointers) plus 6-14 free throws.
Junior Emelynn Jacquez had 15 points on seven field goals (one 3-pointer), and sophomore Emma Hart 11 on four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws. Senior Myya Deneweth added a point.
Four of eight Apaches scoring contributed double figures. Junior Makayla Chapman had 14 points on five field goals (four 3-pointers), junior Adaia Lorenzo 14 on five field goals (four 3-pointers), junior Raeleigh Hawkins 12 on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-2 free throws, and Johnson 12 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 3-4 free throws. Sophomore Kynnedee Bryce added four points, freshman Leilynn Wesley two, and sophomore Corey Cody and freshman Carmen Antonio one.
Fort Thomas 68-69 in 45 tourneys and Saint David 8-6 in four. The Apaches are 2-3 as finalists, earning back-to-back titles in 2005 and 200\6.
Saint David (8-7 overall, 4-1 seeding, 2-0 region) competes in the 7-member 1A South Region with Sells Baboquivari (7-0 seeding, 2-0 region), Tucson’s The Gregory School (5-2, 3-0), Patagonia (1-5, 1-1), San Simon (5-3, 1-2), Elfrida Valley Union (3-1, 0-1), Nogales Lourdes Catholic (0-3, 0-3), and the Tucson Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind (0-6, 0-2).
The Fort Thomas Apaches (12-4 overall, 2-2 seeding, 1-0 region) compete in the 8-member 1A East Region with Winkelman Hayden (5-1 seeding, 1-0 region), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (5-2, 1-0), Duncan (6-2, 1-0), Scottsdale Cicero Prep (5-3, 0-1), Superior (2-5, 0-1), San Manuel (2-7, 0-1), and Kearny Ray (1-7, 0-1),
5th Place: Dysart – 46, Thatcher – 36
Dysart returned from the mid-game 3-point advantage to turn in a 10-2 outing and lead 35-24 heading into the final quarter. Thus, a 12-11 Thatcher fourth-quarter effort was not enough. The Demons had led 15-10 after the first quarter and 25-22 at halftime.
For the game, the Demons connected on 21 field goals plus 4-9 free throws, compared to 15 field goals plus 6-9 free throws by the Eagles.
Senior Brianna Brown netted a game-high 26 points on 12 field goals plus 2-4 free throws. Junior Yen Doan added eight points, and seniors Smaria Carolina and Kiearra Forney and junior Cheyenne Sipek had four points apiece.
For Thatcher, junior Makenzi Lunt had 10 points on five field goals. Senior Cambria Wakefield and sophomore Taylor Henrie added eight points apiece, junior Emry Nelson six, and both seniors Lizzy Bauman and Audrey Smith two each,
Thatcher 96-49 in 46 tourneys and first-time entrant Dysart 3-2. The Eagles are 12-11 as finalists, with a record seven consecutive championships from 1997-2003 and back-to-back titles twice (1981-82, 1986-87).
The Dysart Demons (5-7 overall, 2-5 seeding, 0-0 region) compete in the 6-member 4A Black Canyon Region with Yuma (5-2 seeding, 1-0 region), Maricopa Desert Sunrise (3-3, 0-0), Tempe (3-3, 0-0), Scottsdale Coronado (2-3, 0-1), and Phoenix Cortez (1-4, 0-0).
The Thatcher Eagles (4-5, 0-5, 0-0) compete in the 9-member 3A South Region with Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (5-3 seeding, 1-0 region), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (5-0, 0-0), Tucson Sabino (4-4, 0-0), Tanque Verde (2-5, 0-0), Safford (1-5, 0-0), Tucson Empire (1-7, 0-0), and Tucson Catalina (0-5, 0-0).
7th Place: Morenci – 43, Centennial – 33
A 23-11 fourth-quarter outing vaulted the Wildcats over the Coyotes for seventh place. Morenci trailed by six, 25-31, with 4:35 remaining as a 7-0 run over the next 1:40 gave the Wildcats the lead for good. The run included a 3-pointer by senior Talia McCabe and field goals by junior Rozlyn Funari and sophomore Mayeli Salazar.
Another Salazar field goal and one by sophomore Tiara Jones extended the advantage to five, 36-31 before Centennial junior Izzy Alvarez broke the scoring drought with 1:41 left. It would be the closest the Coyotes would get during the rest of the game.
Centennial led 9-7 after the first quarter, 18-13 at halftime, and 22-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
For the game, Morenci connected on 18 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 6-14 free throws, while Centennial made 12 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 5-10 free throws.
