Apaches, Cats, Riders, Cowgirls, also at home
By Raymundo Frasquillo
SAFFORD – The Mia Carter-coached Safford Bulldogs (2-6 seeding) welcome the Palo Verde Magnet Titans (2-7) on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The Norma Bellamy Gymnasium-held 3A South Region contest begins at 5:30 p.m.
Also on Jan. 13, Fort Thomas (8-1) hosts Duncan (8-2) for a 1A South Region contest, Morenci (3-5) hosts 2A North Region Eagar Round Valley (7-2).
Pima (7-0) hosts 3A South Region Thatcher (4-4), and Willcox (6-2) hosts San Miguel (0-10) for a 2A South Region contest on Wednesday, Jan. 14
This week (Jan. 12-17)
In the 3A South Region this week (Jan. 12-17), Palo Verde Magnet visits Safford and Empire hosts Tanque Verde on Jan. 13; Thatcher visits 2A East Region Pima and Sabino hosts Desert Christian on Jan. 14; Pusch Ridge hosts Palo Verde Magnet, Thatcher hosts 3A Central Region Chandler Valley Christian, Safford visits 2A North Region Eagar Round Valley, Empire visits Sabino, and Tanque Verde hosts 2A South Region Tombstone on Friday, Jan. 16; and Pusch Ridge hosts 2A East Region Pima on Saturday, Jan. 17.
For the 2A East Region members, Lincoln Prep visits Gilbert Classical, Miami hosts Chandler Prep, and San Carlos visits San Tan Charter on Jan. 12; Miami hosts Dishchii’bikoh on Jan. 13; Pima hosts 3A South Region Thatcher and Leading Edge visits 2A Valley Region Phoenix Arizona Lutheran on Jan. 14; Lincoln Prep hosts Miami, Pima visits Leading Edge, San Carlos visits Gilbert Classical, and Chandler Prep visits San Tan Charter on Jan. 15; San Carlos visits 2A Valley Region Phoenix Horizon Honors on Jan. 16; and Pima visits 3A South Region Pusch Ridge Christian and Miami visits 2A Valley Region Phoenix Country Day School on Jan. 17.
The 2A South Region has Tombstone hosting San Miguel on Jan. 12; Bisbee visiting 1A South Region Elfrida Valley Union, Morenci hosting 2A North Region Eagar Round Valley, Saint Augustine hosting 1A South Region Nogales Lourdes Catholic, and Benson visiting 1A South Region Sells Baboquivari on Jan. 13; Willcox hosting San Miguel, Desert Christian visiting 3A South Region Sabino, Morenci hosting Saint Augustine Catholic, and Tombstone visiting 1A South Region Saint David on Jan. 14; Bisbee visiting Willcox, Desert Christian visiting San Miguel, and Benson hosting Santa Rita on Jan. 15; Tombstone visiting 3A South Region Tanque Verde on Jan. 16; and Morenci visiting 2A North Region Saint Johns and Benson visiting 2A Central Phoenix Christian on Jan. 17.
This week 1A East Region members Cicero Prep visits Superior and Ray hosts 2A Valley Region Eloy Santa Cruz, on Jan. 12; Fort Thomas hosts Duncan, Hayden visits Valley Lutheran, and Superior hosts San Manuel on Jan. 13; Fort Thomas visits 1A North Region Dishchii’bikoh on Jan. 14; Cicero Prep visits Tucson’s The Gregory School and Duncan hosts Hayden on Jan. 15: Fort Thomas visits 1A West Region Salome, Superior visits Hayden, and Valley Lutheran hosts San Manuel on Jan. 16; and Cicero Prep visits Duncan on Jan. 17.
3A Thatcher Eagles (4-4 seeding)
Thatcher is averaging a 38-45 (652-681) score per game or a 7-point deficit through 17 games.
A 12-member roster lists seven seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores. The seniors are Clara Barron (5), Leah Bryce (13), Ragan Buhr (23), Indiana Jones (3), Makenzi Lunt (11), Emry Nelson (2), and Claire Palmer (1); juniors Taylor Henrie (33), Sarah Sampson (4), and Jaiden Wakefield (12); and sophomores Jocelyn Lunt (14) and Brinlee Skousen (10).
