- Mountain View escaped Sahuaro with a 54-52 win on the road to win its seventh straight game on a floater in the lane by junior guard Drew Cotton. Coming into the game, Sahuaro was No. 11 in the AIA's 5A rankings and Mountain View was No. 18. The Mountain Lions appear to be streaking at the right time. Mountain View coach Corey Duck told me he still doesn't know what to expect when the ball is tipped. He said practices can sometimes be lackadaisical and without much energy, but then other days the squad plays older than its years.

- Sahuaro (13-6) led Mountain View 30-22 at halftime as Sahuaro was shooting the ball well and Mountain View had made just seven shots at that point of the game. After the break, the roles reversed, with Mountain View outscoring Sahuaro 32-22 in the second half. The Mountain Lions shot 7-of-10 as a team in the fourth quarter. For the game, Mountain View shot 15-of-33 and Sahuaro shot 22-of-39. The difference in the game was Sahuaro hit just two three-pointers and knocked down just 50 percent of its free-throw shots. Also, no Cougar player other than Brendan Gary made more than four shots in the game. There was an iffy call near the end of the fourth quarter, as Mountain View sophomore guard Julian Molina came rushing in for a loose ball and without looking, ran straight into Sahuaro senior guard Devan Gary, which resulted in a broken nose for Gary. Adding insult to injury, Gary was somehow called for the foul, which put Molina at the free-throw line, cushioning the Mountain Lions lead as Sahuaro was within three points.

- The home crowd at Sahuaro was basically pitiful. The Mountain View fans traveled well and had more fans at the game and were louder the entire game. At one point in the fourth quarter the Mountain View crowd starting cheering 'defense, defense' for an extended period of time and you'd think you were in the Mountain Lions home gym. The was some support in the first half, but the Sahuaro fans were almost silent in the fourth quarter.

- Sahuaro senior wing Brendan Gary finished with a game-high 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting. He didn't attempt a three, and free-throws continue to be his mental bugaboo as he finished 4-of-8 from the charity stripe. Gary tallied most of his points on layup, floaters and putbacks, almost exclusively inside the paint. His motor is non-stop, he started the game with a steal and a fast break dunk. He's mostly likely NAIA type of talent because of the inconsistency in his perimeter shooting, but which ever coach gets him will love his attitude, motor, leadership, the fact he talks on defense and leaves it all out on the court each and every game it seems.

- It wasn't a pretty performance, but Mountain View (11-6) came out the winner in upset fashion on the road. If they can continue to mature throughout the remainder of the regular season, they could make some noise in the playoffs based on match ups.

- Freshman guard Evan Nelson turned in an 18 point, five rebound and five assist game and most notably showed the ability to hit the three-pointer with consistency as he finished 4-of-4 from downtown and was 0-for-4 inside the arc. Nelson was able to elevate over the smaller guards defending him with ease and knock down the trey. Three of the three-pointers were catch-and-shoot, and the other made three was in transition. He is a general on the court. I'm predicting his game to take a huge jump in the Spring and Summer and starts to pile up offers. When he can consistently knock down threes and gains some quickness, look out.

- Cotton hit the game-winning shot, but struggled on the night finishing 3-for-10 and just six points. He's a solid player, but Sahuaro coach Jim Henry made sure Cotton wouldn't pile up the points. Cotton is garnering interest from Utah Valley, Loyola Marymount (Cotton's father said they'll take a visit this summer) and Stanford.

- Rio Rico flexed its ability to shoot lights out against Walden Grove, dominating them 71-52 in a crucial 4A regional contest. Coming into the game, Walden Grove (9-8) was ranked No. 10 in 4A, while Rio Rico (14-3) ranked No. 6. Both schools brought their cheerleaders, bands and a big crowd to UA's McKale Center for the MLK Classic, which made for a loud and rowdy environment. TUSD's Herman House said he should have scheduled it for the nightcap.

- Rio Rico shot 62.5 percent for 2pt baskets (20-of-32) and 50 percent from three-point range (7-of-14) in the game with seven different players recording at least six points. Senior wing German Arana led with a game-high 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting and showed a great feel for the flow of the game, often controlling the pace by pushing the ball down the court or when he brought the ball back out to the top of the key to run another play.

- With 11 seniors on the Rio Rico squad, they make for a very well-balanced offense. Several players came off the bench and were better options for scoring at times. They swing the ball around from side-to-side until they find an open shooter or a great look. They can play patient and score in the half court or push the pace and score in transition. They're a crafty team that creates angle and openings with spacing and slick passes. Rio Rico creates offense by creating havoc on defense with a full-court press and trapping. The Hawks forced Walden Grove into 15 turnovers, 10 were in the first half and seven on the first 10 Walden Grove possessions. The Hawks are a Final 8 team in 4A come playoff time.

