Eagles seek initial seeding victory
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – The Elaina Estrada-coached Thatcher Eagles host the Christie Francis-coached Show Low Cougars on Tuesday, Dec. 10. It is the fourth regular season or seeding contest for both teams.
Thus far, the visitors have seeding losses to Page (35-57, Nov. 21), Chinle (47-52 OT, Nov. 26), and Tuba City (33-52, Dec. 3), while the hosts have succumbed to Tucson Amphitheater (31-58, Nov. 20), Payson (31-58, Dec. 3), and Morenci (42-48, Dec. 9).
Additionally, Show Low has three wins during the 3-day Page Antelope Canyon Holiday Classic on Dec. 5-7. The Cougars defeated Nevada Las Vegas Sierra Vista (58-45, Dec. 5), Kayenta Monument Valley (43-42, Dec. 6), and Page (52-46, Dec. 7).
Show Cougars (3-3 overall)
Show Low heads to the 3-day Flagstaff tourney on Thursday, Dec. 12, and visits Payson on Dec. 17 to close out the month.
Cougars compete in the 6-member 3A East Region with the Holbrook Roadrunners, the Lakeside Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets, the Snowflake Warriors, the Winslow Bulldogs, and the Whiteriver Alchesay Falcons.
The region standings through Dec 9 were Alchesay (2-2), Snowflake (1-1), Holbrook (1-3), Blue Ridge (1-4), Winslow (1-5), and Show Low (0-3).
The Cougars have a 13-member roster of five seniors, six juniors, and two sophomores. The roster includes seniors Aniya Paxton (10), Reese Perkins (1), Kelsey Romo (24), Victoria Snow (23), and Raquel Wilson (5); juniors Preesley Binnie (13), Jaylee Boyce (2), Jordyn Boyce (3), Reese Hatch (14), Tatum Moore (12), and Laci Peter (20); and sophomores Kinsey Frost (44) and Paxton (21).
Thatcher Eagles (0-3)
After hosting Show Low on Dec. 10, the Eagles will attend the two-day Payson tourney on Friday, Dec. 13, visit Coolidge on Dec. 17, and attend the three-day Eastern Arizona Holiday tourney on Dec. 19.
The Eagles have a 13-member roster of five seniors, six juniors, and two sophomores. The roster includes seniors Lizzy Bauman (10), Kenady Davis (14), Sophia Estrada (21), Audrey Smith (22), and Cambria Wakefield (12); juniors Clara Barron (5), Ragan Buhr (23), Makenzi Lunt (11), Emry Nelson (2), Claire Palmer (1), and Kate Rapier (30); and sophomores Taylor Henrie (3) and Sarah Sampson (4).
Thatcher is competing in the 8-member 3A South Region with Safford and Tucson schools Catalina, Empire, Palo Verde Magnet, Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, and Tanque Verde.
Region standings through Dec. 9 were Palo Verde Magnet (4-2, 0-0 region), Pusch Ridge (4-0, 0-0), Sabino (4-2, 0-0), Tanque Verde (2-2, 0-0), Safford (1-2, 0-0), Catalina (1-3, 0-0), Empire (1-5, 0-0), and Thatcher (0-3, 0-0).
Morenci Wildcats – 48, Thatcher Eagles – 42
Thatcher broke a 15-15 tie on a closing seconds field goal to lead 17-15 after the initial eight minutes of play. The second of two Emry Nelson free throws gave the Eagles a 3-point, 18-15 advantage 25 seconds into the second quarter, but it would be their largest margin thereafter.
Morenci tied it at 21-21 with a Jayla Wilson field goal with 6:19 left in the first half and took the lead for good on Adriana Carbajal’s 3-pointer 1:18 later. Morenci led 31-26 at halftime and 37-29 heading into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats led by as much as 11, 41-30, with 5:51 remaining.
Thatcher got within four, 39-43, with 1:30 left, but no closer.
For the game, The Eagles connected on 16 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 6-17 free throws, while Morenci made 17 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 10-17 free throws.
Thatcher was led by Audrey Smith with 15 points on eight field goals (three 3-pointers). Emry Nelson added eight points, Taylor Henrie and Makenzi Lunt had six apiece, Cambria Wakefield four, Sophia Estrada two, and Clara Barron one.
Morenci sophomore Tiara Jones tallied 20 points on eight field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 3-4 free throws, and junior Adriana Carbajal 13 on five field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-5 free throws. Senior Jayla Wilson added seven points, senior Talia McCabe and freshman Jaylianna Guzzo three apiece, and junior Rozlyn Funari two.