Salazar netted a game-high 15 points on six field goals plus 3-8 free throw,s and Jones 11 on four field goals plus 3-6 free throws. Funari added eight points, freshman Arwa Abdulquader four, McCabe three, and freshman Jaylianna Guzzo two.
Centennial junior Jolie Galbreath had 21 points on seven field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 4-6 free throws. Alvarez added five points, junior Madison Jacobs four, junior Audrey Power two, and freshman Taylor Swartz one.
Morenci is 63-70 in 44 tourneys and first-time participant Centennial 1-4. The Wildcats are 3-6 as finalists.
The Morenci Wildcats (7-8 overall, 3-2 seeding, 0-1 region) compete in the 9-member 2A South Region with Tombstone (6-0 seeding, 1-0 region), Bisbee (3-3, 1-0), Willcox (4-0, 0-0), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (4-1, 0-0), Tucson Santa Rita (2-5, 0-0), Benson (3-2, 0-0), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (0-8, 0-0), and Tucson Desert Christian (3-4, 0-1).
Centennial (5-10 overall, 3-3 seeding, 0-0 region) competes in the 6-member 5A Northwest Valley Region with Surprise Willow Canyon (4-3 seeding, 2-0 region), Glendale Raymond S. Kellis (5-0, 0-0), Peoria Sunrise Mountain (5-0, 0-0), Lake Havasu (4-3, 0-0), and Glendale Ironwood (0-6, 0-0).
Round Robin Results, Dec. 20-21
The Round Robin participants were the four teams succumbing twice during pool play. Safford ran away from Empire 60-18 in Norma Bellamy Gymnasium, Globe edged Hayden 16-15 in Guitteau Gymnasium and defeated Safford 62-52 at Thatcher High, and Empire slipped past Hayden 26-22 in Guitteau Gymnasium on Dec. 20.
Globe ran past Empire 53-19, and Safford ran away from Hayden 64-9 at Thatcher High on Dec. 21.
Safford is 100-44 overall in 48 tourneys, 16-9 as finalists, and won five consecutive titles (2014-18), three in a row once (1983-85), and back-to-back once (1990-91); Saint David is 8-6 in four; Globe 8-3 in three sand 1-1 as a finalist; and first-time entrants Empire 1-4 and Hayden 0-5.
The Globe Tigers (4-10* overall, 2-5 seeding, 0-1 region) compete in the 6-member 3A Central Region with Chandler Valley Christian (6-0 seeding, 2-0 region), Chandler Seton Catholic (4-1, 0-0), Coolidge (4-2, 0-0), Florence (1-3, 0-0), and Apache Junction (0-5, 0-1).
Safford (4-8* overall, 1-5 seeding, 0-0 region) and Empire (2-11 overall, 1-7 seeding, 0-0 region) compete in the 8-member 3A South Region with Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (5-3 seeding, 1-0 region), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (5-0, 0-0), Tucson Sabino (4-4, 0-0), Tucson Tanque Verde (2-5, 0-0), Tucson Catalina (1-4, 0-1), and Thatcher (0-5, 0-0).
Hayden (5-6 overall, 5-1 seeding, 1-0 region) competes in the 8-member 1A East Region with Fort Thomas (2-2 seeding, 1-0 region), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (5-2, 1-0), Duncan (6-1, 1-0), Scottsdale Cicero Prep (5-3, 0-1), Superior (2-5, 0-1), San Manuel (2-7, 0-1), and Kearny Ray (1-7, 0-1).
Pool Play Results, Dec. 19
Pima (2-0) was first, Dysart (1-1) second, and Globe (0-2) third for Pool A on the Pima campus. The Roughriders defeated Globe 87-7 and Dysart 55-29. Dysart defeated Globe 66-16.
Snowflake (2-0) was first, Thatcher (1-1) second, and Hayden (0-2) third for Pool B on the Thatcher campus. The Lobos defeated Hayden 69-5 and Thatcher 63-21. Thatcher defeated Hayden 45-23.
Saint David (2-0) was first, Centennial (1-1) second, and Safford (0-2) third for Pool C in Norma Bellamy Gymnasium. Saint David defeated Safford 43-31 and Centennial 40-33. Centennial defeated Safford 29-23.
Fort Thomas (2-0) was first, Morenci (1-1) second, and Empire (0-2) third for Pool D in Guitteau Gymnasium. Fort Thomas defeated Empire 78-13 and Morenci 66-16. Morenci defeated Empire 59-25.
