Redskins visit Morenci on Saturday

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Arwa Abdulqadar (2) sends a floor shot toward the basket as Willcox junior Darielys Ruiz (3) and senior Gabriela Galaz (15) attempt to block it. The Morenci freshman tied the score at 43-43 in the final two minutes. Morenci prevailed 46-43 and hosts No. 6 Saint Johns on Saturday, Jan. 18 and No. 36 Desert Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Wildcats drop out of Top 24 rankings

By Raymundo Frasquillo

MORENCI – The No. 8 Saint Johns Redskins enter Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 18, followed by the No. 36 Tucson Desert Christian Eagles on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The No. 25 Morenci Wildcats travel to No. 13 Willcox on Thursday, Jan. 23. The Desert Christian and Willcox games are for region play.

Other region pairings for South Region members this week (Jan. 18-25) include Tombstone visiting San Miguel, Bisbee visiting Santa Rita, and Saint Augustine visiting Benson on Jan. 21; Bisbee hosting Benson, Saint Augustine hosting San Miguel and Desert Christian hosting Santa Rita on Jan. 23; and Tombstone visiting Willcox on Friday, Jan. 24.

The non-region parings include Desert Christian visiting Saint David on Jan. 18; Saint Augustine visiting Desert Christian in McHale Memorial Center on Monday, Jan. 20; Willcox hosting Globe on Jan. 21; Benson hosting Chandler Prep on Jan. 24; and Desert Christian visiting Tucson’s The Gregory School on Jan. 25.

2A State Rankings

The Top 24 teams following the regular season’s conclusion will be participating in the post-season. An open tourney for Classes 1A-3A begins on Feb. 11, and the losers are eligible to be part of the 16-team, four-round tourney. The Play-in Round follows on Feb. 13, and the first round on Feb. 17 at the higher seed.

State-wide 2A rankings on Jan. 17 had Phoenix Country Day School (10-1 seeding, 21.9887 rating) was No. 1, Miami (10-0, 19.8092) No. 2, San Carlos (12-0, 18.1853) No. 3, Pima (8-0, 17.9351) No. 4, Fountain Hills (8-2, 13.9062) No. 5, Tombstone (9-1, 13.8361) No. 6, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (8-2, 13.5167) No. 7, and Saint Johns (9-2, 12.5354) No. 8.

Glendale Prep (7-4, 9.5595) was No. 9, Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (9-3, 8.8572) No. 10, Scottsdale Prep (9-2, 8.2313) No. 11, Many Farms (9-2, 7.7652) No. 12, Willcox (7-3, 7.7523) No. 13, Phoenix Horizon Honors (5-6, 7.3427) No. 14, Kingman Academy (8-3, 6.4946) No. 15, and Rancho Solano Prep (8-3, 6.3646) No. 16.

Phoenix North Valley Christian (7-4, 4.7222) was No. 17, Gilbert Leading Edge (5-5, 4.5026) No. 18, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (7-2, 4.0808) No. 19, Eagar Round Valley (8-5, 4.0149) No. 20, Benson (4-5, 3.2896) No. 21, Sanders Valley (7-6, 3.0428) No. 22, Gilbert Classical (6-4, 2.7744) No. 23, and Phoenix Christian (6-4, 2.0609) No. 24.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Senior Talia McCabe (12) brings the ball up-court as Willcox junior Addison Burright (11) defends. McCabe made the game-winning 3-pointer and Burright had 10 points.

