Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Rozlyn Funari (10) battles for rebounding position with Willcox junior Maddie Bennett (14) during a Dec. 6 home game. The Morenci sophomore netted 15 points against the Cowgirls. Morenci hosts region leader Benson on Monday, Dec. 18.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Albert Ortega-coached Morenci basketball girls host Benson on Monday, Dec. 18. The Bobcats have spent more time on the court, playing a few more games than the Wildcats thus far.
Tombstone visits Willcox on Tuesday, Dec. 19 in the other region contest this week (Dec. 18-23).
In non-region pairings, Bisbee visits Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic and Willcox visits Duncan on Dec. 18.
Benson Bobcats (10-3 overall)
The Robert Bristow-coached Benson Bobcats (10-3 overall, 4-0 seeding, 2-0 East Region) are averaging a 54-34 (706-441) score per game or a 20-point margin.
The Bobcats have seeding wins over San Manuel (80-5, Dec. 5), Tucson Santa Rita (56-8, Dec. 7), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (59-39), and Bisbee (49-41, Dec. 12).
In addition, the Bobcats have participated in two tourneys, going 3-1 in the three-day Amphitheater meet and 3-2 in their own three-day meet.
The Amphitheater tourney wins were over Tucson Catalina (59-13, Nov. 20), Tucson’s The Gregory School (67-21, Nov. 20), and Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (50-44, Nov. 21). The loss was to Saint David (33-51, Nov. 22).
In Benson, the Bobcats posted wins over Sells Baboquivari (56-41, Dec. 15), Elfrida Valley Union (55-21, Dec. 15), and Baboquivari (60-43, Dec. 16). The losses were to Douglas (38-60, Dec. 14) and to Amphitheater (44-54, Dec. 14).
Benson’s roster has seniors Jarmey Darwin (10), Trinity Foy (3), and Irene Hernandez (42); juniors Jadalyn De la Cruz (5), Rylee Deskins (2), Abigail Frattarole (12), Aubrey Moon (24), and Kaylei Taylor (23); sophomores Coco Farrand (1), and Jordan Rone (21); and freshman Adalie Lewis (14).
Morenci Wildcats (4-5)
The Albert Ortega-coached Morenci Wildcats (4-5 overall, 3-2 seeding, 2-0 East Region) are averaging a 37-43 (330-386) score per game or a 6-point deficit.
Morenci has seeding wins over Elfrida Valley Union (36-22, Dec. 4), Willcox (50-45, Dec. 6), and Tucson Santa Rita (57-23, Dec. 12). The losses are to San Carlos (28-61, Nov. 20) and Saint David (27-46, Nov. 27),
Additionally, the Wildcats went 1-3 during the 3-day Round Valley tourney on Dec. 7-9. The win was over Heber Mogollon (37-28, Dec. 7) while the losses were to Saint Johns (29-55, Dec. 7), Whiteriver Alchesay (17-59, Dec. 8), and Holbrook (46-47, Dec. 8).
The 12-member roster has seniors Ciantae Dosela (24), Aniyah Fallow (14), Anita Gonzalez (11), and Elena Leonard (5); juniors Sway Cordova (2), Tayah Wilkes (4), and Jayla Wilson (3); sophomores Adriana Carbajal (12), Rozlyn Funari (10), and Jaliyah Hernandez (44); and freshmen Tiara Jones (20) and Mayeli Salazar (13).
Morenci wipes clean its December slate at the 3-day, Thatcher-held 47th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament beginning on the 27th.
2A East Region Standings
The seven-member 2A East Region standings through Dec. 16 are Pima (7-2 overall, 4-0 seeding, 3-0 region), Benson (10-3, 4-0, 2-0), Morenci (4-5, 3-2, 2-0), Tombstone (8-4, 3-3, 1-1), Willcox (5-9*, 3-3, 0-2), Tucson Santa Rita (1-10, 1-5, 0-2), and Bisbee (3-6, 1-4, 0-3).
Eight region games have been played to date. Pima (3-0) has wins over Willcox (69-14, Dec. 1), Tombstone (56-33, Dec. 12), and Bisbee (67-24, Dec. 15); Benson (2-0) over Santa Rita (56-8, Dec. 7) and Bisbee (49-41, Dec. 12); Morenci (2-0) over Willcox (50-45, Dec. 6) and Santa Rita (57-23, Dec. 12); and Tombstone (1-1) over Bisbee (63-31, Dec. 7).
Morenci – 57, Santa Rita – 23
Seven of eight Wildcats scoring contributed to the point total during the opening quarter as Morenci led 28-1, having allowed 1-2 free throws. The Wildcats did not match that sum during the rest of the game, adding 25 points before the final buzzer sounded. Morenci led 40-11 at halftime and 52-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
For the game, Morenci connected on 24 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 8-13 free throws compared to six field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 9-18 free throws by Santa Rita.
