THATCHER, Ariz. — The 2024 EAC Holiday Basketball Tournament concluded with thrilling championship games and standout individual performances, as the Pima boys and Snowflake girls emerged as champions in their respective divisions. Both teams relied on balanced scoring, disciplined defense, and key contributions from their stars to claim the titles.
Boys’ Championship: Pima 62, Morenci 43
Pima controlled the tempo from the opening tip, outscoring Morenci in every quarter and dominating the boards in a commanding 62-43 victory.
Pima built an early lead, going up 15-8 after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 25-17 at halftime. The third quarter proved decisive, as Pima outscored Morenci 19-6, taking a 44-23 lead into the final frame.
Keegan Corona led Pima with 17 points and 5 rebounds, while Charlie Richardson added 12 points and 4 boards. Joel Mattice contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Preston Russell chipped in 13 points and 8 boards. Pima’s relentless rebounding effort, outpacing Morenci 33-24, was key to their success.
For Morenci, Noah Chavez was the standout performer, scoring a game-high 25 points, including an impressive 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. Yedidia Laputa added 6 points and 7 rebounds in the loss.
Girls’ Championship: Snowflake 32, Pima 27
The girls’ final was a defensive battle, with Snowflake narrowly defeating Pima 32-27 to capture the championship. The game remained close throughout, with neither team pulling away until the final minutes.
Snowflake led 8-7 after the first quarter, and the teams were tied at 15 at halftime. Snowflake edged ahead 23-21 by the end of the third quarter and sealed the win with a strong defensive effort in the final period.
Ryah Denhalter powered Snowflake with 11 points and 10 rebounds, earning Tournament MVP honors for her standout play throughout the competition. Kenadi Stuart added 10 points, while Nicole Hipps contributed 5 points and 6 rebounds. Ranell West anchored the defense with 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.
For Pima, Hanna Ashby led the scoring with 7 points and 3 rebounds, while Sadie Richardson posted 6 points and 6 boards. Adysen Hoopes and Kelsi Brimhall chipped in 5 points each.
All-Tournament Teams
The EAC Holiday Tournament recognized outstanding individual performances by naming boys’ and girls’ All-Tournament Teams, featuring players from various schools who excelled throughout the competition.
Boys’ All-Tournament Team
- Fort Thomas: Channing Wilson, Michael Olivar
- Safford: Nick Yentsch
- Apache Junction: Omar Adam
- Thatcher: Isaac Palmer, Chad Johnson
- Tanque Verde: Rich Knott
- Empire: Donovan Davidson, Kharli Gurley
- Morenci: Chris Lopez, Noah Chavez, Aymen Abdulqader
- Pima: Charlie Richardson, Preston Russell, Keegan Corona (Tournament MVP)
Girls’ All-Tournament Team
- St. David: Myya Deneweth
- Centennial: Madison Jacobs
- Safford: Oaklee Welchman
- Dysart: Brianna Brown
- Morenci: Rozlyn Funari
- Thatcher: Audry Smith
- Ft. Thomas: Makayla Chapman, Kaylee Benally, Adaia Lorenzo
- Pima: Sadie Richardson, Hanna Ashby, Adysen Hoopes
- Snowflake: Nicole Hipps, Kenadi Stuart, Ryah Denhalter (Tournament MVP)
