By Raymundo Frasquillo
DUNCAN – Duncan welcomes the Superior Panthers on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and visits the Valley Lutheran Flames for region pairings on Friday, Jan. 10. The Wildkats start the week in Elfrida against the Valley Union Blue Devils on Monday, Jan. 6.
Other region pairings for East Region members this week (Jan. 6-11) include Hayden at Fort Thomas, Cicero Prep at Valley Lutheran on Jan. 7, and Ray at Cicero Prep on Jan. 10.
The non-region parings include San Manuel at Ray on Jan. 7; Baboquivari at Fort Thomas, Valley Lutheran at Phoenix Veritas Prep on Wednesday, Jan. 8; Heber Mogollon at Fort Thomas, Hayden at The Gregory School, Superior at North Phoenix Prep on Jan. 10; and Rock Point at Fort Thomas, San Simon at Hayden, Patagonia at Superior, and Ray at Tucson San Miguel Catholic on Saturday, Jan. 11.
Valley Union Blue Devils (3-4 seeding)
Valley Union (3-4 overall, 3-4 seeding, 0-1 1A South Region) is averaging a score of 35-31 (246-217) per seeding game or a 4-point margin. The Kelsey Essary-coached Blue Devils have seeding wins over Kearny Ray (54-18, Nov. 22), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (66-18, Nov. 26), and Patagonia (48-19, Dec. 19).
The losses are to Tucson Desert Christian (20-26, Nov. 20), Tucson’s The Gregory School (21-31, Dec. 6), San Simon (37-47, Dec. 11), and Tombstone (20-58, Dec. 17).
Complete information on the Blue Devils’ participation in the 3-day Benson tourney was unavailable.
Valley Union has a 10-member roster of two seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen. The roster includes seniors Lexi Boss (10) and Giovanna Curiel (15); juniors Marissa Cox-Pizano (34) and Angel Sosa (33); sophomores Kadence Cox (4), Kylee Gilbreth (22) and Jolene Larson (24); and freshmen Catherine Flores (32), Alieyah Reyes (39), and Jazmine Rojas (23).
The Blue Devils are competing in the 8-member 1A South Region with the Nogales Lourdes Catholic Warriors, the Patagonia Lobos, the Saint David Tigers, the San Simon Longhorns, the Sells Baboquivari Warriors, and Tucson’s The Gregory School Griffins, the Tucson Arizona School for the Deaf and the Blind Sentinels
Region standings through Jan. 3 were Sells Baboquivari (7-0 seeding, 2-0 region) first, Saint David (4-1, 2-0) second, Tucson’s The Gregory School (5-2, 3-0) third, Patagonia (1-5, 1-1) fourth, San Simon (5-3, 1-2) fifth, Valley Union (3-4, 0-1) sixth, Lourdes Catholic (0-3, 0-3) seventh, and ASDB (0-6, 0-2) eighth.
To date, region wins have been for Baboquivari over ASDB (47-21, Nov. 21) and San Simon (47-33, Dec. 5); Saint David over San Simon (49-10, Dec. 10) and Patagonia (75-11, Dec. 11); The Gregory School over Lourdes (57-4, Nov. 20), Valley Union (31-21, Dec. 6), and ASDB (48-22, Dec. 10): Patagonia over Lourdes (65-2, Nov. 22); and San Simon over Lourdes (25-6, Dec. 4).
Superior Panthers (2-5)
Superior (2-5 overall, 2-5 seeding, 0-1 1A East Region) is averaging a score of 16-41 (112-285) per seeding game or a 25-point deficit. The Manuel Ortega-coached Panthers have seeding wins over Kearny Ray (24-23, Dec. 3) and San Manuel (26-23, Dec. 16).
The losses are to Globe (21-51, Nov. 20), Duncan (7-45, Nov. 22), Valley Lutheran (4-45, Dec. 4), Hayden (20-29, Dec. 10), and Fort Thomas (10-69, Dec. 17).
The Panthers have a 7-member roster of four juniors, one sophomore, and two freshmen. The roster includes juniors Faith Denogean (21), Lilianna Fritz (11), Stephanie Lopez (4), and Rose Tomerlin (10); sophomore Fernanda Martinez (5); and freshmen Madison Cardenas (22) and Barbie Ybarra (2).
