Closing seconds long-distance shot decides third place
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – Pima topped Morenci 62-43 in the 61st Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney championship game on Dec. 21. It was the Roughriders ninth tourney title and the 18th time as a finalist. The teams were both 4-0 in the tourney and 1-1 last year when meeting for third place as Morenci slipped past Pima 52-45.
Pima was one of six teams to have participated in the first tourney, a 2-day affair with seven games played on Dec. 27-28, 1963. The Roughriders ended sixth via a 46-50 overtime loss to Thatcher.
The meet was held annually, with eight teams playing 12 games over three days until the 2020-21 school year. Tournaments in any sport were not allowed by the state’s governing body, the Arizona Interscholastic Association. The 2021-23 meets continued with eight teams playing 12 games over three days. Twelve teams played five games apiece, and a total of 30 games were held over the 3-day 2024 meet in Graham County.
Pima edged Tucson Tanque Verde 46-44 in the semifinals and dispatched Apache Junction 59-30 during the first round in Guitteau Gymnasium on Dec. 20.
In the expanded 12-team field, Pima qualified for bracket play by running past Tucson Empire 64-42 and Winkelman Hayden 65-26 during pool pairings on Dec. 19.
Morenci was in its 40th tourney and 10th championship game, ending 2-8 with titles during the seventh (Jan. 1-3, 1970) and 19th (Dec. 28-30, 1981) tourneys.
The Wildcats reached the finale via a 54-45 semifinal win over Thatcher at Thatcher and a 60-59 edge over Fort Thomas during the first round at Safford, along with pool wins of 82-58 over Tucson Pueblo and 73-55 over Safford in Norma Bellamy Gymnasium.
Tanque Verde dialed long distance to slip past Thatcher 75-72 for third place, Tucson Empire pulled away from Safford 71-45 for fifth place, and Fort Thomas defeated Apache Junction 56-40 for seventh place.
Thatcher defeated Empire 59-44, and Tanque Verde defeated Safford 61-42 in the other first-round pairings, while consolation-round results were Empire over Fort Thomas 72-71 and Safford over Apache Junction 79-76 on the second day.
61st Eastern Arizona Holiday All-Tourney Team
A 15-member all-tournament team had players from each of the bracket play participants.
Meet champion Pima and runner-up Morenci both landed three players on the 2024 honor team. Pima had juniors Keegan Corona (14) and Charlie Richarson (22), along with senior Preston Russell (33). Morenci had seniors Noah Chavez (10) and Christopher Lopez (23) as well as junior Aymen Abdulqader (11). Corona was tabbed the most valuable player.
Third place Tanque Verde had senior Rich Knott (1), fourth place Thatcher juniors Chad Johnson (30) and Isaac Palmer (33), fifth place Empire seniors Donovan Davidson (1) and Kharli Gurley (2), sixth place Safford senior Nick Yentsch (10), seventh place Fort Thomas juniors Michael Olivar (34) and Channing Wilson (11), and eighth place Apache Junction senior Omar Adam (3).
Championship: Pima – 62, Morenci – 43
Sophomore Joel Mattice broke a 6-6 opening quarter tie on a field goal with 4:33 elapsed in the game, and the Roughriders never trailed thereafter. The score had been knotted twice before, at 2-2 at 2:18 into the contest and 4-4 at 1:02 later.
The designated home team, the Wildcats, was unable to neutralize the Roughrider’s height advantage. Defensive assignments forced numerous Morenci missed shot attempts while Pima had its way with numerous inside high-percentage shots. Pima led 15-8 after the first quarter, 25-17 at halftime, and 44-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
On the evening, Morenci totaled 11 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 17-22 free throws compared to 28 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 5-8 free throws by Pima.
Morenci got a team-high 25 points from senior Noah Chavez on six field goals plus 12-13 free throws. Senior Yedidia Luputa Kanyinda added six points, junior Aymen Abdulqader five, junior Abraham Cortez, senior Christopher Lopez, and junior Adrian McCallum had two apiece, and junior Adrian McCabe one.
