The 1A, 2A and 3A Basketball Boys State Championships are scheduled to get underway this week and there’s a few teams to watch in their respective conferences as first-round games tip off Feb. 17.

2A BOYS BASKETBALL

SCOTTSDALE CHRISTIAN

Winners of nine 2A state titles in program history, Scottsdale Christian (18-8, 7-0 2A Central) is looking for their first championship since 2022 and this year may be their year.

The No. 3-seeded Eagles were good enough to make the Copper Open tournament this season, barely losing to Palo Verde Magnet 55-52 to send them back into the 2A bracket.

This after losing a 2A state play-in game to No. 22 St. Johns 67-64 a season ago, but Scottsdale Christian quickly turned the page and focused on 2025-26.

Led by super sophomore Huddy Novak, who is averaging 23.9 points per game this season, the Eagles are hoping to make a deep playoff run this February.

Scottsdale Christian received a first-round bye and will face the winner of the No. 11-Veritas Prep.-No. 6 Glendale Prep. on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m.

ARIZONA LUTHERAN

The No. 4-seeded Coyotes (20-7, 7-1 2A Valley) host No. 13 Phoenix Christian to open the 2A state playoffs on Feb. 17. Winners of five straight before a 77-46 loss to Valley Christian in the first round of the Copper Open, Arizona Lutheran features a Top 10 scorer in Cash Hill, who averaged 19.7 points per game this season.

Tipoff against Phoenix Christian is set for 7 p.m.

3A BASKETBALL

PUSCH RIDGE

Defending 3A state champion Pusch Ridge (20-6, 7-1 3A South) drew a No. 9 seed in this year’s state playoff bracket and have won six straight heading into the tournament.

Coach Steve Solita has five seniors that have “contributed in a big way.”

“We are committed to each other as a team and have learned from our games both wins and losses,” Solita said.

Players to watch include Santino Almazan, Ben Lambe and Noah McKinney, who is ranked Top 15 in the state in scoring at 17.7 points per game this season.

Pusch Ridge hosts No. 9 Gilbert Christian on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.

SETON CATHOLIC

The No. 4-seeded Sentinels (23-6, 7-3 3A Central) open the 3A state tournament against No. 13 River Valley as K.J. Fauske being featured on the big stage as the top 3A scorer in the state at 25.5 points per game.

Tipoff Feb. 17 is set for 7 p.m.

1A BASKETBALL

FORT THOMAS

As the only 1A representative in the Copper Open tournament this season, Fort Thomas (29-5, 10-0 1A East) is likely the favorite in this conference after going a perfect 19-0 in power point games this season.

The Apaches are doing it without the help of a top state scorer as Channing Wilson (14.8 points per game) ranks 18th overall in 1A competition.

Fort Thomas had won 16 straight games before losing to Seton Catholic (60-49) in the first round of the Copper Open, showing other schools standing in their way that they can play with bigger schools.

Fort Thomas hosts No. 16 BASIS Flagstaff on Feb. 17, 5 p.m.

RAY

No. 13-seeded Ray (18-12, 5-5 1A East) features one of the top scorers in 1A basketball with Chase Chester averaging 19.3 points per game this season.

Chester is behind Seligman’s Hunter Silas (20.7), San Pasqual Valley’s Isaiah Martinez (22.8), St. Michael’s Ryan Legah (23.2) and Seligman’s Terrell Majenty (26.6) for fifth overall in the state.

The Bearcats open the 1A tournament at defending state champ, No. 4 The Gregory School on Feb. 17, 7 p.m.

OTHER NOTES

Rancho Solano Prep. earned a No. 10 seed and will travel to No. 7 San Carlos on Feb. 17 to open the 2A state tournament. The defending state champs feature top scorer Luke Larrabee, who averages 21.5 points per game, good enough for sixth overall in the conference. … Coolidge earned a No. 3 seed in the 3A state tournament this season, winning 23 games and featuring one of the top rebounders in the state in Preston Dees, who averaged 10.4 boards per game.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.