- It was a rough day for Walden Grove, as the Red Wolves struggled to get the ball across half court for most of the first quarter, resulting in seven turnovers and just two points. It didn't help that the team shot 50 percent from the free-throw line in the game either. Most of the team's points came in the fourth quarter (23 points) out of basic desperation as they trailed by 20 points at the end of the third quarter.

- The lone bright spot for the Red Wolves was junior forward Anthony Saunders, who finished a perfect 5-of-5 for 12 points. It seems there is a pecking order when it comes to shots at Walden Grove, as the volume of the Verdugo brothers' shots consume most of the offense.

- Sophomore Chase Verdugo finished with 14 points, hitting 4-of-8 from downtown, three of which came in the third quarter. Chase is still coming off screens with a lazy pump fake, which just slows down the offense. He again was talking trash all game, and often tried to communicate with the opposing crowd, instead of just focusing on the game. He's a talented player, just has some growing to do, which is understandable as he's just a sophomore.

- Junior Conner Verdugo couldn't buy a bucket. The Rio Rico defense schemed to stop him with traps, clogging the paint and never giving him a clean, open look. Conner finished 4-of-16 shooting for 10 points. He was also 2-of-8 from the free-throw line. It could be drawn up to playing of the UA with a different background which often throws off players depth perception when shooting.

Episode 19 >> Login to view embedded media



In Episode 19 of The Chuck Constantino Show, presented by ArizonaVarsity.com, Chuck reconnects with lead basketball analyst Gregg Rosenberg to talk about the big Corona del Sol-Desert Vista game. Then, Chuck asks Gregg to predict who will be left out of the 6A, 5A and 4A state playoffs and to share what he thinks about Mountain View junior guard Drew Cotton and freshman guard Evan Nelson (0:36). Next, Chuck sits down with Mountain View head coach Corey Duck, who is in his third season at helm. Chuck asks Corey about preseason goals, coaching such a young squad, having players fill into roles, coaching his trio of guards and where he sees his team improving the rest of the season We finish with some rapid fire questions like where's his favorite place to grab a slice, the last time he played pickup, who were the best players in Southern Arizona growing up in the 80's and what's the best rivalry in town (27:44). Mountain View sophomore Julian Molina, junior Drew Cotton and freshman Evan Nelson sitdown to discuss how the team chemistry has come together so quickly, how the season has gone vs. the expectations of the season coming in, where they are in the 5A rankings and if it matters, and describe each other's game. The trio ends the interview with some rapid fire questions like what pizza toppings are they ordering, who the best player in town is not on their team, favorite restaurants in town, who's the toughest team they've played this year and their favorite U of A players (46:31). Last, Anthony Ray, NCAA certified scout joins to talk about what he's seen this season in high school hoops, Pima Community College star Deion James and his recruitment (Empire HS alum), and who he thinks is primed for a big Spring and Summer (1:02.16).

- Cienega routed Tucson High 79-65 in the MLK Classic's nightcap at UA's McKale Center. Cienega came into the game as the AIA's No. 5 ranked team and Tucson High as the No. 29 team in 6A. Tucson High needed to capitalize off its upset win over rival Sunnyside in its previous game but couldn't emulate its home crowd despite playing about two miles down the road from UA. After the first quarter, both teams were tied at 12 points apiece. Cienega began to pull away in the second quarter and separated themselves from Tucson High in the third quarter. Cienega outscored Tucson High 46-26 in the second and third frames.

- Cienega impressed as they shared the ball and played unselfish on the night. Eight different Bobcats record at least two points. Senior Alex Muszynski, a player who just hustles, runs and plays defense, scored a game-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting.

- Senior sharpshooter Andrew Leonard finished with 16 points, shooting 50 percent from the field on the night. He's such a reliable shooter and gives Cienega a player who can go get a bucket. He lacks the athleticism to separate himself from quicker defenders, but his crafty footwork makes up for it with step backs and euro steps. In the beginning of the season Leonard was a player who could be knocked off his game with some physical play and trash talk, but since then he's displayed nothing but solid body language. He's most likely a D-II or D-III player.

- Juniors Jordan Green and Breven Burnett both chipped in with 13 points each, making Cienega a tough team to defend when they share the ball and hit shots. Green finished 6-of-9 from the field and Burnett was 4-of-8.

- Cholla topped Amphitheater 50-37 in easy fashion. Cholla came in ranked No. 8 in 5A, and Amphi was ranked No. 33 in 4A. The main draw for basketball fans was to watch Amphi sophomore guard Jackson Ruai play in his first game of the season, against his former team Cholla.

- It wasn't a pretty offensive game for either team, as they both struggled to shoot the ball in second and third quarter. Amphi scored four points in the second quarter, and Cholla six points. Junior point guard Marcel Dean struggled to hit shots, but impressed his understanding in how to run an offense. He knows where and when to change pace with his dribble and knows where his teammates are with the ball in his hands. He found players open with drop-off paces and when he penetrated and kicked the ball out. Dean can also draw contact. He finished with six points on 3-of-13 shooting.

