Wildcats blow out Cowboys

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci senior Jordan Leonard turns and drives to the basket for a layup.

By Raymundo Frasquillo

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Senior John Olmsted blocked several inside shot attempts during a 60-34 region win over Willcox on Dec. 4.

MORENCI – Morenci easily dispatched Willcox 60-34 during a home region contest Dec. 4. The Wildcats had a 25-point advantage before the Cowboys scored their first basket with 18 seconds remaining in the opening period. The visitors added 32 more points and the host 35 during the rest of the game.

Willcox came within 21 points nine seconds into the second period but never pared the deficit to single digits.

The Wildcats (6-2 overall, 4-0 seeding, 3-0 region) totaled 27 field goals (3 3-pointers) plus 1-3 free throws versus 14 field goals (1 3-pointer) plus 5-5 free throws by the Cowboys (1-3, 1-3, 0-1).

Senior John Olmsted contributed a game-high 20 points on nine field goals (1 3-pointer) plus 1-1 free throws, sophomore Steven Shawn Michael Chavez Jr. 11 on four field goals (3 3-pointers) plus 0-1 free throws, and senior Jordan Leonard 10 on five field goals. Senior Ryan Hayes added 8 points, freshman Christian Mutengela 4, junior Christopher Deck 3, and sophomores Maddux Martinez and Jeremiah Rojas 2 apiece.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci reserves Christian Mutengelo and Jordan Reyes make driving to the basket difficult for the Cowboys late in the game.

Willcox got 11 points from Rico Lunt on four field goals plus 3-3 free throws and 10 from Tanner DeBaun on four field goals plus 2-2 free throws. Lynden Smyer added 5 points, J.J. Lunt 4, and both Jacob Abarca and Cael DeBaun 2 apiece.

Through three region contests, the Wildcats have a combined 77 percent (44-57) free throw percentage compared to 76 percent (16-21) for opponents.

Individually, percentages are 100 percent (2-2) for Martinez, 90 percent (9-10) for Christian Mutengelo 88 percent (15-17) for Leonard, 78 percent (7-9) for Hayes, 75percent for Olmsted (8-12) and Matthew Silvester (3-4), and 0-3 for Chavez.