TUCSON TOP TEN

1: Sahuaro

2: Ironwood Ridge

3: Canyon del Oro

4: Salpointe

5: Cienega

6: Rincon/University

7: Catalina Foothills

8. Mountain View

9. Sabino

10: Tanque Verde

 

This is what the playoff picture looks like for Southern Arizona:

 

6A Conference

No. 13 Rincon/University (9-5, 2-0)

Rincon can claim the Southern/Tucson Region with a win against No. 32 Tucson (3-11, 1-2) at home next Tuesday, Oct. 18.

There will be a 6A Southern Region Tournament to determine the automatic bid to the state playoffs but the top 24 teams will make the playoffs (based on play-in tournament).

 

5A Conference

No. 2 Sahuaro (11-1, 5-0) has a commanding lead in the Southern Region. Only No. 4 Ironwood Ridge (11-3, 4-2) is within striking distance. The two powers will meet at Sahuaro on Thursday, Oct. 20.

No. 6 Cienega (11-5, 3-4) has lost three region matches in a row but the Bobcats are still in line for a top-8 ranking heading into the state playoffs. No. 16 Mountain View Marana (6-7, 1-4) came up with a huge win over Cienega last week but Buena, Ironwood Ridge, CDO and Sahuaro are still on the schedule.

No. 20 Buena (5-8, 2-4) will have to keep on winning to make the play-in tournament. No. 22 Marana (8-5, 6-0) will play No. 27 Poston Butte (7-5, 4-1) on Oct. 20 for the Sonoran Region title. The loser of that match may not make the playoffs.

 

4A Conference

No. 6 Canyon del Oro (10-2, 5-0) and No. 8 Salpointe (10-3, 4-1) are the locks for the state playoffs. There is no “play-in” tournament in the 4A Conference so being near the top 16 is even more important.

No. 14 Catalina Foothills (7-6, 2-2) will have to come up with a few more wins down the stretch to stay in contention.

No. 19 Pueblo (8-4, 3-0), No. 24 Palo Verde (8-3, 3-1) and No. 36 Douglas (4-9, 3-1) are battling for control of the Gila Region.  The champion will get in the playoff but might fall outside of the top 16. That means another team will be bumped out.

 

3A Conference

No. 12 Sabino (7-4, 7-0), No. 8 Tanque Verde (11-1, 6-1), No. 21 Pusch Ridge (7-6, 5-3) and even No. 19 Empire (8-5, 4-4) are still in the hunt for the South Region title. There is no “play-in” tournament in the 3A Conference.

No. 6 Safford (9-2, 5-1) should qualify regardless of the outcome of the Central Region.

 

2A Conference

No. 24 Desert Christian (5-5, 5-0) has three ways to make the playoff. The Eagles can win the South Region, can finish in second place in the South Region or finish in the top 24. The second place team in the 2A Conference gets an automatic bid to the “play-in” tournament.

No. 8 Thatcher (7-3, 7-0) is in strong contention in the East Region. No. 17 Benson (7-6, 5-3) and No. 18 Willcox (7-3, 5-3) are battling for an at-large bid.

 

1A Conference

No. 5 St. David (12-1, 7-0) is one win away from claiming the South Region. However, No. 8 The Gregory School (11-4, 5-2) can also qualify by beating No. 10 Bowie/San Simon (9-2, 5-1) on Monday, Oct. 24 because the second place team in the South Region gets an automatic bid.

No. 16 Patagonia (7-3, 4-3) needs some help to get in.

No. 11 Duncan (10-4, 3-1) still has a shot for an at-large bid.