The initial rankings on Jan. 14 had Phoenix Country Day (9-1 seeding, 21.8916 rating) was No. 1, Miami (9-0, 19.5826) No. 2, Pima (8-0, 18.0622) No. 3, San Carlos (10-0, 17.7705) No. 4, Tombstone (9-1, 16.0795) No. 5, Saint Johns (8-1, 14.2279) No. 6, Fountain Hills (6-2, 13.0688) No. 7, Arizona Lutheran (6-2, 13.0024) No. 8, Scottsdale Prep (7-2, 9.3257) No. 9, Horizon Honors (5-5, 8.0484) No. 10, Mohave Accelerated (8-3, 8.0249) No. 11, Willcox (7-2, 7.6845) No. 12, Many Farms (8-2, 7.4086) No. 13, Kingman Academy (7-2, 7.3267) No. 14, Glendale Prep (5-4, 7.1340) No. 15, Round Valley (7-3, 7.0496) No. 16, Rancho Solano Prep (7-3, 6.4483) No. 17, Leading Edge (5-3, 6.3091) No. 18, North Valley Christian (6-3, 5.2425) No. 19, Saint Augustine (6-2, 4.8895) No. 20, Gilbert Classical (6-2, 3.1964) No. 21, Saint John Paul II (6-3, 2.4776) No. 22, Morenci (5-4, 2.2950) No. 23, and Phoenix Christian (6-4, 2.0609) No. 24.

The state rankings for the other five South Region teams are Morenci (5-5, 2.4758) No. 25, Bisbee (5-5, 0.4855) No. 28, Tucson Desert Christian (4-5, 4.6259) No. 36, Tucson Santa Rita (3-6, minus 16.6899) No. 39, and Tucson San Miguel Catholic (0-11, minus 26.5541) No. 49.

During the initial rankings, Benson (4-5, 0.8754) was No. 28, Bisbee (4-5, minus 0.7812) No. 32, Desert Christian (3-5, 3.9544) No. 36, Santa Rita (3-6, minus 9.9235) No. 39, and San Miguel (0-11, minus 25.9859) No. 49.

2A South Region Standings

Region standing through Jan. 17 were Tombstone (9-1 seeding, 4-0 region) first, Bisbee (5-5, 2-1) second, Willcox (7-3, 2-1) third, Saint Augustine (7-2, 2-1) fourth, Benson (5-5, 1-2) fifth, Morenci (5-5, 1-2) sixth, Desert Christian (4-5, 1-2) seventh, Santa Rita (3-8, 1-2) eight, and San Miguel (0-12, 0-3) ninth.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Maddie Bennett (14) positions herself for a rebound against Morenci junior Rozlyn Funari (10). Bennett had 14 points and Funari 10.

To date, region wins have been Tombstone over Morenci (40-33, Dec. 16), Desert Christian (53-15, Jan. 7), Bisbee (58-47, Jan. 9), and Benson (53-48, Jan. 10); Bisbee over Desert Christian (42-40, Dec. 19) and Willcox (41-40, Jan. 16); Willcox over Benson (50-47, Jan. 7) and Saint Augustine (54-40, Jan. 9); Saint Augustine over Santa Rita (52-26, Jan. 7) and Morenci (55-41, Jan. 16); Benson over Santa Rita (60-11, Jan. 16); Morenci over San Miguel (80-18, Jan. 7); Desert Christian over San Miguel (48-16, Jan. 15); and Santa Rita over San Miguel (55-10, Jan. 9).

No. 8 Saint Johns Redskins (19-3)

Saint Johns (19-3 overall, 9-2 seeding, 2-0 2A North Region) is averaging a score of 53-28 (584-304) per seeding game or a 25-point margin. The Ray Davis-coached Redskins have seeding wins over Sanders Valley (52-35, Nov. 26), Holbrook (52-40, Dec. 73), Eagar Round Valley (49-26, Dec. 17), Phoenix Horizon Honors (50-22, Dec. 21), Flagstaff Northland Prep (71-18, Jan. 4), Winslow (54-47, Jan. 7), Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (81-4, Jan. 9), Keams Canyon Hopi (51-15, Jan. 11), and Pinon (56-15, Jan. 16) along with losses to Joseph City (37-44, Dec. 20) and Heber Mogollon (31-38, Jan. 14).

