In last Thursday’s opening round 1A Central region tournament contest, the Joseph City Wildcats lit up the scoreboard early, netting 25 first quarter points to lead 25-10 after one. In the second they slowed their own scoring, but also held the Grand Canyon Phantoms to just six points and led 35-16 at the break. The Wildcats cruised through the second half to a big 57-35 win.
KJ Kinlicheenie led the way in scoring with 13 points. Carlos Sanchez added 9 points with 11 rebounds; Matt Fields and Aaron Johnstun, 8 points each; Troy Poudrier and Latrelle Kinlicheenie, 6 each; Bryndon Buckley, 5; and Talon Smith, 2.
Joseph City made seven three-point field goals, with three coming from KJ Kinlicheenie and two from Latrelle Kinlicheenie. At the line the Cats went 8 for 15.
Playing in the semifinal game on Saturday morning against Basis School the Wildcats posted a 65-59 win, which advanced them to the title game against Williams on Saturday night.
The Wildcats and the Yeti fought to a 10-10 first period tie, then Basis outscored the Cats by two in the second to lead 29-27 at the break. In the third Basis increased its lead to seven points. Joseph City came storming back in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Yeti 22-9 to win the game 65-59.
Fields paced the comeback with 27 points. Latrelle Kinlicheenie added 16; KJ Kinlicheenie, 11; Poudrier, 8; and Buckley, 3.
Joseph City made eight treys, with Latrelle Kinlicheenie hitting three and brother KJ making three. At the line the Wildcats went 11 for 16.
In the championship game vs. Williams the Wildcats had the script flipped on them.
The teams played to a 17-17 first half tie, then Joseph City built a five-point lead heading to the fourth. This time the fourth period belonged to the opponent as Williams outscored the Wildcats 21-9 to win the regional tournament crown 48-42.
Joseph City was led by Fields with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Buckley added 8 points; Poudrier, Latrelle Kinlicheenie and Sanchez, 4 each; and KJ Kinlicheenie and Johnstun, 2 each.
The Cats made three treys, with two coming from Buckley. They went 9 for 12 at the free throw line.
Joseph City enters the 1A state tournament as the eighth overall seed and will play ninth seeded Immaculate Heart in an opening round game at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, at Yavapai Community College in Prescott.
With a win the Wildcats would advance to take on either No. 1 seed The Gregory School or No. 16 Bagdad on Saturday, also in Prescott.
Joseph City’s season record is now 21-8, while Immaculate Heart stands at 17-9.
