Thursday night set the stage for the first round of this year’s Division-I state playoffs across the state, an exciting time of the year for basketball enthusiasts around the state. For many, it would be the last game of their high school careers, while for others it would be an opportunity to advance in the state playoffs. I found myself in the West Valley on Thursday evening, taking in a first round match-up between one of the state’s elite teams this season, Westview High School, and also one of the state’s top programs over time, St. Mary’s HS. Westview (22-6) has had a…
Author: Anthony Ray
It was a true test for this year’s Valley Vista girls who have developed a great deal as a team this season under the tremendous leadership of head coach Rachel Matakas. After playing inconsistent basketball throughout the season, the Monsoon would put together one of their best performances of the season on Wednesday evening and when it counted – in the first round of the Division-I State Playoffs. The game would feature Pinnacle High School (19-10), last year’s Division-I state championship runner-ups, taking on Valley Vista (18-11) on Pinnacle’s home floor. The game would set the bar for Valley Vista…
Early in the season, it had looked as though Corona Del Sol would be the team to beat all season long in the state’s Division-I Class, and, while they still are, Sunnyslope has become a team that may be able to challenge the two-time defending state champions. After posting an impressive 26-4 overall record this season, and while only losing to one team within the state of Arizona this high school season, the Vikings have become one of the state’s premier teams. Led by the overall play of 6-foot-3, 185-pound junior guard Sammy Thompkins and stellar 6-foot-10 senior post Michael Humphrey (Stanford…
It was an exciting match-up between two of the state’s top teams this season from the Division-I Class, as part of the Section-I tournament playoffs. Sunnyslope High School (26-4) has had a terrific season thus far, while Pinnacle (20-8) has not had the season that they envisioned before the season, but are looking to put it all together at the right time. Saturday’s match-up between these two teams also featured two former college teammates, as the state’s most impressive post talent, Sunnyslope’s 6-foot-10 senior post Michael Humphrey (Stanford signee), and Pinnacle’s 6-foot-5 senior guard/forward Dorian Pickens (Stanford signee) would face off…
The 2013-2014 junior college basketball season in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) is currently in full swing. Here are this week’s Players of the Week in men’s basketball in the conference . . . ACCAC D-1 Player of the Week: D’Juan Miller, Eastern Arizona, 5’8″ Sophomore Guard D’Juan Miller had a career week for the Monsters, including both career highs in points and assists. Wednesday on the road Miller came up just a few rebounds away from a triple-double, including a career high 11 assists. Saturday Miller poured in 46 points on the road and nearly had his second double-double of…
The 2013-2014 junior college basketball season in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) is currently in full swing. Here are this week’s Players of the Week in women’s basketball in the conference . . . ACCAC D-I Player of the Week: Stephanie Schmid – Arizona Western In wins over Cochise and Phoenix College, Stephanie Schmid averaged 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2 steals per game. ACCAC D-II Player of the Week: Alicia Jones – Pima Alicia Jones averaged 19.5 points per game last week, including a high of 26 versus Mesa. She also grabbed 8 rebounds per game as well as…
The 2013-2014 junior college basketball season in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) is currently in full swing. Here are this week’s Players of the Week in women’s basketball in the conference . . . ACCAC D-1 Player of the Week: Shaunice Robinson – Eastern Arizona Junior College In wins over Arizona Western JC and Glendale JC, Shaunice Robinson averaged 18.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 3.5 assists per game. ACCAC D-2 Player of the Week: Mariah Willadsen – Mesa Junior College In wins over Glendale JC and South Mountain JC, Mariah Willadsen averaged 14.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per…
Desert Ridge High School (16-10) has been up and down this high school season, but when the team has been good they have been really good. The success of the team this season has primarily rested on the shoulders of two players – ultra-talented 6-foot-3 senior guard Hunter Thomas (21.8 ppg), the team’s leading scorer, and 6-foot-4 sophomore combo-forward Teddy Allen. After a dismal 9-16 performance last season, head coach Greg Ream has led this team to a 16-10 overall record this high school season, and an opportunity to compete in the Division-I state playoffs. When the team has been at…
Desert Vista High School’s girl’s program has been one of the top girl’s programs in the state for some time, but this season, after the addition of transfer junior guard Sabrina Haines to the program, the Thunder have completely rolled through the competition. Desert Vista (25-1) is the state’s top team this season in the Division-I Class, and any other class for that matter. Led by talented head coach Jontar Coleman, the combination of a trio of division-I prospects for Desert Vista has been too much for opposing teams in the state. 5-foot-7 senior point guard Emily Wolph (Santa Clara signee), 6-foot-4 junior…
Queen Creek High School (17-7) is having a strong season this year – filled with talented prospects that have proven that they can play with anyone in the state. Head coach Troy Gibson is a talented head coach and his team exemplifies his hard-working and tough style of coaching. After recently winning 6 games in a row on the season, the team has recently lost a few nail-biters. Queen Creek was playing their best basketball of the season early this year, before they lost their starting senior combo-guard, 6-foot-1 senior Blake Williams, to an injury. After losing Williams, the team lost…