COTTONWOOD — Having not won a state playoff game in 15 years, the Mingus girls basketball program is in a position to put themselves on the map.

In 2008-2009, the Marauders won 23 games and rode lightning in a bottle all the way to the 4A-II state Final Four before losing to then No. 1-ranked Page, 66-33. Since then, Mingus has finished only .500 or above one time, a 12-12 mark in 2013-14.

In 2019-2020, the program hit an all-time low by going 0-22.

Three seasons ago, Troy Hoke was hired and his club won 15 games, then won 19 in his second year before losing a state play-in contest to Sahuarita 49-43 last February.

Now in 2024-25, Hoke has the Marauders (19-7, 8-4 4A Grand Canyon) on the verge of their first 20-win season since most of the players on the current roster were still in diapers.

“It’s been a lot of fun watching them develop. We have a young team, with two starters who played last year as freshman. They have come a long way since then,” Hoke said. “We have senior leadership with Alice Kinsey and Marie Thompson. … It’s been fun to see us compete at a high level and have success here at Mingus.”

The Marauders’ success has come with greater challenges this season compared to last with a stronger non-region schedule, and a young group leading the charge.

Mingus has wins against No. 20 Greenway (53-26, Nov. 22), No. 21 St. Mary’s (59-35, Jan. 13), two wins against No. 25 Bradshaw Mountain (61-42, Jan. 16; 51-35, Jan. 24), and a win against No. 27 Thunderbird (57-33, Dec. 5).

Despite recent losses to No. 4 Estrella Foothills (64-56) and No. 8 Prescott (53-47), the Marauders are playing good basketball at the right time.

“Knowing that we had a tougher lineup than last year, it made me think that coming out of the gate, we may split more games than we did last year. But that wasn’t true, we’ve risen to the occasion, even with some of the tougher freedom games,” Hoke said, adding that they lost both games to No. 5-ranked Flagstaff by less than double digits.

“We lost to Flagstaff by nine and seven, it is the first time I can recall not losing by double digits to them. We gave them a run. The game against Prescott was tough,” Hoke said. “We’ve shown we can compete.”

Starting sophomore Savannah Tobias said the team needs to continue working on their response to being pressured full court, and having a good mentality throughout the game, but said the chemistry between the girls is definitely there.

“We know what specific players are good at what, passing, shooting. We have a good free throw percentage too, so we like to get to the line,” Tobias said. “Getting that far [last year], this year, I’m hoping for more. We have a stronger connection this year.”

Senior Alice Kinsey said the club has grown a lot since last season’s state play-in loss.

“We’ve had ups and downs, but we learned to grow from it in games and practices. [We’re] being patient with each other, and our coaches. I expect us to [come] out strong at state,” Kinsey said, adding it’s been special to get to know the underclassman during her senior season, not to mention how far the program has come since that Final Four appearance in 2009.

“Coach talks about what an accomplishment it’s been for Mingus basketball to make it this far, and to be part of it is something to remember,” Kinsey said.

And despite the 0-4 mark against Flagstaff and Prescott this season, both of which have qualified for the Open State Tournament, the average point margin in those games was exactly seven.

“We’re starting to compete as a contender in the 4A Grand Canyon region,” Hoke said, adding that although Mingus won’t make the Open, but should be in the 4A state playoffs come Feb. 27, it’s still important that his club is always in the conversation.

“I think it gives us an opportunity to see how we fare against teams outside our region. You play tournaments against some 5A and 6A teams, so you get to see that, but when you go to the Open, it puts your name out there amongst the other schools that like Mingus is on the map a little bit, which I think these girls are working hard to draw notice to,” Hoke said. “Now they know where Mingus is from.”

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.