After a 20 win and 1 loss AIA record in 2020, Cactus Shadows looks to build on its Final 4 appearance in 5A.   The Falcons were able to use their baseline to baseline defensive pressure force turnovers and get easy buckets in transition.   They forced 17 steals a game in 2020.   They cruised to an undefeated regular season, capturing the Northeast Valley Region by 2 games over Desert Mountain.   They then were able to win a pair of home play-off games vs East Valley contender Williams Field, and Tucson’s best Buena.   Their season would end when they traveled to the second seeded Sunrise Mountain in the Final 4.   It was a shame that the AIA decided to let semifinal games be played at the higher seeds instead of Neutral sites like ASU or GCU.   In the past if you made the Final 4 you got to experience the big courts and arena atmosphere.   The AIA stated that low attendance was the reason for the move to host sites, but one has to wonder if scheduling could have changed that (Monday at

In 2019, Casteel went from a double- digit seed who no one thought would get past round one, to make the Final 4 in 5A.   Early in the Semifinal game vs eventual State Champion Millennium, they showed the signs of the contender that they would be for a next few years, shocking the Tigers with a barrage of great shooting.   The Tigers’ debth proved to much for Casteel, but that run proved that the Colts were a Contender in 5A.   The upstart school, who’s only graduated 2 senior classes was poised to make a run in 2020.   Injuries derailed the Colts early in the season, but they got healthy at the right time and were able to take the No. 2 Seed Sunrise Mountain, down to the wire, before falling in the state quarterfinals.   Now 2021, could be the season that the Colts are able to get over the top and take home the Golden Ball Trophy.   If Casteel is able to bring home their first Championship, they will need to be led by Seniors Daeja Johnson and Autymn Franks.   Johnson led the team w

Usually the Tigers would be the prohibited favorite to win the 5A title.  After all they have dominated 5A since moving down from 6A two years ago.  Millennium hasn’t lost a 5A Power Point game in their two years in the Conference. Winning Back to Back titles where they didn't have a playoff game that wasn’t a running clock in 2020.  Their lone defeat came at the hands of 6A champ Valley Vista. They won the 2019 Title game against Gilbert who had 3 Division 1 players by 26, and won the 2020 Title game vs Sunrise Mountain by 29 points.  However, this year Millennium might come back to the pack.  Millennium has had a couple of huge changes.   It began with 11-year Head Coach Corey Rojeck resigning and moving to his home town of Cleveland Ohio, in order to be closer to family.   Next came the departure of Amoret Maxwell and Treyanna Crisp to play for a Prep School. Crisp holds multiple offers from Division 1 college including ASU, Maxwell is a lights out shooter that hit 3 shots fro

The rise of Sunrise Mountain has been nothing less than spectacular.   In 2015 they finished the season with just 6 victories, the next season 8 wins, and by 2017, 9 wins.   All losing seasons.   Then in 2018, they finished with a 0.500 record at 13-13.   2019 followed with a 19-win season, a home playoff victory and a round of 16 loss to Horizon.   Next was 2020.   The Mustangs made it all the way through an undefeated regular season, several home play off victories, and a trip to ASU to match up in the Title Game with defending champ, Millennium.   The game didn’t go as planned, ending with a 29 point loss and a runner up trophy.   Now comes 2021.   The perfect ending for the team on the rise is a 5A State title, and they have the roster and path to make it a perfect ending.   If the Mustangs are going to cut the nets down in ‘21, they will lean heavily on some players from the 2020 team.   First is Senior Julie Diveney, a lights out shooter with range from feet behind the arc.   S

During our previous post we discussed how the Prep Schools recently arose in Arizona This type of talent drain in one state is not common.   In states like California, New York, and Ohio, the most talent laden teams are nonpublic, often private academies such as Arch Bishop Mitty, La Jolla Country Day, St. Johns, and Riverdale Baptist.   Since these schools have established campuses, curriculum, and teaching staffs, the top players in areas around them would flock to play at these prestigious and elite schools.   In Arizona open enrollment has allowed Public High Schools like East Valley schools Hamilton, Perry, Gilbert, and Chandler and schools like Valley Vista, Millennium, and Tolleson in the West Valley to be power houses.   In addition to this, Tucson schools such as Sabino and Sahuaro have been strong contenders.   With that said there are a few traditional private preparatory academies that have had major success in the past 15 years such as Seton Catholic, Xavier College P

Over the last few months the world has been in a Global Pandemic that shut down the NBA Season, cancelled March Madness, postponed Major League Baseball spring training in Arizona, and cancelled spring sports in high school as well as the May Club sessions.   But it seemed like Girls’ Basketball season for Arizona made it out just under the wire, finishing their State Championships in the first week of March.   Had the season ran 10 days more, they may have been cancelled, as has happened in other states.   Teams in these states were in playoffs runs, only to the rug pulled out from under them, as their playoffs were immediately shut down.   So, it seemed like the Girls’ Basketball scene was saved from the Pandemic.   Then a new Epidemic hit Girls Basketball in Arizona, one that could be more long term than effects than any illness could ever have.   It seems that the top players in Arizona are done playing for their High Schools locally and have decided to transfer to new Girls Prep

As we look into the 6A teams that have a chance to take home the Golden Ball Trophy, we wanted to talk about some of the teams outside of the top 5 that could make some noise and cut down the nets in 2021.   Chandler : The Wolves graduated their top 5 scorers from 2019-20.   They did have some youth on that squad, but will these young players be able to carry the load in 21?   They will lean on Sophomore Autumn Rodriguez and Senior Sheena Cumberbatch.   Coach Glenda Skalitzky has always been successful both at Chandler and at Mesa Westwood before that.   Mesa Westwood : The Warriors were one of the surprises in 2019.   They used their small lineup and outstanding shooting to surprise people and win the section for the first time in many years.   If Coach Ron Campton is going to build on that success of last year he will lean on returners like Mya Johnson, Nyese Jones, and Nikkianna Kinsel.   Each of them averaged over 9 points a game and will need to continue that in 21 to be a fac

Sandra Day O’Conner has been knocking on the door for years.   Five straight trips to the playoffs, several appearances in the quarterfinals, and multiple 20 wins seasons has the Eagles believing they can challenge Valley Vista, Hamilton, and region foe Pinnacle in 6A.   If they are going to do it, they will need some things to go their way and their returning stars to soar to new heights.     O’Conner might have the deepest team returning in 6A, with their top 4 scorers and 5 of the top 6.   They will need to roll over their wealth of experience and toughness to take the team to the next level.   Elle Walker, a 41% shooter from deep, will help stretch the floor for guards like Sophomore Mak Snyder.    O’Conner implemented a nasty full court press in the past and will need to use its team speed to envelop opposing guards and force turnovers.   Senior Paris Atuahene will be a major part of getting those easy buckets off of turn overs.   Her quickness and top end speed should allo