By Don Ketchum

While the Class 2A and 1A boys and girls basketball tournaments sprint toward their conclusions on Saturday (Feb. 19), the 3A competition is just getting under way.

The 16-team girls tournament begins Friday (Feb. 18) and the boys begin Saturday. The tournament resumes next week with the championships on Feb. 26 at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

Window Rock, last year’s state runner-up, is the top girls seed. The Scouts are at home on Friday night against River Valley. Defending champion Winslow is seeded sixth and has a home game against rival Holbrook.

Other games on Friday, all at 7 p.m.: No. 9 Coolidge at No. 8 Snowflake, No. 12 Whiteriver Alchesay at No. 5 Safford, No. 13 Fountain Hills at No. 4 Goodyear Estrella Foothills, No. 14 Round Valley at No. 3 Kayenta Monument Valley, No. 10 Chinle at No. 7 Florence and No. 15 Sedona Red Rock at No. 2 Tuba City.

Holbrook is the top seed for boys and opens against No. 16 Sedona Red Rock on Saturday. Defending champion Estrella Foothills is the No. 14 seed and opens on the road at No. 3 Window Rock.

Other Saturday games, all at 7 p.m.: No. 9 Safford at No. 8 Snowflake, No. 12 Parker at No. 5 Lakeside Blue Ridge, No. 13 Coolidge at No. 4 Winslow, No. 11 Monument Valley at No. 6 Florence, No. 10 Alchesay at No. 7 Round Valley, and No. 15 Payson at No. 2 Fountain Hills.

The tournament shifts to Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley for the quarterfinals on Monday (Feb. 21). Semifinals are Friday (Feb. 25) at the arena in Glendale.