The Wildcats entered the weekend ranked 12th in AIA power rankings but will more than likely see that position drop a little after winning just one of three games played last week.
Joseph City opened the week in Heber on Tuesday against rival Mogollon. The Mustangs who were ranked seven spots above the Wildcats proved the rankings correct, at least at this point in the season, with a 67-39 pounding of the Wildcats. Bannon Johnstun led the Cats in scoring with 19 points; Blake Palmer had 6; Karter Lampsa, 5; and Jareon Miller, Tyler Penrod and Bridger Fields, each scored three. Joseph City shot just 25% from the field in the loss.
Playing at Mayer the following night the Wildcats regrouped with a 69-53 over the Mayer Wildcats. The Cats trailed by two after the first period but moved in front by five at the half. In the third, they extended that lead to double digits then added one more to their lead in the final frame. Karter Lampsa led the charge with 17 points. Penrod added 13; Johnstun, 11; Fields, 8; Miller, 7; Zane Johnson, 6; Palmer, 4; Bryce Bushman, 2; and John Weightman helped with one. Joseph City shot much better in this game converting buckets at a 47% rate.
The Wildcats momentum didn’t last long, however. They traveled to North Valley Christian on Saturday only to come home with a 50-61 loss. The Lions were ranked sixth and used a good first half to gain the upper hand. Joseph City struggled from the field in the first two periods scoring just 18 first half points. The Lions posted 30 in the half. Joseph City outscored the home team by one in the second half, but their first-half deficit was too much to overcome.
Lampsa played well scoring 20 points, which included four three-point shots. Johnson added 10; Bushman, 8; Fields, 6; Miller, 5; and Palmer had 1.
Joseph City enters this week’s action with a 7-5 regular season mark and they are now 13-9 overall.
After playing at Seligman on Tuesday they will host Fort Thomas on Friday then host Williams the following day on Saturday. Next Wednesday they host Red Mesa.
