The Wildcats pushed their early season overall record to 6-1 with three regular season victories last week. Playing in Ash Fork on Monday night, the Cats had their way with the Spartans in an 81-49 romp. Joseph City started out quickly with a 31 points outburst in the opening eight minutes, led by 20 at the half, and never looked back.
Jared Layden led the way in scoring with 18 points. Cort Miller added 16; Brent Bush, 12; Jaimen Tsosie, 11; Landon Miller, 10; Cole Moss, 6; Kaysen Miller, 4; Jan Armengol and Cody Nockideneh each finished with 2. Despite scoring 81 points, only one of those came from the free throw line where the team went 1 for 2. That difference was made up for from behind the arc, where Joseph City drained eight 3-point field goals, four of which came from Cort Miller.
Thursday night the Wildcats again played well, this time on their home floor with a 78-43 win over Valley Sanders. The first period was close, with the home team holding just a 5-point lead. The second was where the damage was done. Joseph City poured in 29 points in the second to lead 42 to 23 at the break. They netted 18 in each the third and fourth periods, winning the game comfortably.
Eli James and Layden each led in scoring with 15 apiece. Landon Miller added 10; Bush, 9; Nockideneh, 7; Cort Miller, 7; Armengol, 5; Moss, 4; Kaysen Miller, 2; Abram Rascon, 2; and Tsosie had 2.
Saturday night was their most competitive game of the week resulting in a 10-point win over visiting Lincoln Prep. Joseph City trailed by 6 at the end of the first and was still behind by 5 at the half. They overtook the Lightning in the third period then outscored them by 3 in the final stanza to win the game, 56-46.
Joseph City got all their scoring from just four players. James led with 20 points. Landon Miller added 17; Cort Miller, 14; and Moss helped with 5.
Now 3-0 in the regular season, the Wildcats will play at Hayden on Tuesday this week before playing in the three-day Round Valley Tournament beginning on Thursday. Next Tuesday they will host St. Johns.
