The power-point rankings were dead on in 4A-I. The No. 1,2 3 and 4 seeded teams are in the semis and should give fans Friday a healthy serving of quality playoff football.
Last year East Valley schools raised one championship trophy in boys basketball. Tucson managed one. They\\\'re back at it beginning Monday as invitationals for the most part and a smattering of power-point games kick off the 2010-2011 season.
Here\\\'s a look at some teams and players to watch from the East Valley and southern Arizona for the coming campaign:
The East Valley has dominated girls basketball in 5A-I for the past decade plus with Dobson claiming the crown last year. Will the only school to dent that domination in the new millennuium, St. Mary\'s, strike again?
When Yuma Catholic had to make a play Saturday afternoon the Shamrocks came up aces in their bid to beat Thatcher and reach the 2A state championship football game.
Special teams were as critical as any facet helping Yuma Catholic score two touchdowns in a 2 1/2 minute span of the third period and that propeled the Shamrocks to a harrowing 22-20 win over the Eages at North Canyon High School.
The battle of double-digit seeds in the 5A-I state football playoffs belonged to the team on a major roll -- the Desert Ridge Jaguars.
Quarterback Jordan Becerra ran for three touchdowns and passsed for another and backfield mate Joey Counts added a pair touchdowns as the 10th-seeded Jaguars knocked off sister school and No. 15 seed Gilbert High, 49-22, in a quarterfinal game at Desert Ridge.
Are Blue Ridge and Show Low destined for a rematch in the 3A football title game? Or can either Florence or Snowflake pre-empt that program?
The answer comes Saturday afternoon and evening when the 3A semifinals commence at Paradise Valley High School. The doubleheader kicks off at 4 p.m. with Florence meeting Blue Ridge followed at 7 by Show Low and Snowflake.
Tucson has at least one team in every 5A and 4A quarterfinal football playoff bracket. The East Valley is seven strong in the final eight of the 5A-I bracket. Who do they match up with this week in the quarterfinals of 5A-I, 5A-II, 4A-I and 4A-II?
Time for a quick look, starting with 5A-I:
When Gilbert High dropped its fourth game in five tries to finish September, there was little sense in thinking there was life left in the 2010 Tigers. Except, however, if you are a diehard.
Count Gilbert coach Dan Dunn a diehard.
Mesa Mountain View decided Monday to take its football program in a new direction, removing Tom Joseph as its coach after nine successful seasons that included a state title, three title-game appearances and six region titles.
Florence survived the first half of its 3A quarterfinal matchup Saturday night with Round Valley thanks to two big plays on offense.
The Gophers thrived in the second half on takeaways and controlling the line of scrimmage.
The bruising ground game was there. So was decent defense. But turnovers nearly foiled Blue Ridge and its bid to reach the 3A quarterfinals Saturday night at Desert Ridge High School.
With a shift in emphasis to the running game late this season due to an injury to quarterback Parker Rasmussen, Desert Ridge ran headlong into Chandler High in the first round of the 5A-I playoffs Friday night and ended up running all the way to the second round.
The Jaguars spread-run offense cranked out 462 yards rushing and the defense made a goal-line stand in the final 40 seconds to preserve a 38-35 upset win over the host Wolves.