The Brandon Lunt-coached Eagles are competing in the 7-member 3A South Region with the Safford Bulldogs, along with the Tucson schools Empire Ravens, Palo Verde Magnet Titans, Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, Sabino Sabercats, and Tanque Verde Hawks.
3A Safford (2-6 seeding)
Safford is averaging a 32-47 (551-805) score per game or a 15-point deficit through 17 games.
A 14-member roster has five seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Mika Durazo (2), Savannah Gonzales (10), Jazzlyn Mortensen (3), Cambree Reynolds (0), and Alexis Rope (20); juniors Makenna Macario (23), Leticia Ogas (1), Andrea Todd (5), and Lily Vise (4); sophomores Kailana Beck (12), Alecia Torres (15), and Sophia Vise (11); and freshmen Milee Carter (21) and Khloe Clark (25).
The Mia Carter-coached Bulldogs are competing in the 7-member 3A South Region with the Thatcher Eagles, along with the Tucson schools Empire Ravens, Palo Verde Magnet Titans, Pusch Ridge Christian Lions, Sabino Sabercats, and Tanque Verde Hawks.
3A South Region Standings
The 3A South Region standings as of Jan. 11 are Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (8-3 overall, 6-1 seeding, 0-0 region), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (2-11, 2-7, 0-0), Thatcher (8-9, 4-4, 0-0), Safford (5-12, 2-6, 0-0), Tucson Empire (3-13, 1-8, 0-0), Tucson Tanque Verde (1-8, 1-8, 0-0), and Tucson Sabino (7-11, 3-6, 0-0).
2A Pima Roughriders (7-0 seeding)
Pima is averaging a 49-25 (788-406) score per game or a 23-point margin through 16 games.
A 13-member roster has three seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Macy Allred (22), Alana Apodaca (33), and Maddi Dwyer (13); juniors Cheyanne Alder (5), Hanna Ashby (14), Page Ashby (30), Shante Butler (43), and Morgan Russell (42); sophomores Audrey Brimhall (32), Kera Clifford (15), and Jailey Tilley (10); and freshmen Taylor Ashby (21) and Jacey Tilley 11().
The Roy Corona-coached Roughriders are competing in the 9-member 2A East Region with the Chandler Lincoln Prep Lightning, the Chandler Prep Titans, the Gilbert Leading Edge Spartans, the Gilbert Classical Spartans, the Gilbert San Tan Charter Roadrunners, the Miami Vandals, and the San Carlos Braves.
2A Willcox Cowgirls (6-2 seeding)
Willcox is averaging a 43-35 (729-595) score per game or an 8-point margin through 17 games.
A 13-member roster has three seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Addison Burright (11), Evelyn Galaz (23), and Darielys Ruiz (3); juniors Paislee Adams (13), Leslie Barraza (21), Ruby Figueroa (4), and Brissa Salcido (22); sophomores Annel Arredando (2), Clariz Gomez (20), and Jackie Ramirez (10); and freshmen Lauren Bennett (14), Grace Flanders (1), and Lia Villa (5).
The Susie Prichard-coached Cowgirls are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Morenci Wildcats, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, and the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, San Miguel Vipers, and Santa Rita Eagles.
2A Morenci Wildcats (3-5 seeding)
Morenci is averaging a 38-44 (684-792) score per game or a 6-point deficit through 18 games.
A 13-member roster has four seniors, three juniors, and six sophomores. The seniors are Adriana Carbajal (12), Rozlyn Funari (10), Jaliyah Hernandez (44), and Jamie Turner (2); juniors Tiara Jones (20), Mayeli Salazar (5), and Kaylee Wiggins (13); and sophomores Arwa Abdulqader (11), Jaylianna Guzzo (1), Khloee Kouts (4), Tracy Mianda (24), Aiyanna Merino (3), and Arisela Salazar (14).
The Albert Ortega-coached Wildcats are competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcos Cowgirls, and the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, San Miguel Vipers, and Santa Rita Eagles.
2A East Region Standings
Standings for 2A East Region members as of Jan. 11 were Chandler Lincoln Prep (13-3*, 9-0, 2-0), Pima (13-3 overall, 7-0 seeding, 1-0 region), Miami (7-8, 2-4, 1-0), San Carlos (9-5, 6-0, 0-0), Gilbert Classical (9-7, 7-2, 0-1), Gilbert Leading Edge (2-5*, 2-5, 0-1), Chandler Prep (4-6*, 1-5, 0-1), and Gilbert San Tan Charter (1-9*, 1-9, 0-1).