Superior is competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Duncan Wildkats, the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Kearney Ray Bearcats, the Phoenix Valley Lutheran Flames, the San Manuel Miners, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurians, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
Region standings through Jan. 3 were Fort Thomas (13-3 overall, 2-2 seeding, 1-0 region) first, Hayden (5-6, 5-1, 1-0) second, Valley Lutheran (5-2, 1-0) third, Duncan (11-3, 6-2, 1-0) fourth, Cicero Prep (8-8, 5-3, 0-1) fifth, Superior (2-5, 2-5, 0-1) sixth, San Manuel (2-7, 2-7, 0-1) seventh, and Ray (1-9, 1-7, 0-1) eighth.
To date, region wins have been for Duncan over Cicero Prep (24-23, Nov. 23), Valley Lutheran over Ray (30-21, Dec. 13), Fort Thomas over Superior (69-10, Dec. 17), and Hayden over San Manuel (31-19, Dec. 17).
Valley Lutheran Flames (5-2)
Valley Lutheran (5-2 overall, 5-2 seeding, 1-0 1A East Region) is averaging a score of 32-26 (221-182) per seeding game or a 6-point margin. The Hameed Law-coached Flames have seeding wins over North Phoenix Prep (30-20, Nov. 26), Superior (45-4, Dec. 4), Kearny Ray (30-21, Dec. 13), Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (52-14, Dec. 18), and San Manuel (42-32, Dec. 20).
The losses are to Scottsdale Cicero Prep (13-46, Dec. 10) and Chandler Lincoln Prep (9-45, Dec. 16).
Valley Lutheran has a 13-member roster of three seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen. The roster includes seniors Viddiate Clinton (23), Natalia Hernandez (3), and Faith Rohloff (0); juniors Kassandra Arambula (5), Amy Carey (25), Eleni Daniels (32), and Elise Winter (24); sophomores Valery Castaneda (11), Kaya Falkenmayer (21) Caitlin Langley (4), and Kenadee Ludwig (1); and freshmen Faith Pyne (2) and Anika Winter (10).
The Flames are competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Duncan Wildkats, the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Kearney Ray Bearcats, the San Manuel Miners, the Scottsdale Cicero Prep Centurians, the Superior Panthers, and the Winkelman Hayden Lobos.
Duncan Wildkats (6-2)
Duncan (6-2 seeding, 1-0 1A East Region) is averaging a score of 33-26 (278-193) per seeding game or a 7-point margin. The Eldon Merrell-coached Wildkats have seeding wins over Superior (45-7, Nov. 22), Scottsdale Cicero Prep (24-23, Nov. 23), San Manuel (42-7, Nov. 26), ASDB (48-15, Dec. 3), Dishchii’bikoh (37-34, Dec. 6), and San Simon (40-8, Dec. 17).
The losses are to Saint David (13-44, Dec. 4) and Fort Thomas (21-55, Dec. 10).
In addition, the Wildkats went 5-1 during the 2-day Heber Mogollon tourney on Dec. 19-20. Duncan defeated 6A Desert Southwest Region San Luis (34-13, Dec. 19), San Simon (33-17, Dec. 19), 2A North Region Tuba City Greyhills (46-11, Dec. 20), San Luis (29-24, Dec. 20), and San Simon (35-14, Dec. 20). The loss was to 1A Central Region host Mogollon (21-44).
Overall, the Wildkats are averaging a score of 34-23 (476-316) per seeding game or an 11-point margin.
Duncan has a 10-member roster of two seniors, one junior, five sophomores, and two freshmen. The roster includes seniors Emily Kempton (14) and Camille Miller (11); junior Emily Evans (24); sophomores Lily Ford (20), Sophia Harris (15), Makenzie Jones (30), Heidi Miller (22), and Paisley Patton (23); and freshmen Haley Bigler (50) and Elvalie Vigil (12).
The Wildkats are competing in the 8-member 1A East Region with the Cicero Prep Centurians, the Fort Thomas Apaches, the Hayden Lobos, the Ray Bearcats, the San Manuel Miners, the Superior Panthers, and the Valley Lutheran Flames.
Wildkats – 35, Longhorns – 14
The Wildkats turned in a 15-4 third-quarter outing to pull away from the Longhorns. It gave Duncan a 26-12 advantage heading into the fourth quarter after leading 7-4 following the opening quarter and 11-8 at halftime. Heidi Miller contributed eight third-quarter points, Emily Kempton three, and both Sofia Harris and Paisley Patton two apiece.