- Sophomore big man Josh Sutherland finished with a team-high 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Masai Dean started him and he didn't disappoint. He's an active big, with some nice bounce. He can block shots, but more as a help defender. Sutherland pulls down rebounds with some strength.

- Ruai finished with a game-high 15 points and 17 rebounds. Ruai is a long and lanky player with an outrageous wingspan for a guard. It looks like he'll grow a few more inches, but he already stands over 6-1. Ruai can create contact and drive in the lane. His long legs and steps allow him to get to the rim in a hurry, and he can elevate over a defender to hit a jumper or shot in the lane. He's got active hands on defense and can really run in transition. NAU and GCU are interested with another high-major D1 school interested in him enough to go see a 5-9 Amphi team play when he wasn't yet eligible to play yet. Ruai has a bright future, especially if he continues to grow.

- Mountain View led the entire way and the game was never in question as the Mountain Lions downed Ironwood Ridge 64-52. The biggest difference in this game was the fact Mountain View shoots the ball well and can be patient enough at times to pull the ball back out and ultimately find a good look. Mountain View entered the game ranked No. 18 in 5A, and I-Ridge ranked No. 25.

- I-Ridge competed all the way, but the offense stalled too much with senior guard Cole Gerkin taking 24 total shots on the night. Gerken finished with 16 points, but it came on 6-of-24 shooting, including a dreadful 2-for-9 from three-point range. Gerken pressed in the second half, as he took 15 shots combined shots in the last two frames. Gerken is very bouncy and athletic, but struggles to finish around the rim and his shot selection tonight was in question. He holds an offer from South Mountain Community College.

- Mountain View junior guard Drew Cotton finished with a team-high 16 points, with many of those coming in transition or on catch-and-shoot threes. The more I watch him, the more I can get behind his game. He's not quite as athletic as his older brother Jeff, who had a big season for Pima CC football, and can look stiff or rigid more often than not. If he can get a little quicker this offseason, it'll make a big difference in his game.

- Freshman guard Evan Nelson chipped in 12 points and looked good in doing so. He set up his bigs inside for five wide open dunks and a few more layups with no look passes and penetrating in the lane. At one point Nelson came down the lane, put the ball around his back and up for a wide open layup. It faked out the entire defense. Nelson could get stronger, and needs a quicker first step, but he is just a freshman and will have time to develop all the necessary skills needed at the next level. He should be dunking by the summer or next season.

- Sophomore guard Julian Molina added 10 points off the bench to provide instant offense. Molina plays within the offense and many of his looks are open because of the attention needed for Nelson and Cotton. He's 5-11 now, his older brother James (Sahuaro grad) is 6-2 and his father is 6-3, so he's got a few inches to grow. He'll be a point at the next level, so his plan is to get stronger and work on his ball handling.

- Salpointe Catholic escaped McKale Center with a 43-42 win over Sahuaro. Sahuaro senior forward Brendan Gary was called for the foul on Lancers sophomore stud Majok Deng with 11.6 seconds left in the game. It was a controversial call. From my point of view, it looked like a clean block, but it was called a foul. It was easily the best game in the Classic.

- Salpointe struggled to shoot the ball as a team, as seniors Cameron Miller and Isaac Cruz combined for 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting. Junior sharpshooter Rylan O'Brien shot 1-of-8 from the field for two points. Deng was in foul trouble for most of the first quarter, and ended with six points on 1-of-5 shooting. The Lancers were saved by sophomore big man Julien Whetton (6-3 forward) as he finished with 14 points and a perfect 3-for-3 from downtown, all three of which were made in the second half.

- Despite Salpointe's vulnerability with not much depth, they continue to flex its muscle in Southern Arizona. Salpointe Catholic was without senior bigs Jackson Breshears and Alec McCall. I was told Breshears might not make it back onto the court this season, and is still in a cast. McCall was suspended for the game, as he was ejected in Salpointe's previous game was an elbow to a Walden Grove player's head. My takeover is the way to beat Salpointe is to try to slow the game down and crowd the Lancers' shooters. They're a Final 4 team in 4A in my opinion.

- Sahuaro shot 50 percent from 2-point range, but struggled as a team with the long ball, shooting 2-of-13 from three. Outside shooting has been the Cougars bugaboo all season long. Sahuaro's starting backcourt combined for four points on 1-of-16 shooting. Not many teams can survive that. Brendan Gary finished with a team-high 13 and threw down a two-handed slam that got the Sahuaro crowd into it, truly a moment he'll remember, as not too many high school hoopers can the chance to dunk at McKale.

- Sahuaro got a nice contribution from its bigs, as Jordan Kittrell and Jacob Janespar combined for 19 points and several blocks. The idea is to try to play inside-out, but the three-point shooting hasn't consistently been there this year for Sahuaro. Sahuaro is a squad that will never quit on Jim Henry, so no matter the score, they play their asses off.

new week! Lots of section games....
Rules and prizes are posted on week 1 thread.
Choose 15. Leave one out.
Tiebreaker is final game. You must choose winner and spread of final score.

