The state playoffs will begin this week for boys and girls basketball in every division. Here are this year’s state playoff brackets for Division-I for the boys – led by #1 seed Corona Del Sol High School.
Author: Anthony Ray
6-foot-2 senior guard Larry Lewis led the way with 21 points and a game-winner, as #2 seed Arcadia HS defeated Sierra Linda HS, 48-46, on Saturday night in the Division II, Section III championship game at Coronado High School.
#1 seed Kellis pulled out a 63-62 boys basketball victory over arch-rival and #2 seed Peoria for the Division-II, Section-II tournament championship Saturday night before an overflow crowd at Phoenix Greenway High.
5-foot-9 senior Arnecia Hawkins and 6-foot-2 junior post Jordan Jensen combined for 31 points, as Mountain View’s girls basketball team defeated Desert Vista, 62-46, in the Division-I Section-III championship game at Chaparral High School.
Arcadia High School’s 6-foot-7 senior forward Christian Thompson secured the offensive rebound before putting the ball back up and in to give the Titans a 62-60 win against Saguaro on Friday night.
#4 seed Pinnacle High School avenged an early season loss by dominating for four quarters in a 64-34 victory over #1 seed Desert Vista HS. Pinnacle’s 6-foot-4 junior guard/forward Drew Bender led the way with 19 points and six assists.
#7 seeded Desert Mountain upsets #3 seed Brophy Prep, 61-52, in the Division I, Section III semifinals at Chaparral – advancing to the sectional finals. Desert Mountain upset #2 seed Mesa Mountain View in the sectionals first round.
Chandler (Ariz.) senior Dezirae Elias is one of the most dynamic basketball players in the state of Arizona. The Lady Wolves’ leader is a pure point guard who has also shown the ability to score when her team needs a scoring lift.
In the first round of the Division-I Section III tournament, #4 seed Pinnacle would face #5 seed Boulder Creek HS (20-6). After building a 20-point halftime lead, Pinnacle (26-3) would have to fight to hold on to a 69-60 victory, behind the play of 6-foot-4 junior guard/forward Drew Bender. Pinnacle would jump out to a comfortable 43-23 halftime lead, as Pinnacle would look almost unbeatable in the game’s first half. After head coach Randy Walker and his staff would make some adjustments at halftime, Boulder Creek would storm back in the game’s third period – outscoring Pinnacle 17-7 in the…
#1 seed Desert Vista High School (20-7) began their state title quest Wednesday evening in the first round of this year’s Division-I Section III state tournament. Facing host #8 seed Chaparral HS (16-12), the Thunder would overcome an early charge by the Firebirds to win the game, 66-54. Chaparral, led by new head coach and former Pepperdine University assistant coach Damin Lopez, would not have been in this position had they had the services of star 6-foot-8 junior forward/center Joe Boyd all season. Boyd returned to action just recently after suffering a severe ankle injury early in the season. Boyd…