For the game, Duncan sank 16 field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 2-6 free throws compared to five field goals plus 4-6 free throws by San Simon.
Camille Miller paced the Wildkats with 11 points on 1five field goals (one 3-pointer). Heidi Miller added eight points, Patton seven, Kempton five, and Harris and Haley Bigler two.
For San Simon, seniors Betsabe Castellanos (11) and Hollie Keil (5), and freshman Bryleight Sloan (1) had four apiece, and sophomore Alyzon Corrales (4) two.
Wildkats – 29, Sidewinders – 24
A 12-2 second-quarter effort gave the Wildkats a 26-13 halftime advantage after leading 14-11 following the first quarter. Haley Bigler tossed in three field goals, Heidi Miller two and Harris one.
Duncan totaled 13 field goals plus 3-4 free throws, while San Luis had nine field goals (six 3-pointers) plus 6-8 free throws.
Bigler had eight points, Kempton five, Harris, Heidi Miller, and Patton four apiece, and both Camille Miller and Lily Ford two each.
For San Luis, senior Vanessa Ambriz (11) netted 13 points on five field goals (six 3-pointers) plus 0-2 free throws. Junior Allyson Berrelleza (33), senior Brittany Campos (31), and junior Camila Picaso (20) each added three points, and junior Jazmin Estrada (22) two.
Wildkats – 46, Knights – 11
Duncan was outscored 4-0 in the fourth quarter but never trailed following a season-high 28 opening quarter points while yielding two. Seven Wildkats teamed up for that effort, with Patton contributing seven points, Ford six, Kempton and Harris both four, Camille Miller three, and Bigler and Heidi Miller two apiece.
The Wildkats netted 19 field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 3-4 free throws, while San Luis had nine field goals (six 3-pointers) plus 6-8 free throws.
Patton walked off the court with nine points, Kempton and Harris with eight apiece, Camille Miller with seven, Ford with six, and both Bigler and Heidi Miller with four.
Greyhills got three points from junior Rhyonna John (20), and two each from senior Angela Farrell (3), junior Sequoyah Lynch (5), and sophomores Taylor Lake (24) and Lynelle Scott (10).
Mustangs – 44, Wildkats – 21
Duncan was unable to overcome a 4-18 first-quarter deficit and trailed the rest of the game.
The Wildkats totaled six field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 6-8 free throws versus 19 field goals (four 3-pointers) plus 2-6 free throws by Mogollon.
Patton had eight points, Camille Miller, Harris, and Heidi Miller three apiece, and both Kempton and Bigler two each.
For Mogollon, senior Heidi Parry (5) had 12 points on six field goals, and junior Ava Plantholt (25) 11 on four field goals (two 3-pointers) plus 1-2 free throws. Senior Marissa Parry (10) added seven points, senior Kindsey Porter (14) five, junior Landie Crum (12) four, freshman Taylee Reidhead (3) three, and sophomore Kadence Porter (4) two.
Wildkats – 33, Longhorns – 17
An 11-2 third-quarter outing broke a 7-7 first-half deadlock, and a 15-8 fourth-quarter effort assured the Wildkats a win. Kempton added five points, Heidi Miller four, and Ford two.
Duncan made 11 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 8-12 free throws compared to six field goals (one 3-pointer) plus 4-12 free throws by San Simon.
Patton had nine points, Kempton eight, Ford and Heidi Miller four apiece, both Camille Miller and Bigler three each, and Harris two.
San Simon got five each from Castellanos and Sloan, three from freshman Alexa Rios (10), two from Keil, and one each from junior Evelyn Lopez (2) and Corrales.
Wildkats – 34, Sidewinders – 13
An 11-3 first-quarter outing allowed the Wildkats an early advantage and a lead they would not relinquish during the rest of the game. Duncan led 21-8 at halftime and 26-11 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Wildkats made 13 field goals (three 3-pointers) plus 5-12 free throws compared to five field goals (two 3-pointer) plus 1-6 free throws by San Luis.
Kempton netted 13 points on three 3-pointers plus 4-8 free throws. Patton added six points, Bigler five, both Ford and Harris four apiece, and Camille Miller two.
The Sidewinders got eight points from Ambriz, two each from Campos and senior Jayliz Munoz (30), and one from Estrada.