Deadline to enter is Tuesday Jan 10 7p.

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Tues 1/10

Chavez @ Central
Brophy @ Hamilton
Desert Ridge @ Mountain Pointe
Chandler @ Perry
LaJoya @ Westview
Buena @ Ironwood Ridge
Ironwood @ McClintock
Saguaro @ Estrella Fthls

Thur 1/12

Sahuaro @ Cienega
Seton Catholic @ Higley
Nogales @ Salpointe Cath
Marcos de Niza @ Tempe

Fri 1/13

Horizon @ Desert Mountain
Highland @ Gilbert
Queen Creek @ Williams Field
Chaparral @ Arcadia

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Good Luck !!

- Down goes No. 1. A visiting Sierrra Vista Buena fell to Mountain View 57-50 in the upset of the year thus far. Buena came into the contest ranked the AIA's No. 1 team in 5A, with Mountain View as the No. 26. It was also a preview of the the best young backcourt in Southern Arizona most have yet to see as Mountain View's trio of junior Drew Cotton, sophomore Julian "JuJu" Molina and freshman Evan Nelson go up against junior Dominic Mooney Jr., sophomore Grant Ward and sophomore Kino Bellinger. The Mountain Lions trio of guard combined for 43 points. The Colts' three starting guards combined for 21 points on 8-of-29 shooting and too many mental lapses and turnovers. It didn't help that Buena finished the third quarter 1-for-11 shooting as a team.

- Mountain View led 15-13 after the first quarter, but trailed 31-24 at halftime. Nelson and Cotton combined for 8-of-19 shooting in the first half as the rest of the team shot 3-for-12. As I tweeted at halftime, the Mountain Lions would need a third option to step up in the second half for them to have a chance to win. Molina, who was 1-for-1 for three points in the first half, erupted in the second half for 16 points to finish with 19. He shot 6-of-7 in the second half, and 7-of-8 total. Molina seems to have a little bit to go to become a more consistent player, but after two big performances in wins over Tucson High and now Buena, he's added some confidence. Molina has nice length and wingspan for 15 year old sophomore, currently listed as 5-11. He was ready when his number was called and was the difference in tonight's win.

- Mountain View held Buena to 50 points, its lowest in a game so far this season. Colts previous low was 60 points. Team's are going to want to emulate what the Mountain Lions did and will be calling for film soon.

- Cotton finished with 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting. Cotton plays big as a 6-2 guard. He uses his size inside to score on smaller defenders and can rebound well for his position. He needs to work on taking better shots, but he'll more often than not need to take that high volume as he's the most experienced player on the team. Cotton is a decent defender, but quicker opposing guards will be able to blow by him.

- Nelson impressed, despite scoring just 10 points, far below his average. He played within himself and didn't really force much on the night. He sometimes dribbles too much, but he's a good passer. Nelson plays with a high basketball IQ and above average court vision that should develop over time. He's a solid free-throw shooter and can finish in the paint. Nelson needs to work on becoming a more consistent knockdown shooter, but he is a special talent. Nelson holds a few offers, with New Mexico being the most notable right now. A lot of people try to knock him for his age, but how many people are playing down Lonzo Ball's season at UCLA? Ball is 19, a sure top-five draft pick and will be 20 by the time he plays next year in the NBA.

- It was an off-night for the Colts. Credit Mountain View for slowing down Mooney by limiting his shots in the paint and forcing him to become a jump shooter, but the Colts did not shoot the ball well at all tonight. The team finished 20-of-50 from the field and missed nine free-throws. Mountain View made shots and Buena didn't. It is two losses since break for the 19-3 Colts, but I'm sure longtime Buena coach Dave Glasgow will fix the mental mistakes, turnovers and some of the shot selection in tonight's contest.

- Mooney finished with seven points as he shot 2-of-10 and did not hit a shot in the second half. He played way too fast at times, traveling and turning the ball over on mental errors. But his game, in spurts, shows great potential. He's a great passer, but sometimes wants to look good doing it, instead of drawing contact or making the fundamental pass when called for. He has quick hands and feet on defense. If team's can do what Mountain View's defense did tonight in forcing Mooney to become a jump shooter, it will be something to watch for the remainder of the season.

- Sophomore combo guard Grant Ward scored four points on just 2-of-5 shooting as he missed all four of his free-throw shots as well. They weren't necessarily close either, which is odd as he's made the most on the team and shoots them at a 76 percent clip. I like his game, but he needs more touches and to focus in situational basketball. He's an interesting prospect, standing at 6-5 with the ability to play point and shooting guard or the small forward position.

- Bellinger struggled, shooting 4-of-13, while hitting just 2-of-9 from downtown. Some of the shots were forced toward the end of the game, but his shot selection could be better. He has the range to shoot well beyond the three-point line, but some of the shots he took tonight were with a hand in his face or contested. Bellinger has already broken the school record on made three-pointers in a season, and shoots 37 percent from three.

