Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Christopher Lopez (23) makes it difficult for Benson senior Colton Bellmore (2) to dribble upcourt during the first quarter. The Morenci junior guard accounted for 4 points while Bellmore totaled 6. The Wildcats are bound for the three-day 60th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tourney beginning on Dec. 27. Benson heads to the three-day Arizona Lutheran tourney for a Dec. 28 start.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Wildcats held off a late Benson comeback en route to a 54-42 home region win on Dec. 18.
Willcox defeated Tombstone 58-50 on Dec. 19 in the only other region contest this week (Dec. 18-23).
In non-region pairings, Bisbee defeated Valley Union 81-35, Willcox defeated Duncan 73-50 on Dec. 18, Apache Junction defeated Benson 43-27 on Dec. 20, and Bisbee is in the three-day Pima Community College tourney falling 56-71 to Tucson Palo Verde Magnet on Dec. 21, and 28-52 to the Skyline Coyotes on Dec. 22.
Morenci – 54, Benson – 42
Morenci returned from the mid-game break with a 19-11 third-quarter effort, taking the lead for good on senior Joseph Seballos’ long-distance shot (34-33) 32 seconds after the final tie. Freshman Aymen Abdulqader added another trey plus a pair of free throws to give the Wildcats a 39-35 advantage at the start of the final quarter.
Another Abdulqader free throw raised the margin to five points, Benson senior Colton Bellmore added a field goal to cut the deficit to three (37-40) with 1:19 elapsed in the fourth quarter and it would be the closest the Bobcats got the remainder of the game. Morenci went on a 14-5 run to assure a win as Abdulqader, junior Christopher Lopez, senior Tristen Sanchez, and sophomore Derick Lytle, added five, two, two, and five points, respectively.
Benson never trailed in the first quarter and an 11-10 edge favored the visitors. The Bobcats broke a 20-20 second-quarter tie on 4-4 free throws with 17 seconds left to gain a 24-20 halftime advantage.
The score would be knotted seven times, twice each in the first and second quarters, thrice in the third quarter with the last at 31-31 as 3:35 remained.
For the game, Morenci connected on 19 field goals (six 3-pointers) plus 10-15 free throws compared to 17 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 7-10 free throws by Benson.
Sanchez (22) netted 18 points on eight field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 1-2 free throws, freshman Aymen Abdulqader (2) 13 on three field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 5-8 free throws, and senior Joseph Seballos (5) 12 on four field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 1-3 free throws. Lytle (3) added five points, Lopez (23) four, and junior Yedidia Laputa Kanyinda (13) two.
Junior Noah Chavez (10) and sophomores Abraham Cortez (0) and Adrian McCallum (25) did not score.
For Benson, junior Keelyn Payne (13) had 15 points on six field goals plus 3-6 free throws. Senior Dalton Crockett (14) added nine points, Bellmore (2) and junior Mason McIntyre (10) six apiece, sophomore Dawson Judd (12) four, and junior Domonik Villa (4) two.
Senior Gabriel Montijo (33), junior Harley Vanwormer (11), sophomores Kellen Deskins (23) and Ruben Navarro (1), and freshman Luke Chapman (3) did not score.
The Wildcats close out December at the 3-day, Thatcher-held 60th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament beginning on the 27th against Valley Union as the No. 2 seed versus No. 7.
Benson faces the Phoenix host at the 3-day, Arizona Lutheran tourney on Dec. 28-30.
2A East Region Standings
The 7-member 2A East Region standings through Dec. 18 are Morenci (12-1 overall, 6-0 seeding, 3-0 region), Pima (8-2, 3-1, 3-0), Bisbee (8-3, 4-2, 2-1), Benson (3-9, 2-4, 1-2), Willcox (5-6*, 4-4, 1-2), Tombstone (5-9, 3-5, 0-3), and Tucson Santa Rita (0-6, 0-6, 0-2).
Ten region games have been played to date. Morenci (3-0) has wins over Willcox (52-40, Dec. 6), Santa Rita (79-52, Dec. 12), and Benson (54-42, Dec. 18); Pima (3-0) over Willcox (65-31, Dec. 1), Tombstone (71-26, Dec. 12), and Bisbee (55-28, Dec. 15); Bisbee (2-1) over Tombstone (76-43, Dec. 7) and Benson (56-55, Dec. 12); Benson (1-2) over Santa Rita (55-19, Dec. 7); and Willcox (1-2) over Tombstone (58-50, Dec. 19).
Benson Bobcats (3-9 overall)
The Alex Montijo-coached Benson Bobcats (3-9 overall, 2-4 seeding, 1-2 East Region) are averaging a 42-52 (543-629) score per game or a 10-point deficit.
The Bobcats have seeding wins over Tucson Santa Rita (55-19, Dec. 7) and Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (61-45, Dec. 8). The losses are to Phoenix Veritas Prep (32-74, Dec. 4). Bisbee (55-56, Dec. 12), Morenci (42-54, Dec. 18), and Apache Junction (27-43, Dec. 20).
Additionally, a 1-5 record was posted during their own three-day tourney on Dec. 14-16. The win was over Tucson Saint Miguel Catholic (54-21, Dec. 15) while losses were to Tucson Empire (35-85, Dec. 14), Douglas (45-54, Dec. 14), Sells Baboquivari (42-45, Dec. 15), Sahuarita (49-55, Dec. 16), and Empire (46-78, Dec. 16).
Benson’s roster has seniors Colton Bellmore (2), Dalton Crockett (14), and Gabriel Montijo (33); juniors Mason McIntyre (10), Keelyn Payne (13), Harley Vanwormer (11), and Domonik Villa (4); sophomores Kellen Deskins (23), Dawson Judd (12), and Ruben Navarro (1); and freshman Luke Chapman (3).
The Bobcats close out the month at the three-day, Arizona Lutheran tourney on Dec. 28-30.
Morenci Wildcats (12-1)
The Ruben Leonard-coached Morenci Wildcats (12-1 overall, 6-0 seeding, 3-0 East Region) are averaging a 66-42 (855-551) score per game or a 24-point margin.
Morenci has seeding wins over San Carlos (75-42, Nov. 20), Saint David (74-28, Nov. 27), Elfrida Valley Union (96-21, Dec. 4), Willcox (52-40, Dec. 6), Tucson Santa Rita (79-52, Dec. 12), and Benson (54-42, Dec. 18).
Additionally, the Wildcats posted a 6-1 record during the 3-day Round Valley tourney on Dec. 7-9. The wins were over Saint Johns (56-35, Dec. 7), Heber Mogollon (68-43, Dec. 7), Whiteriver Alchesay (52-48, Dec. 8), Fort Thomas (53-42, Dec. 9), Lakeside Blue Ridge (65-40, Dec. 9), and host Eagar Round Valley (71-50, Dec. 9). The lone loss was 60-68 to Round Valley (Dec. 8).
Seniors Tristen Sanchez (22) and Joseph Seballos (5); juniors Noah Chavez (10), Yedidia Laputa Kanyinda (13), and Christopher Lopez (23); sophomores Abraham Cortez (0), Derick Lytle (3), and Adrian McCallum (25); and freshman Aymen Abdulqader (2) make up the squad.
The Wildcats close out December at the three-day, Thatcher-held 60th Eastern Arizona Holiday Tournament beginning on the 27th against Valley Union as the No. 2 seed versus No. 7.
