Pima girls atop 2A rankings released by AIA

Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: The Pima Roughriders are the EAC 45th annual Girls Holiday Basketball Tournament Champions. Pictured are, front, from left, Ashlie Sherwood, Ella Wiltbank, Aubrie Sherwood, Jayci McClain, and Samantha Pippo; back, from left, assistant coach David Allred, Braylyn Gojkovich, Stephanie Hoopes, Maya Mattice, Adysen Hoopes, Ashlynn Chlarson, Kyli Mattice, Saydee Allred (MVP), Maddie Gann, and head coach Roy Corona.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

PHOENIX – If other teams want to be the champions, they are going to likely have to go through the retaining 2A girls basketball champs to do so.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association released its basketball rankings Thursday and to nobody’s surprise, the Pima Roughriders girls basketball team is at the top at number one.

The ratings are statewide for each conference.  

Pima has a 6-0 record in rated games (13-1 overall with its only loss to 4A Flagstaff in a tournament) and has a rating of 16.1101 with an average opponent rating of 3.5761. The next closest is Phoenix Country Day at No. 2 with a 12.7750 rating, followed by Sedona Red Rock at No. 3 with an 11.7929 rating. 

Other area-rated teams in the top 16 include No. 6 Miami, No. 8 Benson, No. 9 San Carlos, and No. 12 Morenci. 

In 3A, the top-rated local team is Thatcher at No. 10 with a rating of 6.1365, with Safford at No. 30 with a -2.4530 ranking. 

In 1A, Fort Thomas is No. 3 with a 9.8059 ranking, followed by No. 15 Duncan with a 1.0205 ranking. 

Boys Basketball

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: The Thatcher Eagles begin the rankings perched in the No. 3 spot statewide.

The Thatcher Eagles boys basketball team starts the ranking at No. 3 with a rating of 13.2959, which is just behind No. 2 Yuma Catholic’s rating of 13.5293. Thatcher is 4-0 in rated games. Tournament games do not count toward ratings. Safford is No. 37 with a -4.2516 rating. 

In 2A, the top-rated local team is No. 4 Pima with a rating of 8.9688 and a record of 5-1 in rated games. The Roughriders are followed locally by No. 6 Willcox, No. 10 Bisbee, No. 11 Morenci, No. 12 San Carlos, and No. 13 Miami. 

In 1A, Duncan is No. 13 with a rating of 1.6435, and Fort Thomas is No. 37 with a rating of -8.2591.