PRESCOTT VALLEY — Alchesay and Fort Thomas brought home second place in 2A state basketball championship.

They were first among schools in towns their size. Gregory school from Tucson and Rancho Solano took the championships for 1A and 2A respectively. Alchesay beat a thicket of six-footers from Paradise Honors, winning 67-61 after trailing most of the first half.

But the woods were too thick when they got to Rancho Solano. The school has only two players on its roster under 6’ and has four players 6’3” and above. One player is 6’8” and another 6’9”. They were able to shut Harley Upton down almost completely, and Alchesay lost 68-62 after working its way back from a 20 point deficit. San Juan Slick contributed many points as did both Tyreck and Raekwon Cosay. 

Solano players were capable of brilliant leaping blocks and one pulled  Shaq Attack style put-back dunk swing from the basket.

The Rancho Solano team distinguished themselves in another way when they allowed a kid with a handicap to make the last basket.

Fans of both teams cheered.

Fort Thomas ran all over Red Mesa, winning 62-41, and then they ran into a school with 6’-plus players. Fort Thomas has two players over 6’ tall, Kobe Talgo and sophomore Latrell Titla who is 6’ 5”.

According to Coach Matthew Dona, Titla is still learning, though his presence beneath the net often made points for the Apaches. 

Fort Thomas lost 65-46 in the final game. Coach Dona said that he and the team were surprised and pleased to get into the finals, and to best all of the other 2A public schools.