By Jon Johnson
THATCHER — While their season ended in the playoffs short of a championship, three players from Thatcher’s boys’ basketball team have been awarded All-Region status, with three more Honorable Mentions.
3A South All-Region 1st Team – Isaac Palmer
Isaac Palmer excelled in just about every aspect of the game. He led Thatcher in points (17.4), rebounds (8.6), and steals (1.8) per game and was just second in assists per game at 3.4. He finished the season with 522 points, 259 rebounds, and 53 steals.
If Thatcher needed a bucket, it looked to Palmer. If the Eagles needed a big play, he stepped up to the challenge all season.
Catch Palmer’s game highlights against Safford in this Gila Herald highlight video.
Other 3A South All-Region 1st Team members include Kameron Pippen – Palo Verde Magnet; Noah McKinney – Pusch Ridge; Donovan Davidson – Empire; and Rich Knott and Phillip Knott – Tanque Verde.
3A South Region Coach of the Year was split between Marvin Beckwith – Sabino, and Anthony Smith – Palo Verde Magnet. The Region Defensive Player of the Year is Chris Herndon – Sabino; Offensive Player of the Year is Daniel Ortiz – Palo Verde Magnet; and the Region Player of the Year is split between Caden Watkins and Brendan Gargus of Sabino.
3A South All-Region 2nd Team – Wyatt Nicholas, Chad Johnson
Wyatt Nicholas was the front-court enforcer for the Eagles and often went toe-to-toe with larger players down low.
Nicholas was a fierce competitor who finished third on the team in both assists per game (1.5) and steals per game (1.0). He also led the team in field goal percentage at 50 percent.
Chad Johnson is a perimeter player who can hit the long ball and also get down low among the trees in the paint.
Johnson was second on the team behind Palmer in points (11.4), rebounds (5.2), and steals per game (1.3), and Johnson led the team in assists per game at 3.5.
Honorable Mention
Wade Hull, Jay Carter, Bronson Stringfellow – Thatcher
Trae Gaines – Safford