For Pima, four of five starters contributed double-digit scoring. Junior Keegan Corona had a team-high 17 points on seven field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-2 free throws, senior Preston Russell 13 on five field goals plus 3-4 free throws, junior Charlie Richardson 12 on six field goals, and Mattice 10 on five field goals. Senior Rhett Hughes added eight points, and sophomore Tanner Smith two.
Pima has been in all 61 (98-84) tourneys, and Morenci is 66-49 in 40 (4th-7th, 18th-37th, 45th-61st).
The Pima Roughriders (12-0+ overall, 4-0 seeding, 0-0 region) compete in the 9-member 2A East Region with Gilbert San Tan Charter (4-4 seeding, 0-0 region), Gilbert Arete Prep (5-2, 0-0), San Carlos (5-2, 0-0), Miami (4-3, 0-0), Gilbert Classical (5-3, 0-0), Gilbert Leading Edge (2-2, 0-0), Chandler Lincoln Prep (1-4, 0-0), and Chandler Prep (1-6, 0-0).
Morenci (13-2 overall, 4-0 seeding, 1-0 region) competes in the 9-member 2A South Region with Tucson Desert Christian (5-1 seeding, 1-0 region), Willcox (3-2, 0-0), Bisbee (3-2, 0-1), Benson (1-5, 0-0), Tucson Santa Rita (3-5, 0-0), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (3-3, 0-0), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (3-5, 0-0), and Tombstone (1-5, 0-0).
3rd Place: Tanque Verde – 75, Thatcher – 72
Freshman Enzo Castillo’s 3-pointer with three seconds left broke a 72-72 tie and proved the game-winner. Junior teammate Rocco Haggard had tied it with 48 seconds remaining. The score was knotted twice before early in the fourth quarter, 58-58 with 7:31 and 60-60 with 6:26 left.
Five other ties occurred earlier, twice in the first quarter, 2-2 with 1:16 elapsed and 21-21 with 36 seconds left; twice in the second quarter, 29-29 with 2:35 and 31-31 with 1:51 left; and once in the third quarter, 54-54 with 35 seconds left.
Tanque Verde led 23-21 following the first quarter and 36-34 at halftime, while Thatcher led 57-55 heading into the fourth quarter. Thatcher led by 10 points, 15-5 with 3:33 left in the first quarter, Tanque Verde led by eight, 49-41 with 4:01 left in the third quarter.
Thatcher made 29 field goals (eight 3-pointers) plus 7-15 free throws, while Tanque Verde totaled 25 field goals (seven 3-pointers) plus 18-31 free throws.
Junior Isaac Palmer tallied a game-high 28 points on 12 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 2-3 free throws, junior Chad Johnson 15 on five field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 3-5 free throws, and junior Braden Bryce 11 on five field goals plus 1-3 free throws. Sophomore Wade Hull added eight points, junior Bronson Stringfellow five, both senior Wyatt Nicholas and sophomore Brant Duncan two apiece, and junior Ryan Jones one.
For Tanque Verde, Haggard scored a team-high 20 points on eight field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 2-5 free throws, senior Jacob Dickens 17 on six field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 2-3 free throws, senior Rich Knott 16 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 7-12 free throws, and senior Philip Knott 10 on three field goals plus 4-6 free throws. Sophomore Ryan Johnson added seven points, Castillo three, and junior Alejandro Espinoza two.
Thatcher has been in all 61 (121-54) tourneys, and Tanque Verde is 8-6 in four (50th-52nd, 61st).
The Tanque Verde Hawks (6-6 overall, 5-4 seeding, 1-0 region) and Thatcher Eagles (6-4, 3-2, 0-0) compete in the 9-member 3A South Region with Tanque Verde (5-4 seeding, 1-0 region), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (6-1, 0-0), Tucson Sabino (3-2, 0-0), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (3-3, 0-0), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (0-6, 0-1), Safford (1-4, 0-0) and Tucson Catalina (0-7, 0-0).
5th Place: Empire – 71, Safford – 45
A 10-14 Safford second-quarter output was not enough to offset a 14-21 first-quarter deficit, resulting in a 35-24 Empire halftime advantage. The Chad Smith-coached Ravens led 55-34 heading into the fourth quarter and went on to amass a 36-21 second-half margin.