- With all that being said, I still like Buena. It was an off-shooting night. I can see Buena making the final 8 teams in the 5A state playoffs.

https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/news/brophy-prep-mesquite

Plus a few notes on the MTV/Mesa FR Game

- Catalina Foothills topped Walden Grove 66-55 in a scrappy 4A region game for the Falcons fifth straight win. Foothills (11-4) lead for most of the game, having as big of a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, while having trailed the Redwolves (9-6) by as much as three points in the third quarter.

- Foothills, ranked No. 15 in 4A coming into the game, used the three-ball as they finished 8-for-15 on the night from downtown to separate themselves from Walden Grove. The backcourt of junior Spencer Lewis and sophomore Carson James each hit three three-pointers, and finished with 11 and 9 points, respectively. James hit threes in a span of a minute late in the third quarter to give the Falcons a 10-point lead. Junior guard Sam Beskind finished with 12 points, shooting 5-of-11 from the field. Senior guard Jimmy Stewart matched Beskind for a team-high 12 points. Foothills used a balanced attack as five players scored nine points or more and eight players scoring three or more points. They'll be a really strong team going into the 4A playoffs and think they'll be a final 8 team as D'Amore has a tendency of getting his teams to play its best basketball late in the season.

- The Falcons were without senior wing Jared Irwin because of a Coach/School decision. Foothills coach Doug D'Amore said Irwin will be out for at least a week, but it could be more. D'Amore also said coaches from the Air Force staff and the New Mexico State staff will be in attendance for the team's next game to watch junior Sam Beskind.

- Catalina Foothills sophomore stud Phoenix Katz in currently in coach D'Amore's doghouse and checked in at the 3:30 mark in the third quarter for the first time in the game. D'Amore said Katz lacks maturity right now. Katz obviously has talent and shows great potential, it just seems he has to buy in to what D'Amore is selling. Despite limited run, Katz finished with 10 points on 5-of-7 field goals. Off the bench, Katz provides instant energy and a high-motor when he turns it on. He ran the break all night down the middle of the lane, filling up down low and creating space for shooters on the perimeter.

- The magic number for Catalina Foothills is 60. When Foothills scores 60 points or more in a game the Falcons are 10-0.

- The second half was chippy with several technicals and warnings for language. Some Catalina Foothills football players in the crowd were cheering and taunting all game, which seemed to bother the opposing players and crowd. It was evident as two Walden Grove players went to either foul or steal the ball in the final three seconds, after having signaled the game was over as they let the Falcons dribble unguarded for the previous 17 seconds. Coaches credited it to the players having played and grown up together, but there were signs of a fight brewing. This might be a rivalry in the making.

- Walden Grove, ranked No. 8 coming into the contest, struggled to get contributions from players other than juniors Conner Verdugo and Anthony Saunders.

- Verdugo finished with a game-high 25 points on 10-of-23 shots from the field with no foul shots. Verdugo is a player who does not lack confidence, having so many shots. Some of them should have been passes, but he did need to take a lot of shots for Walden Grove to try to win. Sanders added 19 points on 6-of-10 shots, knocking down a three and converting all six of his free-throws. Saunders is a nice prospect having good size at 6-5, 187 lbs. I'd like to see him shoot a few more three-pointers in a game to see if he can be a stretch-four or if he is a guard/wing.

- Sophomore Chase Verdugo couldn't buy a bucket on the night as he finished with one point on 0-for-8 from three-point range. Each and every time Chase caught the ball on the wing or the top of the corner he does a quick pump fake, maybe out of habit, but it wasn't fouling anyone as his shoulder weren't squared, his feet planted sideways and staring at either the court or his defenders face. Its a waste of movement and time for him, the sooner he drops it, the quicker he can try to get to the basket instead of settling for threes.

- The Redwolves are now 9-4 when they score 50 points or more.

- Sunnyside hung on to beat Palo Verde 71-61 in a fast-paced, chippy, track meet. Coming into the game, Sunnyside was ranked No. 11 in the AIA's 6A rankings, while Palo Verde came in ranked No. 23 in 4A.

- A visiting Palo Verde team led Sunnyside 15-11 after the first quarter, as Sunnyside senior Mikey Silva and junior Nikc Jackson combined for two points on 1-of-8 shooting. Silva is coming off ankle problems, and has been eased back into practice, he may not be 100 percent just yet.

- Palo Verde is a team led by second-year coach Marsharne Flannigan with a helter-skelter type offense. They're athletic, so they run, but their isn't much resemblance of an actual offense with sets and plays. Flannigan started calling out some plays late in the second half, but nothing consistent. Flannigan said that's the team's problem right now, is the same as last year's, in that his players point the blame and argue with one another too much on the court. Once team chemistry improves, Palo Verde will be a fun team to watch.

