Playoff schedule for 6A through 1A

Open Division is idle

All games Friday Nov. 8 unless noted

6A

#16 Corona del Sol (4-6) at #1 Red Mountain (9-1)

#9 Cesar Chavez (8-2) at #8 Desert Ridge (6-4)

#12 Valley Vista (7-3) at #5 Highland (7-3)

#13 Boulder Creek (4-6) at #4 Queen Creek (7-3)

#14 Mountain Ridge (5-5) at #3 Perry (6-4)

#11 Basha (4-6) at #6 Desert Vista (7-3)

#10 La Joya Community (8-2) at #7 Liberty (6-4)

#15 Mesa Mtn. View (5-5) at #2 Brophy Prep (8-2)

TEAM TIDBITS: First playoff appearance for Corona del Sol since 2015 and only its second since 2008. Red Mountain's loss is to Perry in four OT and Mountain Lions have won seven in a row. Cesar Chavez's losses are to Red Mountain and Queen Creek and Champions have won seven in a row. Valley Vista has won four games in a row and losses are to Pinnacle, Desert Vista and La Joya. Highland's losses are to Hamilton, Desert Vista and Desert Ridge. Third playoff appearance in a row under Brock Farrel. Boulder Creek has wins over two playoff teams and all six of its losses to playoff teams. Queen Creek's losses are to Chandler, Highland and Desert Ridge. Basha has lost six games in a row -- all to playoff teams, including four to teams seeded No. 5 or higher in 6A. Desert Vista had a three-game winning streak snapped by Queen Creek. Thunders' marquee win was over Highland, 42-41.  La Joya is in the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and accentuated the appearance with its first-ever region title. Liberty has played five games decided by six points or less and is 2-3 in those -- losses to Brophy, Chaparral and Mountain Ridge and wins over Desert Ridge and Liberty (Nev). Mesa Mountain View's losses are all to playoff teams - CDS, Brophy, Perry, Red Mountain and Queen Creek. No wins vs. playoff teams. Brophy's only losses are to Chandler and Perry and wins over four playoff teams -- Hamilton, Mountain View, Liberty and Basha.

5A

#16 Marana Mtn. View (6-4) at #1 Williams Field (8-2)

#9 Buena (8-2) at #8 Sunrise Mountain (7-3)

#12 Gilbert (4-6) at #5 Millennium (8-2)

#13 Ironwood Ridge (5-5) at #4 Casteel (7-3)

#14 Ironwood (6-4) at #3 Higley (7-3)

#11 McClintock (7-3) at #6 Campo Verde (7-3)

#10 Sunnyslope (6-4) at #7 Cienega (8-2) 

#15 Verrado (5-5)  at #2 Notre Dame Prep (9-1)

TEAM TIDBITS: Marana Mountain View has won five games in a row and won the Sonoran Region. All four of its losses are tp playoff teams - Ironwood Ridge, Higley, Casteel and Cienega. Williams Field has rattled off eight wins in a row, won the San Tan Region and missed qualifying for the Open Divsioni by .06 of a point. The Black Hawks won six of seven games against 5A playoff qualifiers. Buena is enjoying its best season since 2012 - also the last time it reached postseason. Sunrise Mountain had a five-game winning streak abruptly ended last week by Centennial. The Mustangs are 3-3 against playoff teams, including a Week 2 victory over Williams Field. Gilbert played seven playoff teams and won one - vs. Sunrise Mountain. Millennium dominated the Desert West Region as its champion. The Tigers beat Desert Edge and lost to Higley and Centennial among its marquee foes. Ironwood Ridge's five losses were all to playoff teams and all by double-digit margins - Millennium, Campo Verde, Centennial, Buena and Cienega. Casteel's three losses are of the quality variety - Centennial, Williams Field and Higley. Ironwood qualified for postseason for the first time since 2011 and is seeing its first playoff win since 2005. The Eagles' four losses are all to playoff teams and no wins over a playoff qualifer. Higley had its seven-game winning streak broken by sister-school nemesis Williams Field who the Knights have failed to beat in their history. Higley is 5-2 against playoff qualifiers. McClintock is in the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and its most wins in a season since 2005. Campo Verde enters postseason with a three-game losing streak - to Higley, Williams Field and Casteel.The Coyotes have wins over four playoff qualifers although none of them are high seeds. Sunnyslope faced five playoff teams and posted a 1-4 mark in those games.Vikings' losses were to Horizon and Centennial (Open Division particpants) and Notre Dame Preps and Sunrise Mountain. Cienega has won seven games in a row and gets a chance to avenge one of its losses hosting Sunnyslope in the first round. Verrado did not beat a playoff team (five wins) and lost five games to playoff qualifiers - Williams Field, Casteel, Campo Verde, Sunrise Mountain and MIllennium. Notre Dame Prep is 35-3 since coach George Prelock took over in 2017. The Saints beat three playoffs teams - none of them in the top 8 of the 5A postseason field.

