After hundreds of miles on a bus and five weeks of nothing but practice and road games, the Patagonia High basketball teams are settling in for an important stretch of games in front of their hometown fans.
The Lobos have played just three home games thus far—most recently on Dec. 11—but they’ll play six of their final nine regular-season games at home over the course of the next three weeks.
The Patagonia boys will take a four-game winning streak into Friday’s home game against Baboquivari. They have a 7-2 record in games factored into the state rankings, but even so, they have ground to make up if they are to earn one of 24 berths in the Class 1A state tournament. They entered Thursday ranked 18th in Class 1A.
The next two games will be critical to their chances of moving up. Baboquivari, Friday’s opponent, is ranked 12th in 1A with a 6-2 overall record and 2-0 in 1A South region games.
Then next Tuesday, Patagonia hosts The Gregory School, which is ranked eighth with a 7-3 overall record and 4-0 in 1A South games.
Coach Nate Porter said the state rankings are underselling the Lobos’ next two opponents. “The next two teams will be two of the best in the state when it’s all said and done,” he said. “It’ll be a big challenge for us.”
Friday’s action starts with the girls game at 3pm, followed by the boys at 4:30. Game times for the Gregory School are 5:30pm for girls and 7pm for boys.
Patagonia’s boys team is 3-0 since returning from the holiday break. The Lobos nearly doubled up San Simon 51-26, squeaked past Superior 43-41 and then posted their highest-scoring game of the season in a 65-40 win over Class 3A Andrada Polytechnic on Tuesday night in Vail.
Patagonia had to rally for a 44-42 victory over San Simon on Dec. 2, but the Lobos found an extra gear in winning the rematch by 25. The return of senior guard D.J. Castro and junior center Gavin Arbizo from injuries have contributed to the improved play. Castro scored a team-high 12 points in the win at San Simon, and Arbizo led the Lobos with eight rebounds.
“We really put a complete game together,” Porter said after the win at San Simon. “It felt good to see their hard work they’ve been putting in be rewarded in game action.”
The Patagonia girls team is also coming off a victory—32-17 over Superior on Jan. 11. The girls are 2-6 on the season and ranked 27th in 1A.
REMAINING SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 17 – vs. Baboquivari
Tuesday, Jan. 21 – vs. The Gregory School
Wednesday, Jan. 22 – vs. ASDB
Saturday, Jan. 25 – at Ray
Monday, Jan. 27 – vs. Tombstone
Tuesday, Jan. 28 – at North Phoenix Prep
Thursday, Jan. 30 – vs. Valley Union
Friday, Jan. 31 – vs. San Manuel
Tuesday, Feb. 4 – at Willcox