- Sunnyside started taking over in the second quarter, as the Blue Devils scored 22 points and held the Titans to eight in the quarter. Jackson took control of the game in the second half, as he dropped a game-high 23 points, pulled down nine rebounds and caused the crowd to go into a frenzy with an alley-oop and a two-handed fast break slam. It was a big game for Jackson, as a Washington State assistant coach was in attendance.

- Silva finished with 16 points, 11 of which came on free-throws. His three-point shot hasn't been on this season, as he's just made 21 three-pointers for a percentage in the 20's.

- Senior Santino Duarte played in his first game since February 25, 2015, as he tore his ACL in a meaningless staff vs players game in a pep rally. Duarte looked strong, but rusty. He needs to get back into game shape, but once he's there, Sunnyside's offense can completely change. Duarte scored 10 points off the bench, but the Blue Devils can now play a 2-man game with Duarte and Jackson, dumping the ball from the high post to down low with ease.

- Senior Dwayne Eason, a Tucson High transfer, was eligible in his first game back to finish with seven points, but he's another big that can be a difference maker once he gets into playing shape. Eason can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting and grab some boards, but he'll help with the spacing on the floor.

- Palo Verde senior Joseph Lewis and sophomore Jeffery Thomas provided the scoring as they dropped 10 and 14 points, respectively. Lewis went cold after the first quarter, but Thomas scored all of his points in the second half.

- Sophomore Zion Sandoval finished with nine points on 3-of-18 shooting on the night. It wasn't a good performance as he was talking all night, received a technical because of his trash talk and was visibly arguing with his teammates on the court. It may have been the most selfish performance I've seen a high school player play.

- Junior Solomon Fernander is a solid prospect, standing at 6-6. He's long and lean with some quickess, but needs to learn how to play in the post. His shot was blocked several times and did not take advantage of his speed of athleticism. His sister was a star at Flowing Wells on the court and track, he may just need some motivation.

Ep. 18: Jimmy Rosthenhausler, Mikey Silva and Nikc Jackson


In Episode 18 of The Chuck Constantino Show, presented by ArizonaVarsity.com, Chuck goes to Sunnyside High School to talk with the Blue Devils' coach Jimmy Rosthenhausler, senior point guard Mikey Silva and junior big man Nikc Jackson. First, Chuck sits down with Jimmy to talk about coaching middle school and freshman hoops for the last 12 years, growing up and still living in the same neighborhood as his players, the challenges he's faced in his first year as head coach, how good Sunnyside can be with its roster now at full strength and fostering a family environment at Sunnyside. We finish the interview with some rapid fire questions like his favorite pizza shop, his hobbies, whose the best player not on Sunnyside and when was the last time he played pickup basketball (1:25). Next, Chuck is joined by co-captains of Sunnyside, Mikey Silva and Nikc Jackson. They share how the season has gone, watching Santino Duarte work his way back to play in his first game since February 25, 2015, working on team chemistry with a full roster, the Tucson High rivalry and describe each other's game. Last, Mikey and Nikc answer some rapid fire questions like their favorite restaurants in town, how they both got into basketball, what its like playing at Sunnyside and what they'll take from their time at Sunnyside (33:53).

Ok everyone... Since we had a day wait for some scores, we will use Wed thru Sat games this week for extra day to enter.

Rules are posted on Week one thread -

Here are this weeks choices. Choose 15. Leave one out except for the last game posted.
Final game is tiebreaker. Please choose Winner and spread.

Here we go!
------------------
1/4

Basha @ Brophy
Chaparral @ Agua Fria

1/5

Dobson @ Chandler
Tucson @ LaJoya
Red Mountain @ Mesa Mt View
Williams Field @ Vista Grande
Buckeye @ Estrella Foothills
Tempe @ Seton Catholic

1/6

Highland @ Mountain Pointe
Westwood @ Skyline
Salpointe @ Buena
Higley @ Queen Creek
Mcclintock @ Raymond Kellis
Saguaro @ St Marys

1/7

Moon Valley @ Peoria
Westview @ Desert Mountain

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Deadline to enter is Wed Jan 4 7p

Good Luck

https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/news/week-6-recap-5

Good teams and some nice talent this week.

Saw:
Basha
DV
Hamilton
Perry
Rancho Solano
Chandler Prep

CLICK HERE-------> https://thechuckconstantinoshow.pod...-gary/?token=c4080ffa562e7df790b7b52aad0c55c0

