Wednesday, December 3, 1975. That was the first basketball game played by the girls of Flowing Wells. That first road game was a loss against an opponent one would not expect. Baboquivari beat Flowing Wells 31-29 that day and Christy Lee Anderson scored 14 points. Anderson was the first All-State player for what was once called the “Caballeras” but she turned down a scholarship to play for Central Arizona to pursue a career in the music business as a bass player. She passed away at the age of 44 in 2005 but what she helped build continues to grow.

(Arizona Daily Star: 12-4-1975)

 

That first team started out 0-3 but finished 10-6 with the first of almost 20 region championships and the team went 20-3 the next year with another region title to go with a championship of the very first Holiday Shootout hosted by Flowing Wells. The list of coaches who have called the East Gym home is impressive. Pima County Hall of Famer Marc Janis started everything off, Tony Brooks coached for a couple of years, Ed Nymeyer followed, Marc Lumley had a brief stay, current Pima head coach Todd Holthaus coached for seven years and current head coach Michael Perkins took over in 2005 and he earned his 351st victory Friday night against Casa Grande.

The 55-33 victory over Casa Grande served as a backdrop for a halftime celebration of the players and coaches who have taken part in the program over the last 50 years. Players from every era were present including members from the 2008 state championship team.

The 2024 edition of the Flowing Wells Holiday Shootout starts Dec. 27 and the team will play…. Baboquivari to start it all off.