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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A suggestion at halftime from Brophy soccer coach Marc Kelly got through to Esteban Obregon. The senior midfielder put the words of wisdom in practice quickly in the second half and the result was the deciding goal for top-seed Brophy in the 5A-I championship match against No. 2 seed Hamilton. Obregon assisted Kyle Seeger for the only goal of the night Saturday giving Brophy a 1-0 victory over Hamilton at Campo Verde High School.

A first half goal. Let the defense do the rest. That is how the Hamilton girls soccer team nailed down win after win this season and did not deviate in the title game to edge Xavier, 1-0, to capture the 5A-I crown on Saturday at Campo Verde High School.

Sunnyside senior Kory DeBerry faced his final high school wrestling match Friday night with a chance to become a rare four-time individual state champ. DeBerry won his first three titles competing in 5A-II at 135, 140 and 145. His opponent from Mesa High in the finale, Edgar Verdi, was a state champ last year at 152 in 5A-I. With the change in conference designation both rested in Division I this year. Something had to give. It wasn\'t DeBerry.

Kofa High does not get to travel to the Valley much these days due to Yuma budget limitations, but the Kings first trip to the metro Phoenix area this season came close to being a remarkable one. The fifth-seeded Kings fought off a first-half onslaught of chances and a two-goal deficit late to No.1 seed Brophy before falling in the final three minutes to the Broncos, 4-3, in a 5A-I boys soccer semifinal at Campo Verde High School.