Ep. 17: Gregg Rosenberg, Jim Henry, Devan Gary and Brendan Gary

January 6, 2017
In Episode 17 of The Chuck Constantino Show, presented by ArizonaVarsity.com, Chuck has Arizona Varsity lead basketball analyst Gregg Rosenberg recap the holiday tournaments. First, Gregg shares who he believes stood out at the Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge and the McClintock Holiday Shootout. Then, Gregg indentifies his risers, fallers and sleepers at the midpoint of the regular season. Last, Chuck asks Gregg to breakdown some mid-season awards like picking the best teams in 6A, 5A and 4A, underclassmen and seniors (0:40). Next, Sahuaro basketball coach Jim Henry joins to discuss the Cougars season thus far, as his squad is 11-2 and on an eight-game winning streak. Chuck asks coach Henry questions lke what it's been like coaching the Gary twins, the challenges of last year's 13-12 finish, trying to improve while the team is on winter break and surviving a brutal remaining schedule in the regular season that includes six games in eight days. Then, Jim answers some rapid fire questions like what its like coaching at his alma mater, when was the last time he played pickup, what he's learned from former Sahuaro coach and Southern Arizona legendary coach, Dick McConnell and the best part about coaching at Sahuaro (33:50). Last, Chuck is joined by Sahuaro senior fraternal twins, Devan and Brendan Gary. The duo talk about the process of maturing and playing for the Cougars, building team chemistry, describe each other's game, the eastside rivalry with Sabino and what they think about having to play six games in eight days. Devan and Brendan finish the interview with some rapid fire questions like where they're grabbing a slice of pizza, how'd they both got into basketball, Clemson or Bama, early Final Four picks and which of the two is funniest (1:03.10).

- Salpointe Catholic fell to Alta Utah 74-72 at Mesa Mountain View on Day One of the Visit Mesa Basketball Challenge. The Lancers had a chance to tie or take the lead, but it was poor shooting performance for Salpointe Catholic.

- As a team, Salpointe shot 24-of-52. But sophomore wing Majok Deng finished with 25 points (10-of-18 from the field), 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. While senior guard Cameron Miller finished with 21 points, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and knocking down four free-throws. Two players counting for 16-of-24 made shots isn't going to cut it against stiffer competition.

- Salpointe junior wing Rylan O'Brien struggled to make shots. He finished with two points on 1-of-7 shots. O'Brien's lacked the ability to create space in order to get off shots from three-point range. Alta Utah did a great job on closing out and rotating, which contributed to his struggles on the day.

- Salpointe senior sixth-man Jackson Breshears will be out for the next five weeks due to a fracture finger. Breshears injured it while playing some pickup hoops with his father. Salpointe coach Brian Holmstrom said Breshears had practiced with the fractured finger, but he just isn't able to go right now. Holmstrom said they'll rotate a few players into the sixth-man role in Breshears absence, but noted it may be a struggle as the Lancers aren't a deep team. Before the injury, Salpointe mainly used a seven man rotation. Breshears being out will hurt the Lancers in the short-term, as they don't have another player to come off the bench to match the intensity and defensive role.

- Salpointe usually plays with a lot of ball pressure, with senior guard Isaac Cruz pressing at mid court or earlier. Against Alta Utah, there was none. Alta was able to move and swing the ball easily. I'm not sure if its because they're not a deep team and trying to avoid foul trouble, but Salpointe's defense looked different than it has from any other game I've watched all season.

- There were coaches from Cal Poly, Gonzaga, GCU and the University of Portland in attendance.

Ok this week we again have limited selection. But I found some good ones

We will pick 15 games. Leave one game out ... You must play the last game and tie break will be winner with point spread.

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12/27 Tue

Basha @ MVT ------- vmbc
Apollo vs Corona

Rincon vs Millenium ---- Grnway trny
Centennial vs Flagstaff
Ironwood vs Northwest Christian
Liberty vs Moon Valley
Tucson vs Queen Creek
Shadow Ridge vs Valley Christian
Valley Vista vs Independence
Walden Grove @ Greenway


Coronado @ Desert Edge --- DE challenge
Westview vs Nogales
Sierra Linda vs Dysart

12/28

Desert Ridge vs Perry ---- vmbc
Estrella Foothills vs Rio Rico -- DE

12/29

Red Mountain vs Chaparral -- vmbc

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Again, pick 15 games, leave one out. You must play the final gm

Good luck

Deadline is Tue morning by 10a
First game of day starts

https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/news/holiday-recap-1

I'm exhausted LOL
30 games--ish--some I had to leave to catch next games--but fun 4 days!!

Next week:

Tuesday--DV vs Perry
Wed--Rancho Solano Prep @ Chandler Prep
Friday---Basha vs Hamilton--watching the younger teams--supposedly have some nice FR on Bsaha

Pinnacle FR up 81-57--the Shadow kid gets an and-1 and the Pinnacle FR coach yells--there is continuation in HS ball?

The ref is like your up like 40

On a serious note
Pinnacle is loaded wow--I said it before--but there FR team has like 10 6-2+ Forwards--its insane
17 kids on their FR Roster lol
the 3 best FR play on JV and then of course Nico on Varsity

Shadow Mtn FR group is one of the worst I've seen in state so far--Pinnacle was playing there 4th line and winning easily most of the game.

Rules are posted on week 1 thread:
anyone can enter.
weekly prize and season prize. Gregg and Ralph are excluded.

