Round Valley boys basketball wins first Shootout title

Round Valley boys basketball captured its first Shootout title, a breakthrough for the Round Valley Elks and for the Eagar and Springerville community that follows White Mountain hoops closely.

The win gives Round Valley High School a new marker in a tournament that has already seen established winners, including Holbrook’s three-peat in previous years. In that setting, a first title stands out as more than a trophy. It shows the Elks could get over the hump in a recurring event that has drawn attention across Apache County and the White Mountains.

A Round Valley Elks boys basketball post about the Shootout said the team won 71-62 in overtime and thanked players for taking part in the event. The same post said, “We had 50 shooters over the course of 3 days!” That kind of turnout points to a tournament that brings together players, families and fans from around the region, not just one school gym.

The title adds to a season that has already kept Round Valley in the local basketball conversation. The Elks also defeated Hopi to win the 2A North boys basketball tournament, a result that underscores how Round Valley has stayed competitive beyond the Shootout itself. On AZPreps365, the program has its own team and history pages, another sign that the Elks’ recent run has put the school on the radar for Arizona prep basketball followers.

For Apache County readers, especially in Eagar, Springerville and the surrounding White Mountains, the first Shootout championship carries a familiar kind of pride. Basketball remains one of the clearest ways small schools build visibility, and a title like this gives Round Valley a benchmark it can point to when the next district race and postseason push arrive.