Defending 5A-I softball champion Red Mountain had a game to forget opening defense of its title on Wednesday in its annual tournament. So when the Mountain Lions got the chance to redeem themselves Thursday, they did so with a little assistance from Mesquite.

Former Central football coach brings passion to the St. Marys program.

Wolverines pick up the intensity on defense and convert 18 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal 65-54 win.

Both teams have advanced to the quarterfinals, girls on Friday and boys on Saturday.

Red Mountain boys basketball coach Greg Sessions saw a film (actually a game) in November called The Battle of Red Mountain & North. He saw it a second time in December. Witnessed it a third time Wednesday night. He is still searching for the alternate ending. For the third time since just before Thanksgiving, Red Mountain had defending 5A-I state champ North on the ropes for a half or better. And for the third time Wednesday, North came back in the second half to turn away the Mountain Lions, 69-62, this time in the first round of the 2011 state tournament at North High School.

Seton Catholic earned a chance at a 4A-II girls basketball repeat Wednesday with a strong first half predicated on balanced scoring and defense. A tough recipe to overcome. The second-seeded Sentinels amassed a 32-13 lead at halftime and were in command for the duration in posting a 61-39 victory over No. 3 seed Cactus in a semifinal game at Jobing.com Arena.

Lions turn away Tucson rally to win 48-46 and advance to Class 5A-I quarterfinal against top-seeded St. Mary\'s.

It was an evening of excessive foul trouble for Hamilton and Dobson so avoiding that made for a potential major player. Hamilton junior guard Lauren Evans was not lost on the opportunity.

Top seeds: Kellis (4A-I boys), Amphitheater (4A-II boys), Shadow Mtn. (4A-I girls), Flagstaff (4A-II girls).

Anne Marie Holter scores nine points in the final 3:35 against Flowing Wells in Division II quarterfinal.

Top competitors are on display in the Class 3A boys and girls tournaments this week.

Mustangs advance to Class 3A quarterfinals with a 74-60 victory, delighting many fans who came along for the ride.

If there was any shred of doubt which team would win the 2A boys state basketball championship on Saturday night, Westwind Prep standout Demarquise Johnson put an end to that. Johnson put on a second-half offensive clinic as Westwind pulled away from a single-digit lead early in the third period to topple Thatcher, 82-63, at Tims Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.

Valley Christian girls basketball is all about defense. That aspect was on display again Saturday as the Trojans bid for their second consecutive 2A championship. Plugging the middle and making every shot Thatcher took in the paint a tough one, Valley Christian made a close game a rout in the second half with a 53-35 triumph over the Eagles at Tims Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.

It was too much Metehan Akcam and a little more Theo Turner than Gilbert Christian could handle. Akcam and Turner combined for 48 points as Orme won the first basketball title in its history Saturday with a 68-56 victory over Gilbert Christian at Tim\'s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.

After watching Fort Thomas score the first six points of the third period and take the lead 23-22, Gilbert Christian decided it was not going to allow the Apaches the momentum to pull off an upset. With senior Molly Van Rijn leading a late charge in the third period, the Knights wrapped up their second 1A girls basketball title in three years with a 44-31 victory over Fort Thomas at Tim\\\\\\\'s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.

Top-seeded Cougars advance to Class 4A Division I boys basketball semifinals with 65-52 victory.

He is former longtime head coach at Flagstaff High.

Chandler and Mesa Mountain View have not waivered in their bid to be strong 5A-I contenders in girls basketball this season. With the teams heading to state next week as top-4 seeds neither wanted to enter the tournament with a bad taste in its mouth. One team had to Thursday night and it happened to be Chandler. Mountain View overcame a scoreless first quarter and 17-point deficit to hand Chandler a 53-52 loss at Mountain View.

Winners of quarterfinal games will advance to semifinals next week at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.