State Tournament Previews and Predictions: Division-I Second Round
Saturday will be a crazy day as the second round of the Division-I State Tournament jumps off. There are multiple top ten matchups and you can expect at least one upset to take place. Here is a look at each…
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Continue ReadingSaturday will be a crazy day as the second round of the Division-I State Tournament jumps off. There are multiple top ten matchups and you can expect at least one upset to take place. Here is a look at each game taking place.
Mountain Pointe at Corona del Sol – The Pride snuck away from Brophy Prep last night, battling foul trouble that set their star Lawrence Combs the entire fourth quarter. Either way, they got it done and now they have a much bigger task at hand. The Aztecs finished the season stronger than anyone and you can’t undervalue the experience of their leader Alex Barcello. The length, toughness, and athleticism of Mountain Pointe bothered Corona before but they were still able to overcome and leave with a victory. The guard play will need to be very good for the Aztecs who face a bigger, longer opponent. At the end of the day, however, Corona has the two best guards in the junior class and, possibly, the entire state in addition to a wealth of experience which should help them squeak away with a victory in a nail biter. This is Division-I’s Co-Game of the Night.
Chandler at Sunnyslope – Chandler was able to overcome a fastpaced Liberty squad on Thursday to win their third straight game. Now they will enter a game against a more methodical Vikings squad. Slope has arguably had one of the best seasons in the division with wins over Gilbert, Desert Mountain, Mountain Ridge, and St. Mary’s. Their last two wins have shown that they can overcome athleticism at the wing spots. They also thrive off of other team’s mistakes and, while talented, the Wolves guards don’t always make the best decisions. Look for Sunnyslope to come out on top.
Hamilton at Mesa Mountain View – Hamilton did the unthinkable and handily upset Desert Vista. The Chandler school now faces an even tougher task as they take on an experienced and cerebral Toros squad who has been known to make runs in the tournament. Expect the leadership of Tommy Kuhse and the pace of the game to help Mountain View to a second round victory.
Dobson at Gilbert – A top ten type matchup that has yet to take place this season. Dobson overcame a fast paced Horizon squad on Thursday to advance to the second round. They take on a Gilbert squad that has size and toughness. While the Tigers’ two leaders Chris Bowling and Jacob Nicolds give them an advantage due to their length and toughness the guard play of the Mustangs will keep them in the game as they can score and defend. Expect a lot of high pressure in the backcourt by Dobson to try to turn the Tigers over. Caden Towt will need to have a very solid game in order for Gilbert to have success on Saturday but you can’t overlook the experience of a Tigers program that has made it to the Quarterfinals the past two seasons. Gilbert victory.
Boulder Creek at Basha – A great win for Boulder Creek as they overcame a bigger Highland group. However, the upset is not surprising as the Hawks had been on a downhill slope for quite a while. Now they face off against a Basha team that is more athletic and has more size. The Bears will need a heavy dose of Gabe McGlothan and Devin Kirby and Antwan Ross will need a great defensive effort to contain Nick Johnson. Expect Basha to pull away in this matchup.
Pinnacle at Perry – The Pioneers pulled off an upset as they defeated a higher seeded Desert Mountain squad Thursday. They face an experienced Perry team that has won five of their last six. While, on paper, Pinnacle may have the size advantage the Pumas have the ability to matchup inside with two serviceable bigs in 6’5” senior John Schlangen and 6’7” junior Jake Schulte. It is likely that they will matchup their two top defenders Rayjhan Billingsley and Blake Williams with Air Force commit Nik Mains to try to slow him down with athleticism and physicality. Pinnacle will have a tough time matching up with Perry as the Pumas have experience, athleticism, and versatility at the guard spots. Look for Perry to come away with a victory.
St. Mary’s at Mountain Ridge – On Thursday the Knights completely dominated a Chaparral team that they barely beat a week prior. Now they face a hungry Mountain Lions group who is eager for a rematch as St. Mary’s upset them 75-68 at the end of January. This will make for a very exciting game as both groups have, both, size and athleticism. St. Mary’s Isaiah Walton is one of the best defenders in the state and he, along with DeShawn Wilson, will be charged with the job of defending both Jay Green and Josh Green at times. On the contrary, Mountain Ridge will have to throw multiple bodies at emerging sophomore KJ Hymes who has been great in recent games. The Knights are the hottest team in the state and, because they have the athleticism to keep the Mountain Lions in front of them combined with the inconsistent shooting of Mountain Ridge look for a St. Mary’s upset. This is Division’s Co-Game of the Night.
Desert Ridge at Mesa – Desert Ridge was able to squeeze past a Red Mountain team that was missing their best inside presence Trace Edmier. This talented Jaguars group will now face a Mesa squad that beat them by 22 points just two weeks ago. The Jackrabbits are a team that capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes while limiting their own which is why they have been successful and will be successful again on Saturday night.