Arizona 4A Sweet 16 Preview
At this point, Shadow Mountain looks like the standard for 4a, if not the entire state. However, there are a number of great match-ups in the sweet 16 of the 4A state tournament. Sweet 16: Senior Heavy and Experience Laden #11…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAt this point, Shadow Mountain looks like the standard for 4a, if not the entire state. However, there are a number of great match-ups in the sweet 16 of the 4A state tournament.
Sweet 16: Senior Heavy and Experience Laden
#11 Marcos De Niza vs. #6 Rio Rico – Rio Rico has had a great season and they are one of the top seeds based on their improved play. They have been led this season by the strong seasons of 2017 prospects: Martin Ochoa, Alex Arizpe, German Arana, Luis Quezada. The balance of this group is what makes them so tough as there is not a single player that opposing teams can focus on as a means of stopping.
Marcos De Niza is also led by four 2017 prospects in Mason Stark, DaShawn Ray, Zurrell Livingston, and Jamari Robinson. Stark has been the leader of this team for the last couple of years due to his ability to shoot the basketball at an extremely high level. In addition to Stark, the supporting cast is an unselfish group who get the basketball up the floor and do not care who gets the credit for the success. Much like Rio, this is a tough team to play against due to their balance and numerous play makers.
Prediction: Although the game is a home game for Rio Rico, Marcos De Niza will win this one in a close battle between two teams who are capable of having success late in this tournament.
Sweet 16: Upset Pick
#13 Cactus Shadows vs. #4 Moon Valley – Cactus Shadows brings with them a talented group with two primary playmakers who are capable of shining in this environment. Dannon Docktor takes on a good portion of the scoring role for this team due to his versatile style of play. He is tough on the glass and beats up opposing bigs. In addition to Docktor, Aaron Cohn does a great job of dictating the tempo for Cactus Shadows and putting players in a position where they can be successful. In order for Cactus Shadows to have success tonight, these two players need to continue to make the big time plays that they have made all season.
Moon Valley – Moon Valley has had a tremendous season and they are led by three very talented prospects in Jok Jok, Ja’van Lee, and Trevor Thompson. Thompson leads the team in scoring and is the engine that makes the team go. In addition, Jok Jok brings a lot of length and athleticism to the defensive end of the floor and shoots the basketball at an extremely high rate.
Prediction: Although this will not be an easy out, Cactus Shadows will pull off the upset in a tough battle.