1A Championship Review/Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px">On <strong>Friday, February 27th,</strong> at the <strong>Veterans Memorial Coliseum</strong> in <strong>Phoenix,</strong> the #1 <strong>Joseph City Wildcats</strong> took on the #2 <strong>Fort Thomas Apaches</strong> for the <strong>1A Girls State Championship</strong>.</span> This was a rematch of the 2025 Championship game and the second time this season these two programs had played. This matchup was once again won by the Wildcats, who repeated as 1A State Champions.<br><br>Here, I take a look at some of the standouts from this contest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1201578"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a57cddbddb7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Neill was the engine behind Joseph City's back-to-back 1A state championship, finishing with a dominant double-double of 33 points and 11 rebounds, while also adding 4 assists and 6 steals. The senior guard controlled the pace of the game from start to finish. She attacked the basket, finished through contact, and made plays on both ends of the floor. When Joseph City needed a basket or a defensive stop, Neill delivered. She was voted the MVP of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1201574"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a57cddbde64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1201574' first='Amber' last='Neill'] made her presence felt on both ends of the floor with her activity and length. She finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals, providing valuable energy for the Wildcats. Her defensive instincts stood out, jumping passing lanes and creating transition opportunities. The Yavapi CC commits versatility and willingness to impact the game beyond scoring, which helped Joseph City maintain control throughout. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1774267"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a57cddbdebf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Wesley did everything she could to keep Fort Thomas competitive. The sophomore shooter finished with 12 points, knocking down 4 three-pointers, and showed a confident stroke with a quick release. Wesley also contributed with 6 assists and 3 steals, showing she can create for teammates as well as score. Leilynn is one of the better young shooters in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1771866"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a57cddbdf0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jesmer provided steady play and veteran leadership for the Wildcats. The senior forward finished with 6 points and 7 rebounds. She showed a soft touch from the mid-range and made smart decisions within the offense. Jesmer's experience and composure helped Joseph City secure the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1771863"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a57cddbdfa2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kincilcheenie served as a steady floor general for the Wildcats. The senior point guard showed solid ball-handling and decision-making, helping keep the offense flowing smoothly. She contributed 4 points and 3 assists, but her real value came in controlling tempo and making the right reads. Her leadership at the point helped Joseph City execute on its way to repeating as Arizona 1A state champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1201590"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69add1d3eca73"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bryce was a force on the glass for Fort Thomas. In limited minutes, she nearly produced a double-double, finishing with 8 points and 15 rebounds, including 8 offensive boards. She used her strength and size effectively in the paint, consistently battling for second-chance opportunities. Bryce's rebounding effort kept possessions alive and gave Fort Thomas some much-needed interior production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->