After watching Fort Thomas score the first six points of the third period and take the lead 23-22, Gilbert Christian decided it was not going to allow the Apaches the momentum to pull off an upset. With senior Molly Van Rijn leading a late charge in the third period, the Knights wrapped up their second 1A girls basketball title in three years with a 44-31 victory over Fort Thomas at Tim\\\\\\\'s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley.

Chandler and Mesa Mountain View have not waivered in their bid to be strong 5A-I contenders in girls basketball this season. With the teams heading to state next week as top-4 seeds neither wanted to enter the tournament with a bad taste in its mouth. One team had to Thursday night and it happened to be Chandler. Mountain View overcame a scoreless first quarter and 17-point deficit to hand Chandler a 53-52 loss at Mountain View.

Winners of quarterfinal games will advance to semifinals next week at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

Girls begin on Friday (Feb. 18), boys on Saturday (Feb. 19). Championships are Feb. 26 in Glendale.

Team pulls away in the second quarter and goes on to defeat Desert Edge 58-42.

Wolves finish Class 5A-I Fiesta Region season with a perfect 10-0 mark.

Flagstaff and Valley Christian are getting ready for championship runs in different conferences in girls basketball so what better way to prepare than facing each other before the postseason begins. Flagstaff used an individual run from Kia Sandoval in the second period and a team burst early in the fourth to defeat Valley Christian, 61-44, at Valley Christian.

Chandler High girls basketball has been in the championship neighborhood several times since the new millennium began. The Lady Wolves just haven\'t been able to net the 5A girls title that has eluded the program since 1999-2000. With Chandler winning 12 of its last 13 games, nine in a row (71-35 over Desert Vista on Friday) and resting in the No. 2 slot of the 5A-I power rankings, coach Zon Thompson is more optimistic by the day his 19-4 team can be special.