Leonard (5) totaled 13 points on five field goals plus 3-5 free throws, Salazar 13 on five field goals plus 3-4 free throws, and Jones 10 on five field goals. Dosela and Carbajal added seven points apiece, Funari four, Cordova two, and Fallow one.
Santa Rita got 15 points from senior Jayla Braham (11) on five field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 3-5 free throws. Junior Naima Gomez (4) added six points and senior Amaris Shay (13) two.
Holbrook – 47, Morenci – 46
Holbrook staged a 23-10 fourth-quarter comeback to gain the lead for good. Morenci led 15-11 following the first quarter, 24-17 at halftime, and 36-24 heading into the fourth quarter.
For the game, Morenci made 19 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 4-13 free throws versus 19 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 5-12 free throws by Holbrook.
Jones dropped in 20 points on 10 field goals plus 0-3 free throws and Wilson 10 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-3 free throws. Funari added six points, Leonard four, Salazar three, Carbajal two, and Cordova one.
For Holbrook, senior Noheah Aberle (42) had 15 points on six field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-5 free throws, and junior Holly Casamero (50) 10 on five field goals. Sophomore Maya Francisco (20) added six points, both senior Raelle Yazzie (10) and freshman Bailey Williams (45) five apiece, junior Alayna Yazzie (14) three, and senior Lynea Smith (23) two.
Alchesay – 59, Morenci – 17
The Wildcats trailed from the onset, unable to reach double-digit scoring until the second quarter. Alchesay led 19-8 following the first quarter, 36-13 at halftime, and 49-15 heading into the fourth quarter.
For the game, Morenci totaled seven field goals plus 3-10 free throws compared to 27 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 4-4 free throws by Alchesay.
Funari and Jones had four points apiece, Leonard, Salazar, Wilkes, and Wilson two each, and Carbajal one.
For the Falcons, senior Jazlyn Nosie (5) netted 18 points on eight field goals (two 3-pointers), and freshman Leeya Lupe (30) 12 on four field goals plus 4-4 free throws. Junior Miley Burnett (10) added eight points, seniors Abelena Jim (42) and Kamryn Nachu (15) six apiece, juniors Ramona Gregg (25) and Alaina Henry (3) four each, sophomore Linea Lavender (20) three, and senior Paityn Pinal (4) two.
Morenci – 37, Mogollon – 28
A 16-8 third-quarter outing gave the Wildcats a 29-27 edge heading into the fourth quarter and an 8-1 final 8-minute effort decided the outcome. The Mustangs led 9-5 following the first quarter and 19-13 at halftime.
For the game, Morenci had 15 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 4-14 free throws versus nine field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 8-14 free throws by Mogollon.
Jones tallied 11 points on five field goals plus 1-5 free throws. Funari added nine points, Carbajal seven, Leonard six, and Cordova, Dosela, and Wilkes two apiece.
For the Mustangs, junior Marissa Parry (10) netted a game-high 14 points on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 3-5 free throws. Junior Kindsey Porter (14) added six points, junior Haidyn Franco (11) five, junior Heidi Parry (5) two, and senior Kayla Reidhead (3) one.
Saint Johns – 55, Morenci – 29
A single point separated the two teams following the initial eight minutes of play with Saint Johns leading 8-7. It would be a short-lived margin as a 21-5 second-quarter outing gave the Redskins a 29-12 advantage at halftime. Seven different Redskins contributed toward that effort.
For the game, Morenci made 10 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 6-13 free throws compared to 22 field goals plus 11-22 free throws by Saint Johns.
Jones netted 11 points on three field goals plus 5-7 free throws. Wilson added eight points, Leonard five, Funari three, and Cordova two.
Eleven Redskins scored but none in double figures. Senior Ellie Heap (21) had nine points, juniors Kaylee Pulsipher (30) and Maya Tsinaginnie (42) seven apiece, seniors Avery Richardson (22) and Kayme Smith (11) six each, senior Josie Overson (23) five, senior Elli Otto (12) and Jaycee Willis (20) plus junior Sarah Patterson (24) four apiece, junior Payton Nielson (10) two, and junior Evelyn Andrus (32) one.
Morenci – 50, Willcox – 45
The Wildcats led by as much as 11 points, 42-31, with 1:04 elapsed in the fourth quarter. Willcox came within three, 42-45, with 4:09 left to play, but no closer. Morenci led 10-7 after the first quarter, 22-21 at halftime, and 40-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
Morenci made 19 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 11-25 free throws compared to 20 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 4-15 free throws by Willcox.
Funari tallied 15 points on six field goals plus 3-6 free throws. Jones added eight points, Dosela seven, Leonard and Wilson six apiece, Cordova five, and Salazar three.
For the Cowgirls, senior Mia Mungarro (4) netted 13 points on five field goals plus 3-9 free throws, and sophomore Addison Burright (11) 11 on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 0-2 free throws. Junior Maddie Bennett (14) added eight points, junior Gaby Galaz (15) six, sophomore Evelyn Galaz (21) five, and sophomore Kennady Ebert (12) two.
