2020 MLK Basketball Story

A Battle of Undefeated Teams Highlights the 2020 MLK Basketball Classic

Kiya Dorroh scored 19 points to lead the Sabino Sabercats to a 51 to 41 victory over the Sahuaro Cougars in a battle of un-defeated teams at the 17th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Basketball Classic at McKale Center on the University of Arizona campus on Monday, January 20, 2020.

In other girls’ action earlier in the day Mat’tanaya Vital netted 18 points to lead the Amphitheater Panthers to a 45 to 17 win over the Catalina Trojans.

Kiana Ortiz scored 18 points and Angel Addleman added 13 as the Palo Verde Titans outlasted the Rio Rico Hawks 60 to 49. Luisayde Chavez of Rio Rico led all scorers with 22 points in the loss.

In boys’ action Andrew Yarger scored 22 points to lead the Desert Christian Eagles to a 62 to 50 win over the St. Augustine Catholic Wolves.

Deven Franks scored 22 points and Caelen Russell added 21 points as the Casteel Colts of Queen Creek defeated the Cienega Bobcats 75 to 68. With the score tied at 64 with less than two minutes to go in the game the Colts scored 8 unanswered points in a 36-second span to take the lead for good.

The Salpointe Catholic Lancers stayed undefeated as they bested the Tucson High School Badgers 70 to 60.  Evan Nelson scored 22 points and Grant Weitman racked up 18 points to lead the Lancers to victory. Yahir Garcia recorded 21 as the Badgers leading scorer.

In the final game of the MLK Classic Steven Legleu totaled 13 points as the Nogales Apaches snuck by the Cholla Chargers 51 to 47.

The MLK Basketball Classic, sponsored by the Tucson Unified School District and presented by Coaches for Charity, gives high school students the opportunity to showcase their talents in an exciting university atmosphere and a venue large enough to accommodate the community as the teams, cheerleaders and band members celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday through good sportsmanship, citizenship and cultural awareness.