16 games are slated for tues thru Sat each week.
choose 15. LEAVE one out.
tie breaker is FINAL game of the week with winning Spread.
its been competitive. here we go

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Not a lot of games to choose from this week and most teams don't play after wed ... But I made you do some homework this week ..

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Deadline to enter is Tue Dec 20 by 7p

12/20

Red Mountain @ Mesa
Moon Valley @ Estrella Foothills
Saguaro @ Peoria
Desert Mountain @ Dobson
Greenway @ Coconino
Washington @ Apache Junction

12/21

North vs Camelback ---- @ North (PUHSD)
Skyline vs Willow Canyon -- @ North (PUHSD)
Central vs Alhambra ----- @ Fairfax (PUHSD)
Carl Hayden vs Maryvale -- @ Chavez (PUHSD)
Sunnyslope @ Ironwood

12/22

SDO @ Copper Canyon
Cactus Shadows @ Cactus
Palo Verde @ Empire
Youngker @ Pueblo
Sahuaro @ Tucson

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Good luck everyone !

Thank you all for being part of this community!

https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/news/week-4-recap-6

Slow week---I was busy for once finishing my school year

- A visiting Sahuaro outlasted Tucson High 56-50 to give the Cougars its sixth consecutive win. It was a back-and-forth contest as both teams struggled to put up points in the first half. Sahuaro (9-2, 6-1) lead Tucson High 18-17 at halftime. Sahuaro junior forward DeShawn Engram led with six points and a perfect 3-for-3 shooting after the first quarter.

- Engram was perfect in the fourth quarter shooting 2-for-2. Engram finished with a team-high 17 points, 13 rebounds, a steal and a block. He shot 5-of-7 from the field and 7-of-9 from the charity stripe. He flashed the ability to run, finish around the rim and score on put-backs. Engram has scored seven combined points in Sahuaro's previous two games and finished with zero points in two games this season.

- Sahuaro senior forward Brendan Gary finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block. He also committed five turnovers, which I think stems from him playing a little to fast at times. He made better decisions in the second half, helping to led his team to a win. Gary has serious bounce and plays with a high-motor that is rarely matched by players in Southern Arizona. Gary's commitment to giving it his all each and every play truly stands out. He sometimes scores due to flat out hustle and toughness. Gary threw down a big slam in the third quarter to spark Sahuaro's offense and ignite the crowd. From then on, he was seeking to dunk every chance he got, and Tucson High fouled. He was fouled hard in the fourth quarter while attempting another breakaway dunk, which resulted in a flagrant foul. Gary also took and elbow to the teeth in the fourth and played harder after the fact. The only negatives on the night for Gary was his 7-of-11 from the free-throw line and him complaining to the refs for fouls on a few too many plays on a night the refs swallowed their whistles from the opening tip.

- Before the game, Sahuaro coach Jim Henry told me his team is struggling to find some consistent offense, and it showed. Its peaks and valleys with the shooting. Henry said, he's told his teams in some games to just dump it down to Brendan and get out of his way, and its worked. Teams might start to double him in certain situations if the offense stalls at times. A higher tempo and pace could benefit Sahuaro going forward. They have the athletes to run.

- In arrived early to check out some of the JV game. Sahuaro sophomore guard Kevin Poe, listed at a generous 5-7, 140 lbs, stood out a a player who could impact the varsity team at some point this season. Poe dresses for varsity, but doesn't play, as Sahuaro is a senior-heavy team. Poe leads the JV squad in scoring and rebounding, and he's often the smallest player on the court. Poe has quickness with and without the ball, and can finish around the rim. He was fun to watch, but Henry said his strength and the speed of the varsity game are limiting him from impacting the varsity team right now.

- Tucson High junior guard Derek Williams scored a team-high 13 points. He's a player who needs to score with more consistency, as he didn't put up a shot in the first quarter and made one bucket in the second quarter. He started filling it up in the fourth quarter with 10 points.

- Tucson High is a team searching for an identity on offense and defense. Coach Daron Cross has the Badgers playing zone in the second half of games while trailing in the last two Tucson High games I've attended. They play their best ball running and attacking the basket.

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In Episode 16 of The Chuck Constantino Show, presented by ArizonaVarsity.com, Chuck has Arizona Varsity lead basketball analyst Gregg Rosenberg call in for his weekly recap of the games and teams he's watched in the past week and looks ahead at a week of holiday tournaments (0:45). Next, Chuck is joined with Salpointe Catholic boys basketball coach Brian Holmstrom. Chuck asks coach Holmstrom if Salpointe has embraced the target on their back coming into the season and the luxury of having a senior backcourt. Coach Homstrom talks about the importance of the Lancers' role players and then answers a few rapid fire questions (28:23). Last, senior guards Cam Miller and Isaac Cruz join to talk about how the season's gone so far, how they lead, playing with each other since the fifth grade, what basketball means to them and end the interview with rapid fire questions (51:03).