Highland and coach Todd Fazio (in huddle) are one of the top teams in this week's McClintock Holiday Shootout, just one of many post-Christmas boys hoops events. (AzPreps365 photo)

McClintock Holiday Shootout (Dec. 26-28, 30)

All games at McClintock HS

First round of bracket play Dec. 26

10 a.m.: Hamilton (8-1) vs. Desert Mountain (6-5) - Hamilton has quality wins over Highland and Desert Ridge. The Huskies are led by senior Jamar Brown, who got a late start from football and senior guards Christian Valle and Omar Knight. Desert Mountain defeated Highland in its first game of the year, its signature win. The Wolves are led by their only returning starter Justice Rogers and perimeter threats Will Dubuc and Carson Biggs.

11:30 a.m.: Arcadia (8-2) vs. Mesa (4-6)  - Arcadia avenged a loss to Buckeye in the Phoenix Union Coyote Classic last week in a power-ranking game - the Titans' best win thus far. Arcadia has four players averaging between nine and 15 points a game - Max Majerle, Owen Shaw, Kieran Carr and Camerson Faas. Mesa's losses have come to very good teams -- all with winning records. Most of the those losses haven''t been close. Junior guard Steven Cervantes leads Mesa in scoring and assists (20 ppg, 4 apg).

1 p.m.: Paradise Valley (8-3) vs. Highland (10-3) - Paradise Valley's three losses are to solid teams with winning records by a total of 13 points (Shadow Mountain, Centennial and Buckeye). The Trojans are led by Moses Demalek (12 ppg, 8.5 r[pg and 6 apg) and Anthony Giliberto (19 ppg, 12 rpg). Highland is gaining attention, especially after a three-win week last week beating Skyline, Perry and Desert Ridge. The Hawks also own the only win against defending 5A champ Gilbert. No one playerr stands out. Watch and enjoy.

2:30 p.m.: Cesar Chavez (6-4) vs. Tempe (3-5) - Cesar Chavez won its first four games handily, then lost the next four - to Skyline, a forfeit and  two games playing with essentially a junior varsity roster due to 11 suspensions. The Champions have suspended players back and won two games with ease (Mountain View and Chandler) with them back. A couple of three-year starters are in the fold in junior guard Ricardo Sarmiento and senior guard Tyraill Carrethers. Tempe won one of three games last week in the Husky Invitational at Horizon. Cameron Snyder leads the Buffs in scoring and assists - 11.5 ppg and 3 apg.

4 p.m.: Gilbert (8-1) vs. Liberty (6-4) - Gilbert is showing well in defense of its 5A title with wins over Perry, Sunnyslope, Corona del Sol and Desert Ridge the highlights thus far. The Tigers are led in scoring by Brycen Long and Paul Maldonado, tough play inside and on the boards from Griffin Lamb and quality defending guards Tampa Scott and Jaqwuan Myles. Liberty has one win over a team with a winning record, 4A Thunderbird. The Lions are led by guard Jacob  Patterson.

5:30 p.m: McClintock (6-5) vs. Central (5-6) - McClintock hasn't won or lost any more than two games in a row. The Chargers are led by sophomore Jaylen Wesley averaging 18 ppg and 12 rpg.. Three teammates average in double figures in scoring. Central has dropped four of its last five games. Three of those  are to Millennium, Gilbert and Sunnyslope. 

7 p.m.: Basha (6-6) vs. Centennial (9-3) - Basha has won three games in a row after opening the year 1-5. The Bears now have junior Trenton McLaughlin back from injury to go with freshman Landon Schumaker and senior CJ Noder, both averaging in double figures. McLaughlin scored 13 in his 2019-2020 debut vs. Red Mountain. Centennial's riding a four-game winning streak. It's top conquest is Paradise Valley the first game of the season.

8:30 p.m.: Skyline (10-2) vs. Deer Valley (9-3) -  Skyline managed to win both games without its suspended players (six) from the Cesar Chavez debacle in the Phoenix Union Coyote Classic final. The Coyotes' lone loss on the court was to Highland last week. Skyline has four of its starters averaging in double figures (nearly five) led by Dayton Harris at 17 ppg. Deer Valley has won all of its games decisively. It's three losses are to Shadow Mountain, Apollo and 10-1 Cactus Shadows.

Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge (Dec. 26-28, 30)

All games at Mesa Mountain View HS

Opening games of pool play Dec. 26

10 a.m.: Corona del Sol (6-3) vs. Rancho Solano (7-6) - Seniors Anthony Irvine and Eric Blackwell have paced the Aztecs to a strong start. Rancho Solano competes in 2A, but can hold its own across conferences. The Mustangs are led by double-figure scorers Hunter Ruck, Michael Dienes and Tyson Legner.

11:30 a.m: Chaparral (4-7) vs. Paradise Honors (5-4) - Chaparral is led by one of the few holdovers from last year's runner-up squad, wing Jorden Josephs. Josephs is averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. Each of the Firebirds losses have come against schools .500 or better records, including Perry, Sunnyslope, Apollo, Brophy and Peoria. Paradise Honors competes in 3A and is paced by junior shooting guard and leading scorer Wyatt Bell. Bell ripped the nets for 27 points a few days ago in a one-point win over Rancho Solano.

1 p.m.: Brophy (4-4) vs., King's WA (4-3) - Brophy placed second in the Father Berry Classic 10 days ago and won a pair of power-ranking games last week. The recent standouts have been seniors Basil Ribakare and Joe Feeney, who were selected to the all-tourney team at Father Berry. King's is paced by 6-7 sophomore forward Tyler Linhardt. Linhardt scored 27 points in the Knights' most recent game.

2:30 p.m.: Salpointe (9-0) vs. St. Patrick/St. Vincent CA (4-3) -  Salpointe is focused on claiming the 4A title and has five of its top 9 players back from last year leby by seniors Evan Nelson, Grant Weitman and Jordan Gainey. St. Patrick-St. Vincent features 6-foot-11 post Dishon Jackson, 6-4 forward Jaden Alexander and guard Jalen Scott. Jackson averages a double-double points and rebounds.

4 p.m.: Apollo (7-4) vs. Pinnacle (3-5) -  Apollo is led by senior Zeke Thompkins, who leads the Hawks in rebounding, assists, steals and blocks and second in scoring at 12 ppg. Pinnacle is beginning to get untracked with with two of its starters from last year getting a slow start from football - Tosh Baker and Marcus Libman. Both are the top scorers thus far this season along with Arkansas transfer Luke Grawer.  Pinnacle played four games last week in the Tarkanian Classic Select Division and posted a 1-3 record.

7 p.m.: Mountain View (3-7) vs. Mercer Island WA (5-1) - Mountain View has struggled thus far as the lineup features no returning starters from last season.Blake Wolfe, Cash Clark, Karson Sherwood and Nick Valencia saw the most minutes last year as juniors. Mercer Island arrives riding a four-game winning streak and posted a 17-6 record last season. 

8:30 p.m.: Perry (9-3) vs. Serra CA (9-4) - Perry is off to a solid start and brings plenty of size. The inside game is handled by 6-9 junior post Duke Brennan and guard play led by junior Christian Tucker. 6-11 sophomore Dylan Anderson is the only returning starter and settles in often on the perimeter on offense. Serra has won five of its last seven games and carries a roster filled with underclassman.