By Jon Johnson
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
THATCHER — In a heated desert showdown that lived up to its billing as a battle for Gila Valley supremacy, the Thatcher Eagles extended their dominance with a commanding 63-48 victory over the rival Safford Bulldogs on Wednesday night.
Fresh off upsetting first-place Palo Verde in the 3A South Region, the Eagles (5-1 region, 18-7 overall) turned in another impressive performance at home, sweeping the season series against their cross-valley foes and cementing their status as the premier program in the region. The Bulldogs (4-3 region, 13-13 overall) fought valiantly but couldn’t overcome Thatcher’s balanced attack and hot shooting from beyond the arc.
Thatcher erupted early and never looked back, building a substantial halftime lead and holding off a third-quarter Safford surge to secure the win. The Eagles drained 10 three-pointers on the night — four more than Safford’s six — proving once again their reputation as a sharpshooting squad.
Bronson Stringfellow set the tone from the opening tip, knocking down the game’s first three-pointer and finishing with 16 points, including four triples that had the home crowd buzzing. Isaac Palmer, Thatcher’s milestone 1,000-point scorer, delivered a game-high 18 points, with 14 coming in the first half alone. Palmer showcased his all-around game, hitting threes, powering through contact for and-1 opportunities, and cleaning up on the glass with put-backs.
Wade Hull provided a steady inside-out presence with 13 points, including timely mid-range jumpers and an and-1 in the third quarter. Freshman standout JayLeon Way added 7 points, showing poise with corner threes and rebound put-backs, while Hudson Lopeman chipped in 5 points, including a key fourth-quarter triple. Braden Bryce and Chad Johnson each scored 2 points, with Bryce capping a strong defensive stand with a block and put-back late.
Safford’s star trio kept the Bulldogs in the fight for much of the game. Fernando Felix led the way with 17 points, including multiple and-1s and deep threes that sparked brief rallies. Mason Hatch contributed 15 points, attacking the rim and hitting from distance to trim the lead in the fourth. Trae Gaines battled fiercely against Palmer all night, finishing with 14 points on drives, spin moves, and a late triple, while Grady Lackner added 2 points.
The game featured plenty of back-and-forth action between the two titans, Palmer and Gaines, who traded buckets and physical plays throughout. Thatcher built a 17-10 lead after one quarter and exploded for a 13-0 run in the second to take a commanding 38-20 halftime advantage. Safford mounted a push in the third, cutting the deficit to 14 by the end of the period, but the Eagles’ depth and shooting proved too much in the final frame.
Thatcher defeated Tanque Verde 77-60 on Friday, Jan. 30, and will host (Tucson) Empire on Tuesday, Feb. 3, before finishing its regular season at home against region foe Sabino on Thursday, Feb. 5. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
Safford fell to Pusch Ridge 70-85 on Saturday, Jan. 31. The Bulldogs will host Cholla on Tuesday, Feb. 3, before finishing the regular season on the road at (Tucson) Tanque Verde on Thursday, Feb. 5. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
