Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Jayla Wilson (3) dribbles through Benson defenders during the Dec. 18 home game. The Morenci junior guard helped handle the ball against the Bobcats. Morenci prevailed 50-45 over Benson and heads to the Thatcher-held 47th annual Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney beginning on Dec. 27.
Wildcats pull away from Bobcats in closing 5:29
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – A 22-8 Morenci final 8-minute outing helped spell defeat for the visiting Benson Bobcats on Dec. 18. Five different Wildcats contributed to that output. Morenci got eight points apiece from senior Elena Leonard and freshman Tiara Jones, and two each from sophomores Adriana Carbajal and Rozlyn Funari, and freshman Mayeli Salazar.
Trailing 31-33 at the start of the fourth quarter, a Leonard field goal tied the score 30 seconds into the quarter and her 1-2 free throws put the Wildcats up by one (34-33) with 1:45 elapsed.
Benson senior Jarmey Darwin’s basket 15 seconds later gave the visitors their final advantage (35-34). A Carbajal field goal with 5:29 left put the Wildcats ahead to stay (36-35).
Cordova’s basket and a pair of Funari free throws gave Morenci a 5-point edge (40-35) before Benson junior Aubrey Moon narrowed the deficit to three points (40-37), the closest the Bobcats would get during the remainder of the game.
A 13-4 Morenci run included a Leonard trey and lay-up, three consecutive Jones field goals, and a Salazar field goal. Benson countered with field goals by Moon and junior Abigail Frattarole.
Morenci led 25-17 at halftime while Benson led 11-10 following the opening eight minutes and 33-31 after three quarters.
For the game, Morenci connected on 20 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 11-23 free throws compared to 16 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 8-15 free throws by Benson.
Leonard (5) totaled 15 points on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 4-6 free throws and Jones (20) 15 on five field goals plus 5-11 free throws. Funari (10) and Salazar (13) added eight points apiece, Cordova (2) three, and both senior Ciantae Dosela (24) and Carbajal (12) two each.
Seniors Aniyah Fallow (14) and Anita Gonzalez (11), juniors Tayah Wilkes (4) and Jayla Wilson (3), and sophomore Jaliyah Hernandez (44) did not score.
For Benson, Darwin (10) had 14 points on six field goals plus 2-5 free throws. Moon (24) added nine points, junior Kaylei Taylor (23) six, senior Irene Hernandez (42) four, freshman Adalie Lewis (14) three, Frattarole (12) and sophomore Coco Farrand (1) two each, and sophomore Jordan Rone (21) one. Taylor had 14 of 38 rebounds, five of 18 steals, and five of 10 assists.
Senior Trinity Foy (3), and juniors Jadalyn De la Cruz (5) and Rylee Deskins (2) did not score.
It was Tombstone over Willcox (49-40, Dec. 19) in the other region contest this week (Dec. 18-23).
In non-region pairings, Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic defeated Bisbee 52-38 and Duncan defeated Willcox 39-24 on Dec. 18.
The Albert Ortega-coached Morenci basketball girls end the month at the 3-day, Thatcher-held 47th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament beginning on Dec. 27.
2A East Region Standings
The 2A East Region standings through Dec. 18 are Pima (7-2 overall, 4-0 seeding, 3-0 region), Morenci (5-5, 4-2, 3-0), Benson (10-4, 4-1, 2-1), Tombstone (9-4, 4-3, 2-1), Willcox (5-11*, 3-4, 0-3), Tucson Santa Rita (1-10, 1-5, 0-2), and Bisbee (3-7, 1-5, 0-3).
Ten 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); Morenci (3-0) over Willcox (50-45, Dec. 6), Santa Rita (57-23, Dec. 12), and Benson (53-41, Dec. 18); Benson (2-1) over Santa Rita (56-8, Dec. 7) and Bisbee (49-41, Dec. 12); and Tombstone (2-1) over Bisbee (63-31, Dec. 7) and Willcox (49-40, Dec, 19).
