Tucson High advances to quarterfinals with dominant second-half comeback

No. 6 Tucson High overcame an early deficit to defeat No. 13 Glendale Apollo 89-64 and secure a spot in the 6A state playoffs quarterfinals.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After falling behind 14-4 early, Tucson High rallied in the second half, going on a 12-0 run to take the lead and then pulling away in the fourth quarter for an 89-64 victory over Glendale Apollo. Senior Malaki Cunningham Hiadzi led all scorers with 26 points, while senior Patrick Flores added 25 points, including three 3-pointers in the third quarter to spark the Badgers' comeback. Tucson High will now travel to face No. 3 Chandler in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Why it matters

Tucson High's comeback victory over Apollo showcases the team's resilience and ability to make adjustments, which will be crucial as they advance deeper into the 6A state playoffs. The Badgers' strong second-half performance also highlights the team's depth and balanced scoring attack, led by their senior leaders Cunningham Hiadzi and Flores.

The details

Trailing 14-4 early, Tucson High rallied behind 8 points from senior Malaki Cunningham Hiadzi to cut the deficit to 2. Apollo then built a 10-point lead in the second quarter, but Tucson kept fighting back, only to see Apollo senior Emmanuel Angok hit a jumper at the buzzer to give the visitors a 42-35 halftime advantage. In the second half, Tucson came out on fire, going on a 12-0 run to take the lead. Senior Patrick Flores hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter to spark the Badgers, who then pulled away in the fourth quarter with suffocating defense and dominant rebounding.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
  • Tucson High will travel to face No. 3 Chandler in the quarterfinals on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Malaki Cunningham Hiadzi

A senior at Tucson High who led all scorers with 26 points in the victory over Apollo.

Patrick Flores

A senior at Tucson High who scored 25 points, including three 3-pointers in the third quarter to spark the Badgers' comeback.

Emmanuel Angok

A senior at Glendale Apollo who hit a jumper at the buzzer to give his team a 42-35 halftime lead.

Victor Vu

A junior at Glendale Apollo who hit a 3-pointer to give his team a 22-17 lead after the first quarter.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We were telling each other we've been doing this for too long, this can't be our last one, not at home.”

— Patrick Flores, Senior (allsportstucson.com)

“We can't do it without them; we need them.”

— Patrick Flores, Senior (allsportstucson.com)

What’s next

Tucson High will travel to face No. 3 Chandler in the quarterfinals on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The takeaway

Tucson High's comeback victory showcases the team's resilience and ability to make key adjustments, which will be crucial as they advance deeper into the 6A state playoffs. The Badgers' balanced scoring attack and strong second-half performance against Apollo demonstrate why they are a force to be reckoned with in the postseason.