Thatcher aims high over Show Low to make it two in a row

By Jon Johnson

*Photo By Steve Carter: Isaac Palmer absorbs the contact and finishes the fast break.*

THATCHER – The Thatcher Eagles (1-1 conference, 2-1 overall) utilized a lockdown defense and allowed only 7 points in the first half to take control and ultimately defeat Show Low at home on Tuesday, 64-42.

While Thatcher held Show Low (1-3 conference, 1-3 overall) to just one field goal in the second quarter, the Eagles went for double figures in each quarter to notch their second straight win in the cozy confines of their home court.

Junior shooting guard Bronson Stringfellow led a balanced offense with 17 points, followed by fellow junior shooting guards Isaac Palmer with 16 and Chad Johnson with 14 points. Johnson was a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line, and as a team, Thatcher shot 19-22 from the charity stripe.

The Eagles jumped out to a 20-point lead by halftime, 27-7, and kept pace the rest of the way to a 64-42 victory.

*Photo By Steve Carter: Wyatt Nicholas (21) looks to pass to a teammate.*

Senior forward Wyatt Nicholas and junior forward Braden Bryce each pitched in 6 points, senior center Daniel Palmer and sophomore guard Wade Hull had 2 points each, and sophomore guard Brant Duncan had 1 point.

Show Low’s Hadlee Dazen led all scorers with 20 points, but his supporting cast fell short of keeping up with Thatcher’s team.

The Eagles will next travel to Tucson to take on the 4A Amphitheater Panthers (1-0 conference, 2-2 overall) on Friday, Dec. 13, and then they will play at Coolidge (3-0 conference, 8-1 overall) against the Bears on Tuesday, Dec. 17, starting at 7 p.m.

In other local boys hoops action:

The Pima Roughriders (2-0 conference, 3-0 overall) defeated Round Valley 59-28 on the road on Saturday, Dec. 7, and defeated Blue Ridge at home 60-32 on Monday, Dec. 9.

Pima is back on the road for the Round Ball Basketball Tournament in the Round Valley Dome on Thursday, Dec. 12, and Friday, Dec. 13. After the tournament, the Riders will next host Safford on Tuesday, Dec. 17, starting at 7 p.m.

*Photo By Steve Carter: Charles Johnson shoots over two defenders.*

Safford (0-2 conference, 1-3 overall) got its first win of the season on Tuesday, 70-60, over Willcox. The Bulldogs are on the road to Flagstaff for a Holiday Basketball Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 12 – Saturday, Dec. 14, and will next play in the Gila Valley in Pima against the Roughriders on Tuesday, Dec. 17, starting at 7 p.m.