2A South Region Standings
Standings for 2A South Region members as of Jan. 11 were Bisbee (6-4 overall, 4-0 seeding, 1-0 region), Willcox (11-6, 6-2, 1-0), Tucson Desert Christian (8-3, 6-1, 1-0), Morenci (7-11, 3-5, 1-0), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (7-6, 3-2, 1-1), Tucson Santa Rita (6-5, 6-5, 1-1), Tombstone (3-15, 1-7, 0-2), Benson (14-4, 3-4, 0-1), and Tucson San Miguel (0-10, 0-10, 0-2).
1A Fort Thomas (8-1 seeding)
Fort Thomas is averaging a 54-39 (1,018-732) score per game or a 15-point margin, both through 19 games.
A 14-member roster includes five seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Leia Begay (23), Kaylee Benally (0), Makayla Chapman (25), Raeleigh Hawkins (15), and Tawnee Jones (30); juniors Kynnedee Bryce (45), Corey Cody (10), Jamie Johnson (14), and Alycia Sanchez (5); sophomores Carmen Antonio (34), Kirah Moses (44), and Leilynn Wesley (3); and freshmen Jalayah Johnson (50) and Aaliyah Peter (53).
The Lee Haws-coached Apaches are competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Duncan Wildkats, the Kearny Ray Bearcats, the Phoenix Valley Lutheran Flames, the San Manuel Miners, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurions, the Superior Panthers, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
1A Duncan (8-2 seeding)
Duncan is averaging a 36-24 (688-458) score per game or a 12-point margin through 19 games,
A 9-member roster includes a senior, four juniors, a sophomore, and three freshmen. The senior is Karleigh Capel (14), juniors Lily Ford (20), Sofia Harris (15), Heidi Miller (22), and Paisley Patton (23); sophomore Haley Bigler (50); and freshmen Emma Harris (5), Dusty Rodriguez (11), and Josie Wright (4).
The Eldon Merrell-coached Wildkats are competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Kearny Ray Bearcats, the Phoenix Valley Lutheran Flames, the San Manuel Miners, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurions, the Superior Panthers, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
1A East Region Standings
Standings in the 1A East as of Jan. 11 are Fort Thomas (15-4 overall, 8-1 seeding, 2-0 region) I, Scottsdale Cicero Prep (11-3, 8-1, 2-0), Duncan (12-7, 8-2, 2-0), Kearny Ray (7-9, 5-5, 1-1), Winkelman Hayden (3-11, 3-6, 1-1) Superior (3-6, 3-6, 0-2), Phoenix Valley Lutheran (2-11, 2-8, 0-2), and San Manuel (5-9, 2-8 0-1).
Duncan – 52, Valley Lutheran – 19
Valley Lutheran junior Caitlyn Langley scored a field goal with 1:20 elapsed in the game. Duncan junior Sofia Harris matched it 14 seconds later, and the hosts took the lead for good 59 seconds after that on a Paisley Patton field goal. Five more Duncan field goals were added before the Flames’ next team point on 1-2 free throws by senior Elise Winter with 18 seconds left.
The Wildkats led 14-3 after the first quarter, 24-14 at halftime, and 37-17 heading into the fourth quarter. Duncan fielded eight: four juniors, a sophomore, and three freshmen versus the Valley Lutheran seven: a senior, four juniors, a sophomore, and a freshman.
For the game, Duncan totaled 21 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 6-12 free throws compared to five field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 7-12 free throws by Valley Lutheran.
Juniors Sofia Harris and Paisley Patton netted 11 points apiece, on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 0-2 free throws and on five field goals plus 1-2 free throws, respectively. Junior Heidi Miller added nine points, freshman Dusty Rodriguez six, junior Lily Ford and sophomore Haley Bigler five apiece, freshman Emma Harris four, and freshman Josie Wright one.
For Valley Lutheran, sophomore Anika Winter had 10 points on three field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 3-4 free throws. Senior Elise Winter added seven points, Langley two.