4A

#16 Glendale (8-2) at #1 Sahuaro (8-2)

#9 Gila Ridge (9-1) at #8 Coconino (9-1)

#12 Casa Grande (6-4) at #5 Walden Grove (9-1)

#13 Prescott (7-3) at #4 Desert Edge (7-3)

#14 Marcos de Niza (5-5) at #3 Canyon del Oro (8-2)

#11 Pueblo (8-2) at #6 Mesquite (7-3)

#10 Greenway (9-1)  at Peoria (8-2)

#15 Tempe (7-3) at #2 Cactus (8-2)

TEAM TIDBITS: Glendale has won eight or more games three years in a row. The Cardinals last playoff win was in 2005. Sahuaro is the top-seed, but took a backseat to Salpointe and Canyon del Oro in the 4A Kino Region. Those were the Cougars only losses. Gila Ridge was unbeaten until the final week when it lost to 6A Cibola in overtime. The Hawks are in postseason for the first time since 2011. Coconino's nine wins are the most in a season in the new millennium and under first-year coach Mike Lapsley. The Panthers won the Grand Canyon Region title. Casa Grande heads to the playoffs with a huge win over No. 3 seed Canyon del Oro. Walden Grove won the Gila Region and its only loss is to Casa Grande, the Red Wolves opening playoff opponent. Prescott played three playoff teams tough, but lost all three to Coconino, Canyon del Sol and Desert Edge - all No. 5 seeds or higher in the tournament.. Desert Edge won the West Valley Region edging out  Cactus for the top spot. The Scorpions three losses are to Saguaro, Salpointe and Millennium. Marcos de Niza has lost three straight games, but returns to postseason after a one-year hiatus. Canyon del Oro has only two wins among its eight against playoff teams -- Prescott and top-seed Sahuaro. Pueblo will be shooting for its first playoff win since 1988. Mesquite has one playoff win against 4A opponents this season and is back in the playoffs after two years on the outside. Greenway won the Skyline Region title edging Tempe, 13-12. That was the Demons lone win against a playoff team among its nine total. Peoria's two losses are to region opponents Cactus and Desert Edge, who are No. 2 and No. 4 in the tournament. Tempe is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2015.It's last win postseason win was in 2014 when it reached the 4A semis. Cactus is in the playoffs for the 19th year in a row. 

3A

#16 Ganado (7-2) at #1 Benjamin Franklin (9-1)

#9 American Leadership- Gilbert North (6-4) at #8 Coolidge (8-2)

#12 Arizona College Prep (8-2) at #5 Blue Ridge (8-2)

#13 River Valley (7-2) at #4 Snowflake (8-2)

#14 Odyssey Institute (7-3) at #3 Northwest Christian (8-2)

#11 Yuma Catholic (6-4) at #6 Valley Christian (8-2)

#10 Sabino (7-3) at #7 Safford (8-2)

#15 Payson (8-2) at #2 American Leadership-Queen Creek (9-1)

TEAM TIDBITS: 3A has been the most competitive conference when it comes to state champions this decade with nine different schools winning a title -- Blue Ridge 2, Show Low, Seton Catholic, River Valley, Pusch Ridge, American Leadership-Queen Creek, Casteel and Northwest Christian. Teams qualifying for the conference playoffs this year, but not last year are Ganado, American Leadership-Gilbert North (probation), Arizona College Prep, American Leadership Queen Creek (probation), River Valley and Payson. It's the first time in postseason for ACP, new to competition this decade. ACP improved from 1-9 in 2018 to 8-2 this season under coach Myron Blueford. Regions represented by the most teams in the tournament with three each are: 3A East (region champ Payson, Snowflake, Blue Ridge), 3A Metro West (region champ Yuma Catholic, Valley Christian and Odyssey Institute) and 3A Central (region champ Benjamin Franklin, American Leadership-QC and Coolidge). 

2A

#16 Miami (7-3) at #1 Round Valley (7-2)

#9 Benson (7-3) at #8 Veritas Prep (8-2)

#12 Antelope (7-3) at #5 Parker (9-1)

#13 Chandler Prep (7-3) at #4 Santa Cruz Valley (8-2)

#14 Alchesay (8-2) at #3 Phoenix Christian (9-1)

#11 Arizona Lutheran (7-3) at #6 St. Johns (8-2)

#10 Bisbee (8-2) at #7 Thatcher (6-4)

#15 Morenci (4-6)  at #2 Trivium Prep (9-0)

TEAM TIDBITS: 2A conference championships have been dominated this decade by three schools -- current three-time champ Thatcher, Yuma Catholic 2 and Northwest Christian 2. Now defunct Joy Christian won one. YC and NWC have competed in 3A the past five seasons. Teams qualifying for the conference playoffs this year, but not last year are: Miami, Veritas Prep (first-ever playoff appearance), Santa Cruz Valley and Bisbee. the 2A Black and 2A Agua Fria regions comprise seven of the 16 playoff spots. Black has four - region champ Round Valley, St. Johns, Thatcher and Morenci. Agua Fria teams are  Phoenix Christian, Santa Cruz Valley and Arizona Lutheran.

 

1A semifinals

Nov. 8 - #5 Hayden (8-2) vs. #1 Williams (8-1) at Coronado HS - 7 p.m.

Nov. 9 - #7 Mogollon (8-3) vs. #3 Superior (8-1) at Coronado HS - 6 p.m.

TEAM TIDBITS: Familiar teams to the final four of late are lurking in a bid for a berth in the 1A final on Saturday Nov. 16. Superior is the defending champ and seeking its third-title game appearance in a row. Williams was runner-up in 2016 and won the title in 2017. The Vikings have been the dominant team in 2019 with their only loss to a team from Nevada. Hayden was the runner-up last season to Superior.