By Jon Johnson
THATCHER – After just coming up short in their season opener on the road against 3A Metro Payson, 51-55, on Tuesday, the Thatcher Eagles opened their home court on Friday with a bounce-back 71-41 victory over the visiting 2A South Benson Bobcats.
Isaac Palmer was deadly from deep, hitting five 3-pointers to propel him to a game-high 25 points.
The Eagles scored in double figures in each quarter and held the Bobcats to just 9 points in both the first and third quarters.
Thatcher utilized a broad attack from the beginning. Junior shooting guard Chad Johnson — fresh off his playoff run as the starting quarterback for the football team — hit 7 of his 13 points in the opening stanza, junior forward Braden Bryce scored 5 of his 15 points, and junior center/power forward Dylan Riney scored 5 of his 7 points.
The Eagles enjoyed a 31-19 lead at the half, and then in the third quarter, it was the Isaac Palmer show to put the game out of reach. Isaac hit three of his five 3-pointers in the quarter and three other field goals for 15 of his game-high 25 points.
Thatcher then cruised on through the fourth quarter to the 71-41 victory.
The Eagles will next host the 3A East Show Low Cougars (1-2 conference, 1-2 overall) on Tuesday, Dec. 10, starting at 7 p.m.
The Cougars are coming off an easy 81-42 dismantling of Tuba City. They last faced Thatcher in December 2023, with Show Low victorious, 59-42.
