3A basketball preview
February 14, 2018 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
Anyone's guess who makes the 3A girls title game. Holbrook and Valley Christian are in the mix. (AzPreps365 photo)
What can be anticipated in the 3A boys and girls basketball playoffs now that the brackets show a mixed bags of teams from across the state in the top 8 seeds of boys competition and a heavy helping (not unusual) from Northern Arizona schools on the girls side. Focused on those schools, here is a look at both tournaments that begin Feb. 13 (girls) and Feb. 14 (boys):
BOYS TOURNAMENT
The top eight seeds in this year's field feature just two teams that were in the top eight last year -- Valley Christian and Blue Ridge. They were the #1 and #2 seeds, respectively, but were knocked out in the quarterfinals. The only school in last year's final four to earn a top-8 seed this year is last year's runner-up Winslow.
TOP EIGHT SEEDS: #1 Blue Ridge (28-3) is one of three East Region teams to qualify in the top 8 and earn a bye in to the round of 16 in the 24-team tournament. Blue Ridge has been a stable force atop the boys rankings for most of the season. The Yellow Jackets are led by senior Mason Berges and juniors Corey Endfield and Darrien Burnette. Berges averages 22 points and 10 rebounds a game and Endfield and Burnette chip in 15 points apiece. They lost their final two regular season games with fellow East Region foes Winslow and Snowflake, but avenged each loss in the section tournament. Blue Ridge is mot invincible, but capable of backing up its top billing. #5 Snowflake (19-12) is also dangerous. The Lobos played Blue Ridge four times losing three times, but two of the losses were by one point. Seniors Garrett Wood and Taden Flake lead a team that often relies on balanced scoring and defense. #2 Winslow (23-6) split with Snowflake and Blue Ridge in the regular season and knocked off #4 Valley Christian in a December tournament. Senior Ricardo Villanueva averages 17 points a game to lead the Bulldogs, who have reached the final four the last two years and lost in the final last year. #4 Valley Christian (19-7) and #3 Casteel (18-8) represent the Metro Region among the top 8. Valley Christian won the region and split its meetings with Casteel. The Trojans lost overtime games to top-8 Sabino and Winslow and handled Snowflake by double digits. Leading the way for VC are two, 3-year junior starters -- Jalen Grijalva and Connor Braun. They have size and depth (no player smaller than 6-2) and have a healthy 6-8 Braun for postseason this year. He was out with a broken foot last year. Casteel has racked up a pair of 3A state titles this year (football and girls soccer) and basketball is in the hunt as well. The Colts rely on juniors Chris York (14 ppg), Austin Ponsness (12 ppg) and Cooper Christensen (10 ppg). #6 Chinle (19-8) is the North Region's best hope. The Wildcats knocked off Snowflake early and Florence later in the year for two of their top wins. #7 Florence (16-11) was in the middle of a tight Central Region race, but its strength of schedule vaulted it to top 8 status. The Gophers are led by senior forward Aaron Chapple (15 ppg, 8 rpg), sophomore center Rarey Sommer (11 ppg, 10 rpg) and junior guard Nick Tucker (17 ppg). #8 Sabino (17-9) won the South Region via tiebreaker over Empire. The Sabercats take the momentum of having won their last six games against 3A teams to the postseason. They are led by senior guard Daniel Joseph (15 ppg), senior forward Jason Johnson (12 ppg) and junior guard Andres Aros-Estrella (10 ppg).
TOP EIGHT SEEDS: #1 Ganado (22-4) led the power rankings much of the season. The Hornets' keys to success are depth with 10 players seeing a lot of action and defense. They won 9 of 11 games against region foes. Three seniors are the leaders -- Janaya McIntosh, Amber James and Camille Uentillie. McIntosh is the team's scoring leader followed closely by Uentillie. James leads in rebounding and steals. #2 Window Rock (19-6) made it to the elite eight last year where it was felled by eventual state champ Valley Christian. Offense is paced by senior Vanessa James, who is averaging 15 points a game, junior Asia James (12 ppg) and sophomore Jana Solee (10 ppg). The Scouts won 7 of 11 games against North Region foes and dealt Ganado its only region defeat. #3 Page (18-9) has been hot down the stretch and the whispers are the Sand Devils are the favorites. They lost by one in the final last year to Valley Christian. and clocked Window Rock and Ganado in the recent North Region tournament. Page has regrouped with three key returnees -- point guard Myka Taliman who averages just shy of 10 ppg, leading rebounder LeLisa Watson (8 ppg) and senior post Jacey Salabiye averaging 15 ppg. The loss of six seniors was a challenge early, but isn't any longer. #4 Valley Christian (22-4) returned one starter from last year's title team and has hung its hat on her and rightfully so -- senior point guard Anna Gorman. Gorman is averaging 22 points a game and is arguably the best player in the conference. She broke the school career scoring record last month. Gorman delivered the game-winning free throws in last year's last-second title win over Page. Sophomore post Jada Pourier is adding 10 ppg and leads in rebounding. The Trojans likely are going to have to beat teams from the 3A North and or Holbrook to repeat as state champs. #5 Holbrook (24-6) played as tough a schedule as any team in 3A. It doesn't rely on one or two players to lead its offense and can sport a different top scorer most nights. Leading the team is sophomore Madison Chappell with a modest 12 ppg. The Roadrunners were 5-3 against 3A North teams beating Ganado, Chinle and Monument Valley. Page beat Holbrook twice. #6 Safford (20-5) won the 3A Central and hopes to avert a first-round loss this season. The Bulldogs are led by junior guard Deion Abalos (15 ppg, 6 apg), senior Aneesa Molina (11 ppg, 7 rpg) and sophomore Mia Carter (11 ppg). They had trouble with top-8 seeds losing four of five games (VC, Holbrook, Chinle and Window Rock in decisive fashion). #7 Pusch Ridge (20-6) had to batte with Empire, Tanque Verde and Sabino for South Region honors and won a tie-breaker with the other three. The Lions, piloted by longtime coach Lonnie Tvrdy, had limited chances playing other top 8 teams, but were 2-0 (beating Holbrook early and Valley Christian late). They did not face any 3A North teams. Pusch Ridge is led by sophomore Angel Addleman (13 ppg, 7 rpg) and junior Cherish Gotcher ( 9 ppg). #8 Chinle (14-13) didn't win many games in its region. But after opening the season 4-9 the Wildcatswon 10 of their last 14 games and won't be easy to handle.
