Joseph City had a rough time on the hard wood last week, dropping all five games played, though only one was a regular season contest. That game was on Tuesday whey they fell to the Vikings in Williams.
Joseph City held a four-point lead through the first eight minutes, but trailed by two at the half. The third quarter was really their downfall, as the Wildcats were outscored by eight before eventually losing the game 60-53. Matt Fields led the Cats in scoring with 19 points. KJ Kinlicheenie added 11; Aaron Johnstun, 7; Latrelle Kinlicheenie, 6; Seth Hutchens and Carlos Sanchez 4 each; and Troy Poudrier, 2.
Playing the first of two pool games at the Round Valley tournament on Thursday, Joseph City dropped a game to St. Johns 32-46. The Cats battled to an 8-8 tie at the end of the first, but the Redskins outscored them 15-3 in the second to take control. Fields again led the way in scoring with 11 points. KJ Kinlicheenie added 6; Johnstun, 5; Latrelle Kinlicheenie, 4; Hutchens, 3; Sanchez, 2; and Poudrier, 1.
Their second pool game was a 60-49 loss to Arizona Lutheran on Thursday evening. A cold start left the Wildcats with only five first quarter points and after adding only another four in the second, they trailed 25-9 at the half. In the second they outscored the Coyotes 40-25, but the damage had been done. Fields led the scoring with 17. Latrelle Kinlicheenie added 12; Johnstun, 7; Poudrier and Hutchens, 5 each; Kaden Moss, 2; and Sanchez, 1.
Joseph City opened bracket play on Friday with an 81-44 loss to eventual tournament champion Alchesay. The talented Falcon team dropped 28 first period points, then added another 25 in the second to take command of the game. Latrelle Kinlicheenie led in scoring with 11; Sanchez added 10; Fields, 8; Poudrier, 5; KJ Kinlicheenie and Johnstun, 4 each; and Hutchens, 2.
With that loss the Cats moved in the brackets to face Kingman on Friday evening. Their 69-56 loss to the Bulldogs started well enough with Joseph City trailing by just three at the end of the first. They battled back to tie the game at 35-35 at the half. Kingman edged ahead in the third, then put the game on ice in the fourth.
Fields led in scoring again with 17 points. Latrelle Kinlicheenie added 12; Hutchens, 9; Sanchez, 6; Poudrier and Johnstun, 5 each; and KJ Kinlicheenie, 2.
Joseph City was slated to play again on Saturday, but chose to forfeit that contest.
The Wildcats now sit at 4-8 on the season. A three-game home stand this week may help improve on that mark. After hosting Seligman on Tuesday, they will host Ash Fork on Friday, Dec. 16, then welcome in Grand Canyon on Saturday, Dec. 17. On Tuesday, Dec. 20, they will play their final game before the holiday break at Cibecue.