For the game, Safford connected on 21 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-6 free throws compared to 29 field goals (nine 3-pointers) plus 4-6 free throws by Empire.
Senior Nick Yentsch and junior Dylan Broderick both netted 12 points on six field goals plus 0-1 free throws and on six field goals plus 0-3 free throws, respectively. Senior Cole Yentsch added six points, junior Fernando Felix and freshman Trae Gaines four each, junior Grady Lackner three, and both senior Jace Jameson and junior Mason Hatch two each.
For Empire, 10 of 11 Ravens contributed to their scoring total. Freshman Isaac Buchanan had 12 points on four field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws, senior Kharli Gurley 11 on four field goals (three 3-pointers), and sophomore Desmond Davidson 10 on four field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-2 free throws. Senior Gabe Shearer added nine points, sophomore Donovan Davidson eight, sophomores Jordan Noble and Christian Noble six apiece, sophomore Cameron Tanner five, and juniors Tyler Chamblee and Wensome Nikiema two.
Safford is 99-51 in 50 (12th-61st) tourneys and first-time participant Empire 3-2 (61st).
The Empire Ravens (6-6 overall, 3-4 seeding, 0-0 region) and Safford Bulldogs (4-11, 1-4, 0-0) compete in the 9-member 3A South Region with Tanque Verde (5-4 seeding, 1-0 region), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (6-1, 0-0), Tucson Sabino (3-2, 0-0), Thatcher (3-2, 0-0), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (3-3, 0-0), Tucson Andrada Polytechnic (0-6, 0-1), and Tucson Catalina (0-7, 0-0).
7th Place: Fort Thomas – 56, Apache Junction – 30
Apache Junction senior Omar Adam drew first blood from atop the arc with 15 seconds elapsed, Fort Thomas junior Channing Wilson countered from long range 24 seconds later, Adam added another 3-pointer 1:35 after that, and Fort Thomas junior Michael Olivar followed suit 15 seconds later. The score was knotted at 6-6 until words were said twice, resulting in technical fouls accessed twice, on an Apache Junction coach and a player. Wilson netted all four charity shots with 5:18 left in the opening quarter. Olivar added back-to-back treys 52 seconds apart, and the Prospectors never recovered, trailing by 10, 11-21, after the first quarter; by 21, 17-40, at halftime; and by 30, 22-52, heading into the fourth quarter.
“It was a different style of play than we’re used to,” former Safford and current Apache Junction head coach Troy Powell said. “We had to defend differently. Most of our boys don’t get out of the city. By putting ourselves in an uncomfortable situation, we will grow from it.”
For the game, Fort Thomas connected on 19 field goals (nine 3-pointers) plus 9-10 free throws, while Apache Junction made 13 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws.
Michael Olivar contributed 19 points on seven field goals (five 3-pointers) and Wilson 12 on three field goals (one 3-pointers) plus 5-6 free throws. Freshman Amare Ethelbah added eight points, freshman Aiden Victor four, junior Justin Olivar three, and seniors Orion Titla, Runyon Kinney, and Justin Kitcheyan, junior Koby Hunter, and sophomore Brian Sign two apiece.
For Apache Junction, Adam had 19 points on eight field goals (three 3-pointers). Senior Manuel O’Brien added eight points, sophomore Pablo Gonzales two, and junior Biagio Castagnola one.
Fort Thomas has been in all 61 (84-100) tourneys and Apache Junction is 1-6 in two (11th, 61st). The Prospectors also succumbed to Fort Thomas in 1973, 42-45 (Dec. 28).
The Fort Thomas Apaches (8-8 overall, 3-1 seeding, 1-0 region) compete in the 8-member 1A East Region with Scottsdale Cicero Prep (5-2 seeding, 1-0 region), Winkelman Hayden (5-1, 1-0), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (5-2, 1-0), Duncan (3-5, 0-1), Kearny Ray (3-5, 0-1), Superior (2-7, 0-1), and San Manuel (1-8, 0-1).