Additionally, the Redskins went 4-1 during the 2-day Phoenix Country Day School tourney and 2-3 during the 3-day Phoenix South Mountain tourney. The wins were over Kingman Academy (48-22, Dec. 6), Scottsdale Cicero Prep (49-19, Dec. 6), Tonopah Valley (59-9, Dec. 6), Scottsdale Prep (52-23, Dec. 7), Whiteriver Alchesay (47-34, Dec. 12), Morenci (58-24, Dec. 12), Dishchii’bikoh (47-11, Dec. 13), Sanders Valley (49-36, Dec. 13), Alchesay (57-47, Dec. 14), and Holbrook (50-37, Dec. 14) while the loss was to Fountain Hills (21-30, Dec. 7). The Redskins are averaging an overall score of 51-27 (1,121-596) per game or a 24-point margin.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Jayla Wilson (33) draws a triple-team from Willcox. The Morenci senior controlled the ball and successfully passed it off.

Saint Johns has a 12-member team of six seniors, four juniors, and two sophomores. The roster includes seniors Evalyn Andrus (3), Hannah Farmer (15), Payton Nielson (10), Sarah Patterson (24), Kaylee Pulsipher (5), and Maya Tsinajinnie (25); juniors Roerie Knight (21), Morgan Lee (1), Evannah Richardson (22), and Kasey Tsinajinnie (23); sophomore Lucy Sundahl (4) and Abby Wagoner (11).

The Redskins are competing in the 8-member 2A North Region with Eagar Round Valley, Flagstaff Northland Prep, Keams Canyon Hopi, Many Farms, Pinon, Sanders Valley, and Tuba City Greyhills.

No. 36 Desert Christian Eagles (7-9)

Desert Christian (7-9 overall, 4-5 seeding, 1-2 2A South Region) is averaging a score of 42-40 (398-362) per seeding game or a 2-point margin. The Rich Peddy-coached Eagles have seeding wins over Elfrida Valley Union (26-20, Nov. 20), Tucson Catalina (40-16, Dec. 5), Tucson Tanque Verde (43-37, Dec. 7), and San Miguel (48-16, Jan. 15) as well as losses to Scottsdale Cicero Prep (50-53, Nov. 21), Tombstone (17-51, Dec. 3), Bisbee (40-42, Dec. 19), Phoenix Christian (32-45, Dec. 20), and Tombstone (15-53, Jan. 7).

In addition, the Eagles won 1-3 during The Gregory School tourney and 2-1 during the Queen Creek tourney. The wins were over San Simon (29-20, Nov. 27), Phoenix Veritas Prep (45-31, Jan. 3), and Phoenix Bourgade Catholic (44-27, Jan. 4).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Mayeli Salazar (13) drives against Saint Augustine sophomore Marina Gutierrez (13).

The losses were to Bisbee (27-37, Nov. 25), Tucson Desert View (39-40, Nov. 26), Willcox (19-50, Nov. 26), and Gilbert Leading Edge (27-56, Jan. 3). The Eagles are averaging an overall score of 45-42 (906-836) per seeding game or a 3-point margin.

Desert Christian has an 11-member team with eight juniors, two sophomores, and one freshman. The roster includes juniors Faith Charles (1), Priscilla Genteman (34), Arianna Meares (4), Abby Numer (3), Alexa Olivas (11), Chloe Rodgers (10), Kate Steckler (2), and Emmy Welch (0); sophomores Emily Fellmeth (24) and Cait Lundgren (22); and freshman Reece Welch (5).

The Eagles are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Morenci, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.

No. 13 Willcox Cowgirls (13-6)

Willcox (13-6 overall, 7-3 seeding, 2-1 2A South Region) is averaging a score of 53-38 (528-375) per seeding game or a 15-point margin. The Susie Pritchard-coached Cowgirls have seeding wins over Tucson Catalina (54-18, Dec. 3), Bisbee (50-26, Dec. 6), Tucson Empire (70-14, Dec. 9), Safford (63-41, Dec. 10), Benson (50-47, Jan. 7), Saint Augustine (54-40, Jan. 9), and Tombstone (42-40, Jan. 14) while the losses are to Morenci (43-46, Jan. 19), Saint David (62-62, Jan. 13), and Bisbee (40-41, Jan. 16).

