Joe City boys win No. 1 seed at region tourney

The St. Michael Cardinals boys' basketball team lost a huge game Jan. 29 at Joseph City, 69-63, resulting in the Wildcats winning the 1A North Region East Division title.

Joseph City will be the top seed at the 1A North Region tournament at Williams, which begins Friday. St. Michael will be the East No. 2 seed.

"We're a little bit disappointed especially after the turnout the other night at Joseph City and how the game ended," St. Michael head coach Bill McLaughlin said. "Anytime we play Joseph City, it's a big rivalry.

"Right now, they're ranked No. 5," he said. "To get a game against a quality team like Joseph City before regional, it will help you get better and strengthen your team's ability to play better."

St. Michael (17-3, 7-2) and Joseph City (18-7, 10-0) battled it out until the very end.

After the loss to Joseph City, St. Michael had to beat Northland Prep on Jan. 30 and hope Rock Point beat Joseph City, but it didn't turn out the way McLaughlin wanted.

St. Michael did their part as they took care of Northland Prep in a 78-52 win, but Joseph City won 64-41 over Rock Point to win the East Division title.

On Tuesday, St. Michael and Joseph City squared off again, with the Cardinals winning 68-57, but this time it was a tune-up as they prepare for the region tournament.

Friday's match-up has St. Michael playing West No.3 seed Grand Canyon at 1:15 p.m.

"Everything that we did at this point was to get to the regional tournament and now it's down to a one-game playoff and basically for the state tournament," McLaughlin said.

"I understand that Grand Canyon, our opponent, is going to be ready for us and we have to play our best basketball at this point to advance to the state tournament," McLaughlin said, "but we understand that at the regional tournament, you have to win Friday regardless."

Should St. Michael win, they will play the winner between West No. 1 Beaver Dam and East No. 4 Rock Point at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday.

"I won't be surprised if Rock Point advances against Beaver Dam," McLaughlin said. "Coach (Alisha) James has them playing real great now. They have a real good chance against them."

No. 4 Rock Point plays West No. 1 Beaver Dam at 9:45 a.m. and East No. 3 Mogollon will play West No. 2 Ash Fork at 8:15 p.m.

Joseph City will play at 4:45 p.m. against West No. 4, Fredonia. If the Wildcats win they will play the winner between West No. 2 Ash Fork and East No.3 Mogollon on Saturday at 1:15 p.m.

The boys' championship game is at 8:15 p.m. and the third place game is at 4:45 p.m.

Girls

In the girls' division, Rock Point is the East top seed. They will play West No. 4 Ash Fork at 3 p.m. Friday.

Should they win, they will play the winner between West No. 2 Grand Canyon and East No. 3 Joseph City at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The Lady Cougars closed out their season with a loss at home on Monday against 2A Many Farms, 54-40. On Jan. 29 they defeated Mogollon, 50-39, and on Jan. 30 beat Joseph City, 49-31.

The St. Michael Lady Cardinals will be the East No. 2 seed and will play West No. 3 Fredonia at 11:30 a.m. Should St. Michael win, they will play the winner between West No. 1 Seligman and East No. 4 Northland Prep at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

On Tuesday, St. Michael finished the regular season with a 34-33 win over Joseph City. On Jan. 30, St. Michael lost a huge game to Northland Prep, 37-32, after getting a win on Jan. 29 against Joseph City, 42-35.

The girls' 1A North championship game is at 6:30 p.m. and the third-place game is at 3 p.m.

All winners in the first round automatically qualify for the 1A state playoffs, which begin Feb. 12 at Prescott.

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