Roughriders host Titans on Friday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – Students always ask why they need to know something they will never use once they leave the classroom. They learn problem-solving in math, particularly in geometry. Two sports where the knowledge of angles is helpful are billiards and basketball. One needs to know where to hit a ball to set up the next shot in billiards, and where a missed attempt will likely bounce off the rim or backboard in basketball.
Following the opening quarter in Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium, Morenci head coach Ruben Leonard asked, “Didn’t we go over the need for rebounding before the game?”
Apparently, the Wildcats paid no heed as they trailed by double digits heading into the second quarter, having been outrebounded by their opponents, getting position on missed shot attempts, and the 9-9 fourth-quarter effort, primarily against Pima reserves, was far short of neutralizing or erasing the 44-point three-quarters deficit.
The visiting Cliff Thompson-coached Roughriders led 23-7 following the initial eight minutes, 42-15 at halftime, and 66-22 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the evening, Morenci connected on 12 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 4-7 free throws compared to 32 field goals plus 11-14 free throws by Pima.
Three Wildcats scored, with seniors Adrian McCabe and Adrian McCallum tossing in 12 and 11 points, respectively. McCabe made five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-1 free throws, and McCallum had four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-4 free throws. Junior Aymen Abdulqader added eight points.
Ten Roughriders contributed to their scoring total. Junior Joel Mattice netted a game-high 21 points on 10 field goals plus 1-2 free throws, senior Charles Richardson 15 on six field goals plus 3-4 free throws, and junior Stratton McRae 10 on five field goals. Senior Keegan Corona added eight points, junior Nash Bodily seven, junior Tanner Smith five, junior Hayden Wilkins three, and seniors Keaton Bryce and Isaac Thompson, plus junior Gilbert Bryce, two apiece.
Pima (16-2 overall, 6-0 seeding, 0-0 region) is competing in the 9-member 2A East Region with the Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners (13-3, 10-0, 1-0), the San Carlos Braves (10-3*, 6-2, 0-0), the Gilbert Classical Spartans (10-2*, 8-1, 0-0), the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning (7-9, 4-4, 0-1), the Gilbert Arete Prep Chargers (6-6, 3-5, 0-0), the Miami Vandals (7-9, 2-4, 0-0), the Gilbert Leading Edge Spartans (2-10*, 2-6, 0-0), and the Chandler Prep Titans (0-7, 0-7, 0-0).
Morenci (7-10, 3-3, 0-0) is competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Bisbee Pumas (7-3, 4-1, 1-0), the Tucson Desert Christian Eagles (6-10, 4-3, 0-0), the Benson Bobcats (10-7, 4-2, 0-0), the Willcox Cowboys (11-5, 4-4, 0-0), the Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves (12-2, 5-1, 0-0), the Tucson Santa Rita Eagles (3-8, 3-8, 0-0), the Tucson San Miguel Catholic Vipers (6-9, 6-6, 0-0), and the Tombstone Yellow Jackets (1-17, 1-7, 0-1).
The Cliff Thompson-coached Roughriders host Chandler Prep while the Ruben Leonard-coached Wildcats visit Willcox on Friday, Jan. 9.
Pima is averaging a 64-48 (1,160-861) score per game or a 16-point margin through 18 games, while Morenci is averaging a 39-51 (670-860) score per game or a 12-point deficit through 17 games.
