AZSPORTSNETWORK

Hello 1A sports fans!!!

Wow what a week! This is the time of year that we all look forward to and there is plenty of action for us to talk about as we enter playoffs for the Winter Sports in AZ. The 1-3A soccer playoffs start this week and of course we have a lot of the regionals happening as well.

This last week we had a lot of action on the basketball court with a few upsets and a few games that have shown some teams are destined to possibly win it all at state.

Lets get this started:

Soccer:The 1-3A soccer playoffs start this week and as most of you know I was a college and HS soccer HC and love the game. Tomorrow we will do a preview on our blogs for you so that we can give some good attention to the smallball soccer in AZ.

Girls Basketball:

If you look at our rankings you can see that not one team has been overlooked and this week we will discuss what we think is happening going into the regionals and state playoffs which start in about 2 weeks.

1A Team of the Week Honors goes to Rock Point!! Last week they beat Mogollon 2x, got a revenge win at home by defeating St. Michaels and then blew out Joe City to end their spectacular week to show us all they are a legit contender for the title! So congrats to Rock Point for being named the AZSportsnetwork 1A Team of the Week!

North:

Fredonia: If there was any chance for them to make regionals I think it is far fetched this year as they have been losing games BIG this season and unless something drastically changes I do not see them getting out of regionals and surprising teams at state.

Northland Prep: I have liked this teams grit all season! They had a huge chance to beat Rock Point but could not hold onto the lead earlier in the season. They them turned around and got blown out and it seemed like this team was done for the year. I have been saying they can make a huge impact come regionasl and I still believe it as they stayed true to form as they defeated a very strong St. Mikes team and showing us all they may be the most dangerous team come regionals and if they make state!

Rock Point: Wow!!! what a week. The game at home vs St. Mikes was a huge win. But to get 4 big wins during the week shows they can keep focused for state and make a run at the title. The game I felt was huge was how badly they defeated JC, who is a very good team. Beating them by 18, 49-31 was a very good message to send to all across the state. They set themselves up for a strong run at regionals and state. I think what is very important is that they are being tested late in the season while SR and GB are coasting to easy victories at the end of the season. We will see if this helps. If they get the top seed and SR does as well then they would meet in the semis if it all comes to a head as it should.

Joe City: They had a rough week! But losing to St. Mikes and RP is not real bad as they have a rematch vs St. Mikes again this week before they head to regionals. This team has shown a lot and can win regionals but they cannot overlook a few teams in this tough region!

Seligman: This team has quietly just kept winning and lost a 10 point game vs Williams who earlier in the week upset Many Farms. Seligman is a darkhorse to make state and I think they can be dangerous if they get thru the gauntlet in the North regionals and make state. They have already beaten JC but did lose to Grand Canyon which dropped them earlier in the year in our rankings. Do not forget they also only lost by 1 to williams earlier in the year.

Grand Canyon: They have quietly continued to win and can also make noise at regionals. Their big wins have been to JC and Northland prep. They lost a close game to Seligman. Many people who have seen them, and this is 1 team I have not, feel at the beginning of the season they did not look like a playoff team. However, they have competed hard this season and going into what is the best region in 1A have a shot and could make this very interesting.

South Division: Remember that this division now comes down to the top 4 teams in powerpoints and there are not any regionals.

Who is in:
#1 seed: Gila Bend
#2 Seed: Patagonia unless they falter vs Immaculate
#3 St. David

Who has a shot at the #4 seed:

Greenfields: They are sitting 4 PPTs ahead of St. Gregs right now with the following games left to be played and our predictions:

2-2-2010: @ Academy of Tucson: Win
2-4-2010: Home vs St. Gregs: Underdog
2-5-2010: @ St. David: Heavy Underdog L

With this 4 point lead the game vs St. Gregs is huge. For GR the game they lost earlier vs Immaculate could come down to the game where they let a game slip and costs them the 4th playoff spot in the south. Plus the victory for St. Gregs vs Gilbert Christian really was a big victory as well. if they can beat St. Gregs then they can get the 4th spot.

St. Gregs: They are about 4 points behind GF with a match vs them this Thursday away. They have the following games left and are the heavy favorites to win the 4th seed. On paper they are the better team but......

2-2-2010: Desert Christian: Non-bonus points I think
2-4-2010: @ Greenfields: If they win they get the 4th spot barring any other upsets. Destiny in their hands.
2-5-2010: Host Gila Bend: L
2-9-2010: Host TO: W and if they lose to Gf earlier this game could be the game that eventually could clinch it in the end.

Immaculate Heart: Still in the running being 9 points off of Greenfields and near 3 from St. Gregory. But they have a chance and will need to sweep in order to get the 4th spot and it will not be easy!

2-2-2010: Host Patagonia: Underdog
2-4-2010: Host Tanque Verde: W
2-5-2010: @ Patagonia

Their season goes thru a Patagonia team who very well could be the story of the season. if they can sweep all of these games with the victory point they have a chance. But any loss and they are done barring a total melt-down of the other teams which I do not see happening. They may get Patagonia 1x but I do not see a sweep.

Who wishes there was still a regional: Valley Union has a decent team but the loss vs St. Gregs really hurt their chances.

But with the teams under Gila Bend being so close in talent the regionals would have been up for grabs barring any upset of GB.

East Division: Regionals here we come!!!

Salt River: This seems to be all about 2-4 as Salt River has dominated all but GB this season. However, the fact they have to go on a long road trip out East could be the hardest obstacle for them at regionals. They have to stay focused as not only is Ft. Thomas in their region but a Duncan team who just defeated Ft. Thomas this last week. In the past this region is notorious for upsets so you must tread carefully. If they win they are opposite of Gila bend in state. If they are upset then they will see GB sooner than later at state if all plays out.

Ft. Thomas: They were upset by Duncan @ Duncan but we had been warning you about this early on in the season. They have 3 strong players and will be tough at regionals but what will be interesting is if they or Duncan will be on the same side of the bracket with SR at regionals which means a tougher game in the semis for them and SR unless it is a 2-3 seed and they meet Duncan instead.

Duncan: Most dangerous team who will make the playoffs no matter what seed they get in at state.

Superior and Gilbert Christian: Both these teams have chances for the 4th seed as well as a few other teams. GC is still struggling but have beaten Superior in closer games this season. I would call it equal going into regionals.

West Division: This division is all about 3 teams. VL, Salome and yes Joy Christian. Although JChrisitian lost to VL and beat Salome they are the team secure with the 3rd spot. Salome and VL are as close as they get and really this is the regional with a less chance for an upset from teams outside these top 3. if there is a chance it will come from PhoeniX Day School for the Deaf or bagdad with Bagdad having already beaten PDSD 2x this season.

Coming Next: Boys basketball!!