Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Thatcher senior Christian Carter (32) penetrates the lane against Morenci freshman Aymen Abdulqadar (2) during a semifinal pairing Dec. 28. The Eagles slipped past the Wildcats 58-52. Morenci defenders are senior Tristen Sanchez (22) and sophomore Adrian McCallum (25) as Thatcher junior Brett Jones (3) waits at the baseline. Sanchez totaled 21 points, Carter 11, and both McCallum and Jones six apiece. Thatcher meets Safford for the 60th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney title at 8 p.m. and Morenci meets Pima for third place at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – The Safford Bulldogs (10-2) meet the Thatcher Eagles (4-2) for the boys 60th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney title at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29.
Thatcher has qualified for 36 previous finals (21-15) and Safford for 21 (9-12). The Eagles and Bulldogs have met in the finale 10 times, the most recent being in 2013 with Thatcher having an 8-2 advantage.
Last year’s meet winner Pima (8-2) faces Morenci (13-2) for third place at 1 p.m. and Fort Thomas (10-5) meets Valley Union (6-6) for fifth place at 4:30 p.m. Seventh place Saint David (4-11) faces Pima for an exhibition at 10 a.m.
The semifinals on Dec. 28 had Thatcher over Morenci 58-52 and Safford over Pima 57-54. Consolation round results were Valley Union over Saint David 56-51 and Fort Thomas over Saint David 60-46 in an exhibition.
Opening round results a day earlier had Thatcher defeating Saint David 68-35, Safford defeating Fort Thomas 64-33, and Morenci defeating Valley Union 69-26. Pima drew a bye.