In addition, the Cowgirls went 4-1 during the 3-day Gregory School tourney and 2-3 during the 3-day Phoenix South Mountain tourney. The wins were over Bisbee (39-33, Nov. 25), The Gregory School (46-32, Nov. 25), Tucson Desert View (40-26, Nov. 26), Desert Christian (50-19, Nov. 26), Scottsdale Coronado (75-21, Dec. 27), and Queen Creek (56-40, Dec. 27).

The losses were to Tombstone (45-55, Nov. 27), Laveen Cesar Chavez (31-77, Dec. 26), Anthem Boulder Creek (39-46, Dec. 28), and Phoenix North (39-72, Dec. 28). The Cowgirls are averaging an overall score of 52-42 (988-796) per game or a 10-point margin.

Willcox has a 10-member team of four seniors, three juniors, one sophomore, and two freshmen. The roster includes seniors Maddie Bennett (14), Jesmin Ceballos (2), Darlene Cecena (1), and Gabriela Galaz (15); juniors Addison Burright (11), Kennedy Ebert (5), and Darielys Ruiz (3); sophomore Paislee Adams (13); and freshmen Annel Arredondo (4) and Taytum Defeo (10).

The Cowgirls are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Morenci, Tombstone, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.

No. 25 Morenci Wildcats (8-13)

Morenci (8-13 overall, 5-5 seeding, 1-2 2A South Region) is averaging a score of 44-38 (436-384) or a 6-point margin per seeding game. The Albert Ortega-coached Wildcats have seeding wins over Santa Rita (65-14, Dec. 2), Empire (68-17, Dec. 5), Thatcher (48-42, Dec. 9), San Miguel (80-18, Jan. 7), and Willcox (46-43, Jan. 10) while the losses are to Tombstone (31-40, Dec. 16), San Carlos (15-57, Dec. 17), Pima (17-51, Jan. 9), Round Valley (25-49, Jan. 13), and Saint Augustine (41-55, Jan. 16).

In addition, the Wildcats went 1-4 during the 3-day Eagar Round Valley tourney and 3-2 during the 3-day 48th Eastern Arizona Holiday tourney. The wins were recorded over Dishchii’bikoh (58-45, Dec. 13), Empire (59-25, Dec. 19), and Peoria Centennial (43-33, Dec. 21). The losses were to Whiteriver Alchesay (25-60, Dec. 12), Saint Johns (24-58, Dec. 12), Sanders Valley (57-60, Dec. 12), Manny Farms (27-52, Dec. 14), Fort Thomas (16-66, Dec. 19), Saint David (40-55, Dec. 20), and Thatcher (25-55, Dec. 20). Morenci is averaging an overall score of 39-43 (810-895) per game or a 4-point deficit.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Willcox head coach Susie Pritchard advises the Cowgirls during a timeout. Morenci slipped past Willcox in Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 10. The Cowgirls host Morenci for a region contest on Thursday, Jan. 23.

The Wildcats are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.

The Wildcats have a 13-member team of four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores, and five freshmen. The roster includes seniors Arianna Burnette (11), Talia McCabe (12), Tayah Wilkes (4), and Jayla Wilson (33); juniors Adriana Carbajal (5) and Rozlyn Funari (10); sophomores Tiara Jones (20) and Mayeli Salazar (13); and freshmen Arwa Abdulqadar (2), Jaylianna Guzzo (1), Khloee Kouts (14), Aiyanna Merino (24), and Arisela Salazar (30).

