With five defending state champions still poised to repeat, there is a small influx of new blood in the final-four mixes of Divisions I through V.

Welcome Basha (D-I), Cienega (D-II), Seton Catholic (D-IV) and San Tan Foothills (D-V) to otherwise duplicate final fours from 2010. Sabino, Arcadia and Cactus to D-III. Can any of this group survive their semifinal bouts on Friday and Saturday other than the winner of Arcadia-Cactus to challenge reigning champs (Hamilton (D-I), Chaparral (D-II), Saguaro (D-III), Show Low (D-IV) and Northwest Christian (D-V)?

Perhaps a couple. Basha (9-3) did what it was equipped  to do to pull off a quarterfinal upset of unbeaten and No. 2 seed Brophy, 32-29, last week.  The Bears nine wins have come by dominating inferior foes and outscoring those on equal terms. The matchup with Desert Vista fits that criteria. Basha has put last year's one-and-done postseason appearance behind it and will ride the arm of Kyle Duran, a good receiving corps and improved running game this season to reach a title game for the first time in the school's nearly decade-long history.

Cienega (12-0) was a final-four team in 2010. It just happened to be in the old 4A-I. The Bobcats have moved up a notch and now get to face nearby southern Arizona rival Ironwood Ridge (10-2) for the chance at a first-ever title game berth. Cienega was ousted by Canyon del Oro last year in the D-I semis. Cienega and Basha have the best chance based on matchups of reaching the title game in their respective classes.

Seton Catholic (12-0) has invigorated its fan base with its unbeaten season to date. The Sentinels dropped a notch (4A-II to 3A-(D-III).  They've taken care of business with Chinle and Parker as expected, but face a whole new animal in perennial D-III power Blue Ridge. Seton's high-powered passing game faces a stern test from Blue Ridge's ultra-stingy defense. An ultimate test for coach Rex Bowser and his staff come Saturday at North Canyon HS.

San Tan Foothills first venture in the playoffs -- the Sabercats were 3-7 in 3A last year --  has yielded an  8-4 record and excitement in Queen Creek and the Coolidge district. STFH pounded away with running back Carlos Melendez nearly 50 times for 396 yards to get a rematch with D-V title-hungry Yuma Catholic. STFH will have to slow the passing game of YC, which piled up points on the Sabercats when the teams met three weeks ago  in a wild 77-50 shootout.

Sabino (11-1), Arcadia (10-2) and Cactus (10-1) weren't involved in a final four last year. They play  Saturday semifinals -- Sabino and Saguaro at Salpointe HS (7 p.m.) and Arcadia-Cactus at Paradise Valley HS (7 p.m.). Saguaro (10-2) is the defending 4A-/ID-III champ. Sabino was eliminated in the first round of 4A-I last year and is a program to be reckoned with once again. Arcadia enjoyed success in 4A-II  for six seasons. Moving up a tick this year and reaching the semis by edging Liberty last week is a shot in the arm for the Titans. Facing Cactus, a longtime power in whatever class or division it resides (4A, 4A-II, 4A-I), will test Arcadia for the right to meet the Saguaro-Sabino winner on Nov. 26.