Apache Junction (5-12 overall, 2-5 seeding, 0-1 region) competes in the 6-member 3A Central Region with Chandler Valley Christian (5-1 seeding, 2-0 region), Florence (6-0, 0-0), Coolidge (5-1, 0-0), Globe (6-3, 0-0), and Chandler Seton Catholic (2-6, 0-0).
Round Robin Results, Dec. 20-21
The Round Robin participants were the four teams succumbing twice during pool play. Saint Johns slipped past Tucson Pueblo 49-46 at Thatcher High, Saint David downed Winkelman 52-45 at EAC, Pueblo ran away from Hayden 63-37 at Safford High, and Saint Johns defeated Saint David 67-47 at Thatcher High on Dec. 20.
Saint Johns pulled away from Hayden 72-56, and Pueblo defeated Saint David 42-35 at Thatcher on Dec. 21.
The 8-time participant Saint David Tigers left Graham County with a 7-19 (54th-61st) tourney record, the 4-time participant Hayden Lobos 6-8 (5th-7th, 61st), the 2-time participating Saint Johns Redskins 4-4 (59th, 61st), and the first time entrant Pueblo Warriors 2-3 (61st).
Hayden (8-9 overall, 5-1 seeding, 1-0 region) competes in the 8-member 1A East Region with Scottsdale Cicero Prep (5-2 seeding, 1-0 region), Fort Thomas (3-1 seeding, 1-0 region), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (5-2, 1-0), Duncan (3-5, 0-1), Kearny Ray (3-5, 0-1), Superior (2-7, 0-1), and San Manuel (1-8, 0-1).
Saint David (8-9 overall, 5-1 seeding, 1-0 region) competes in the 8-member 1A East Region with Scottsdale Cicero Prep (5-2 seeding, 1-0 region), Fort Thomas (3-1 seeding, 1-0 region), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (5-2, 1-0), Duncan (3-5, 0-1), Kearney Ray (3-5, 0-1), Superior (2-7, 0-1), and San Manuel (1-8, 0-1).
Saint Johns (8-9 overall, 5-1 seeding, 1-0 region) competes in the 8-member 1A East Region with Scottsdale Cicero Prep (5-2 seeding, 1-0 region), Fort Thomas (3-1 seeding, 1-0 region), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (5-2, 1-0), Duncan (3-5, 0-1), Kearney Ray (3-5, 0-1), Superior (2-7, 0-1), and San Manuel (1-8, 0-1).
Pueblo (4-12 overall, 1-6 seeding, 0-0 region) competes in the 6-member 5A Southern Region with Vail Cienega (5-1 seeding, 0-0 region), Sierra Vista Buena (5-0, 0-0), Nogales (1-4, 0-0), Tucson Desert View (0-6, 0-0), and Tucson Flowing Wells (0-, 0-0).
Pool Play Results, Dec. 19
Pima (2-0) was first, Empire (1-1) second, and Hayden (0-2) third for Pool A on the Pima campus. The Roughriders defeated Empire 64-42 and Hayden 65-26. Empire defeated Hayden 66-40.
Thatcher (2-0) was first, Apache Junction (1-1) second, and Saint David (0-2) third for Pool B on the Thatcher campus. The Eagles defeated Saint David 70-40 and Apache Junction 47-30. Apache Junction defeated Saint David 49-47.
Morenci (2-0) was first, Safford (1-1) second, and Pueblo (0-2) third for Pool C in Norma Bellamy Gymnasium. Morenci defeated Pueblo 82-58 and Safford 73-55. Safford defeated Pueblo 51-50.
Tanque Verde (2-0) was first, Fort Thomas (1-1) second, and Saint Johns (0-2) third for Pool D in Guitteau Gymnasium. Tanque Verde defeated Saint Johns 72-41 and Fort Thomas 70-54. Fort Thomas defeated Saint Johns 87-56.
This tourney marks the first time 12 teams play two games on the first day at four different sites, 12 teams play two games on the second day at three different sites, the third time the boys and girls meets occur on the same days and dates, and the ninth time the boys meet has been held before Christmas.
