Head Coach Eric Miller and his team opened the new basketball season last week at the Boyd Baker tournament held at Amphitheater High School. The team went 2-2 in four games played over the course of three days.
They opened tournament play on Nov. 22, with a 67-76 loss to San Manuel. The Cats were outscored by eight in the first frame and by nine in the second. They played better in the second half with 42 points but came nine points short.
Junior Bannon Johnstun led the team in scoring with 29 points. Karter Lampsa added 17 and Junior Bryce Bushman netted 9 in the loss.
Their first game on Tuesday morning was a 57-41 win over Baboquivari. The Cats were led by Lampsa with 14. Jareon Miller added 13, and Johnstun was also in double figures with 10. Bryce Bushman again scored 9.
Playing three hours later the Wildcats came up five points short in a 59-54 loss to Hayden. Lampsa performed well with 25 points. Miller added 12, and Johnstun finished with 11.
The Wildcat’s final game of the tournament was a lopsided 73-32 win over San Simon. Miller made eight three-point field goals en route to his 28 point performance. Johnstun added 21.
This year’s Wildcats roster currently has seniors John Weightman, Ethan Thomas, Karter Lampsa and Tyler Penrod; juniors Jareon Miller, Bannon Johnstun, Bryce Bushman, Zane Johnson, Damarcus Bufford, Blake Palmer and Bridger Fields; and sophomores Cole Moss and Brent Bush round out the roster.
After hosting Blue Ridge on Tuesday this week, the Wildcats will attend their second tournament when they play in the Route 66 Classic in Williams this weekend. On Thursday they face Basis Flagstaff and Needles Calif. The tournament continues on Friday and Saturday. Next Tuesday they will face Basis Flagstaff in a regular-season contest in Flagstaff.
