The Lady Wildcats celebrate as they bring the state championship title home to Joseph City last weekend. The team, under the direction of Coach Dan Bushman, had a stellar season. Pictured are (front row left to right) Assistant Coach Danny Hutchens, Jorja Hutchens, Jackie Richards, Jaydiana Kinlicheenie, Sammy Jesmer, April Neill, Gabby Jesmer, Kaci Palmer, Head Coach Dan Bushman, (second row) Assistant Coach Micah Brawley, Mariah Miller, Raylee Fish, Amber Neill, McKenzie Jesmer, Audrey Neill, Tori Beatty and Assistant Coach Aaron Neill. In an unusual circumstance Sammy and Gabby Jesmer are twins, Audry and Amber Neill are twins, and each set have a sister also on the team.
The Lady Wildcats celebrate as they bring the state championship title home to Joseph City last weekend. The team, under the direction of Coach Dan Bushman, had a stellar season. Pictured are (front row left to right) Assistant Coach Danny Hutchens, Jorja Hutchens, Jackie Richards, Jaydiana Kinlicheenie, Sammy Jesmer, April Neill, Gabby Jesmer, Kaci Palmer, Head Coach Dan Bushman, (second row) Assistant Coach Micah Brawley, Mariah Miller, Raylee Fish, Amber Neill, McKenzie Jesmer, Audrey Neill, Tori Beatty and Assistant Coach Aaron Neill. In an unusual circumstance Sammy and Gabby Jesmer are twins, Audry and Amber Neill are twins, and each set have a sister also on the team.

Joseph City’s Lady Wildcats are the 2025 1A State Champions after their 64-55 title game win over No. 2 seed Fort Thomas on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. It had been 24 years since Joseph City last won a 1A girls basketball title.

After back-to-back seasons of finishing as the state runner-up, this year the Wildcats finished on top.

Joseph City opened up a 7-point lead at the end of the first, then extended that to a 17-point cushion at the half. Fort Thomas trimmed 4 points off the lead in the third and fourth quarters, but the state title was never in jeopardy.

Joseph City put together a record 31 wins this season, with the last one being for the title. They only had five losses on the season, and none were to any 2A or 1A schools. They were bumped from the Copper Tournament with a first-round loss to Show Low, but once they landed back in the 1A bracket they rolled over No. 9 seed Salome 33-16 in the quarterfinal round, then took care of No. 4 seed St. David 64-36 in the semifinal.

Fort Thomas’ path to the title game included a 77-39 win over Baboquivari in the quarterfinals and a 50-37 win over Mogollon in the semifinal round.

The last time the Lady Wildcats won the state title was in 2001 under head Coach Mike Sterkowitz.

Current head coach Dan Bushman will still have a solid team returning next season. They lose seniors Samantha Jesmer, Gabby Jesmer, April Neill, and Jorga Hutchens but will still have plenty of firepower remaining for next season.