Saint Augustine – 55, Morenci – 41

Saint Augustine senior Megan Callahan made 1-2 free throws to tie the score at 22-22 with 1:12 elapsed in the third quarter. Her field goal 23 seconds later gave the host Wolves the lead for good.

Morenci came within one, 25-26, midway through the third quarter, and a pair of Jaylianna Guzzo’s early fourth-quarter free throws brought Morenci within four, 32-36, but no closer thereafter. The visiting Wildcats led 10-9 after the first quarter and 22-21 at halftime.

On the evening, Morenci made 14 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 12-19 free throws while Saint Augustine had 22 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 8-16 free throws.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci spirit line members move in unison to entertain fans during a recent home basketball game.

Rozlyn Funari had 14 points on six field goals plus 2-4 free throws. Guzzo added seven points, Tiara Jones and Mayeli Salazar both six apiece, Talia McCabe five, Arwa Abdulqadar two, and Khloee Kouts one.

Callahan netted a game-high 19 points for Saint Augustine on seven field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 2-4 free throws, and senior Lourdes Gamez 13 on five field goals plus 3-5 free throws. Sophomore Mariana Gutierrez added nine points, freshman Aliyah Preciado eight, senior Carolina Georgelos four, and freshman Sevina Paz two.

On a previous campus visit, Morenci left with an 84-14 win (Jan. 18, 2017), and Saint Augustine finished 0-22 that season. The following year, the Wolves left Wildcat Memorial Gymnasium with a 10-57 loss (Jan. 19, 2018) and ended 1-23. The series favors Morenci 2-1.

Round Valley – 49, Morenci Wildcats -25

Leading 14-13 at halftime, the Elks pulled away with a 22-4 third-quarter effort en route to the non-region win. Morenci led 12-7 after the first quarter.

For the game, Morenci totaled 11 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws versus 22 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 4-5 free throws by Round Valley.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Keyah Garcia (RIGHT) turns to warm up her front side at the Winter Homecoming bon fire. The Morenci spirit line freshman was one of several student body members attending the event.

Five Wildcats scored with none in double figures. Funari had nine points, Wilson six, both Jones and Salazar four apiece, and Guzzo two.

For the Elks, sophomore Kelci Walker netted a game-high 25 points on 11 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-3 free throws, and sophomore Addison Poston 12 on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-2 free throws. Sophomore Brynn Hamblin added four points, and both senior Tycee Walker and sophomore Cassidy Elmer two each.

Morenci – 46, Willcox -43

Arwa Abdulqadar received the ball, squared up, sighted in on the basket, and drew nothing but net to tie the score at 43-43 with 1:52 remaining to play. Talia McCabe drilled a 3-pointer 40 seconds later for the go-ahead score. Those field goals were the only ones scored by both players during the game. The teams exchanged a pair of missed free throws and the score held for a Morenci region win.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Jaylianna Guzzo (1) concentrates on making a free throw attempt. The Morenci freshman made 5-6 against Saint Augustine.

A Funari field goal with 4:20 left in the third quarter gave Morenci its largest lead of the game, 31-22. Her second of two free throws 47 seconds into the fourth quarter had the advantage at seven, 37-30. The largest lead by Willcox was five points twice in the second quarter.

Morenci led 11-10 after the first quarter, 23-18 at halftime, and 36-30 heading into the fourth quarter.

For the game, Morenci made 19 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 6-14 free throws compared to 17 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 7-18 free throws by Willcox.

Jones netted 20 points on eight field goals plus 4-6 free throws, and Funari 10 on four field goals plus 2-5 free throws. Wilson added nine points, McCabe three, and both Salazar and Abdulqadar two apiece.

For Willcox, senior Maddie Bennett had 12 points on four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 6-14 free throws, and junior Addison Burright 10 on three field goals plus 4-8 free throws. Senior Gabriela Galaz added eight points, sophomore Paislee Adams six, junior Kennedy Ebert four, and junior Darielys Ruiz three.