AZSPORTSNETWORK

Hello 3A fans!!!

I am so excited because we will be covering the 3A North Regionals and I get more excited each day it gets closer to that time of the year! My experience at Chinle and that awesome stadium of theirs was the best one can imagine from smallball sports. The fans are crazy about basketball and love the game like no other.

Ok now lets look at some of this weeks 3A highlights:

GBB: The North: I compare the North basketball to the East in football. No matter how they beat up on each other in conference play, even the lower seeds in the North that make the playoffs can beat most teams in the state. This year I have seen all of the North teams and I will say this year is no different than other years. Right now the teams in the North should have the same success come tournament time.

GBB: Safford: Right now Safford looks to be the only non-North team that could make a run for the state championship in 3A GBB. They have depth and use defense to score. The big issue is how soon will they play a North team in the playoffs and where that game will be played. Even the lower seeds will be dangerous once again. Look for Safford, if they get a good bracket, to go deep into the playoffs this year.

GBB: Estrella Foothills: Will the real EFH team stand up???!!! I had them in my top 10 rankings and then they get demolished by SCA. They then have a decent tournament showing and come back and get leveled again. Now I understand some players were missing but this team needs to get focused and play hard each time so we get a good look at what they have to offer come tournament time.

BBB: Chinle has had some criticism of their coaching staff. I think this is a joke. They are doing a great job and many just do not understand that they face a tough team every night in the North. They have had some close games but have come thru with wins. This team is big, fast and strong and will be a threat to win it all even against EFH.

BBB: Blue Ridge seems to be on a roll since beating Winslow over the Holiday break. Look for them to make some noise in the East, where it seems teams are not standing up and separating themselves from the pack.

BBB: Florence: Watch out for the Gophers. Although they lost a lot of returners who transferred to other schools, they seem to be peaking just right with the young talented group of players that stayed for this season. They had a nice showing in the Blue Ridge Holiday tourney and should contend for the South title.