Thatcher wins first two games to advance to play Walden Grove on day two at White Mountain tourney

Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: The Thatcher Eagles have won their first two games in the Mesa Fire and Medical 21st annual White Mountain Holiday Classic Boys Basketball Tournament. Pictured are the Eagles after winning the 58th annual EAC Boys Holiday Basketball Tournament.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

LAKESIDE – The Thatcher Eagles (8-0) take their unblemished season’s record into day two of the Timber Mesa Fire and Medical 21st annual White Mountain Holiday Classic Boys Basketball Tournament. 

The Eagles defeated 2A Valley (Sanders) 64-30 in the opening game Tuesday and then outlasted 5A Gila Ridge (8-5) 80-78 in triple overtime that night.

Thatcher is set to play 4A Walden Grove at 12 p.m.

The winner of the Thatcher/Walden Grove game will play 5A Marana at 6 p.m. Marana defeated St. Johns 81-31 in an early game Wednesday. Marana also beat Ganado 73-23 in its opening game and Show Low 72-53 in its second game on Tuesday.   

Morenci (5-4) fell to ALA Gilbert in the opening game 38-62, and then defeated Walden Grove 73-72.

The Wildcats fell to Gila Ridge in the 9 a.m. game on Wednesday 43-68.

Morenci will next play Wednesday night at 6 p.m.