{h2}Boys Division II state tournament, second round{/h2}
No. 21 Nogales 60, No. 5 Gilbert Christian 57
{p class=”Body”}GILBERT — The Nogales boys basketball team had upset on the brain again Saturday.
{p class=”Body”}The No. 21 seed took control early and fended off a late run by No. 5 Gilbert Christian to hang on and defeat the defending champions 60-57 in the second round of the Division II state tournament at Gilbert Christian High School.
{p class=”Body”}The Apaches move on to face No. 4 Paradise Valley in the quarterfinals Wednesday at Gila River Arena in Glendale.
{p class=”Body”} “It was a tough game,” Nogales coach Ricardo De La Riva said. “I don’t know how we pulled it off, but I’m very proud of my kids. We fought until the end.”
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{p class=”Body”}Nogales had an 11-point lead at the end of the third quarter, but Gilbert Christian came out fighting in the fourth, going on a 16-4 run that gave the Knights their first lead of the second half with three minutes left to play. Adalberto Diaz put up seven points in the final few minutes and the Apaches held on to win, despite playing without starting point guard and leading scorer Jose Estrada, who had fouled out of the game midway through the fourth quarter.
{p class=”Body”}Diaz said he was more than ready to step up in Estrada’s absence.
{p class=”Body”}“When he went out I told him, ‘I’m going to get this win no matter what,’ “ Diaz said. “I just had a confidence in myself.”
{p class=”Body”}Diaz had 24 points and 10 rebounds Saturday. Estrada finished with 25 points.
{p class=”Body”}Saturday marked Nogales’ second straight upset. The team defeated No. 12 Tucson 54-42 in the first round of the playoffs.
— Kelsey Perry
No. 10 Catalina Foothills 49, No. 7 Scottsdale Saguaro 47
{p class=”p1”}SCOTTSDALE — Doug D’Amore had trouble finding the words to describe his emotions following the biggest victory of his three-year tenure as Catalina Foothills’ head coach.
{p class=”p1”}Several minutes after his team’s thrilling 49-47 win over Scottsdale Saguaro on Saturday, his eyes were still misty.
{p class=”p1”}“I walked into the locker room and I didn’t know what to say,” D’Amore said. “I’ve never been more proud of these kids’ effort. I said before the game, ‘No matter what happens, stay together.’ And they stayed together until the very end.”
{p class=”p1”}Junior Jared Irwin’s basket with just under 30 seconds to play lifted No. 10 Catalina Foothills past host No. 7 Saguaro, sending the Falcons into the Division II quarterfinals — their first time advancing that far since 2010.
{p class=”p1”}Catalina Foothills will take on No. 2 Avondale Agua Fria at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Gila River Arena in Glendale, with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
{p class=”p1”}Despite trailing Saguaro (19-10) by six at halftime and allowing the Sabercats to reel off seven straight points late in the fourth quarter, Catalina Foothills (21-8) buckled down when it needed to.
{p class=”p1”}With the score tied at 47 following that seven-point run, Irwin received a pass in transition near half-court and drove to the hole, throwing in a contested shot off right glass to put Catalina Foothills in front.
{p class=”p1”}“Once I had the ball, I knew it was tied, so I just knew I was either going to get the foul or the bucket,” Irwin said. “I went hard and got the bucket.”
{p class=”p1”}Saguaro had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but its 3-point attempt sailed just long and caromed off the back rim.
{p class=”p1”}Irwin led Catalina Foothills with 16 points, including four 3s. Sophomore Sam Beskind finished with 13 points and senior Ryan Green chipped in 7 for the Falcons, who were missing senior standout Nik Nehls for the second straight game for what is being called a “school decision.”
— Tyler Killian
No. 2 Avondale Agua Fria 65, No. 15 Salpointe Catholic 57
{p class=”p1”}Four players scored in double figures for Salpointe Cathoilc, but it was host Avondale Agua Fria coming out on top 65-57. Majok Deng led the way for the Lancers with 13 points, including nine in the second half. Eddie Krasinski was second on the team with 11. Cameron Miller and Ethan Parkhurst each finished with 10. Salpointe had a three-point lead at the break. The game was tied for a bit early in the fourth before Agua Fria pulled away.
{p class=”p1”} “It was a pretty wild road environment,” said Lancers coach Brian Holstrom. “Overall I’m pretty please with how our guys played.”
{h2}Girls Division IV state tournament, second round{/h2}
No. 9 Desert Christian 40, No. 8 Eagar Round Valley 33
A game-high 18 points from Hannah Bjorgum helped Desert Christian beat Eagar Round Valley 40-33 in Prescott. Taylor Usry added 12 points. Back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011, the Eagles (18-4) will take on top-seeded and undefeated Phoenix Christian (21-0) at 6 p.m. Thursday at a location to be determined.
“We have four seniors on our team that weren’t ready to be done yet,” Desert Christian coach Rich Peddy said.
No. 4 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran 33, No. 13 Pusch Ridge Christian 29
{p class=”p1”}For a second time this season, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran proved to be too much for Pusch Ridge Christian. The Lions scored just two points in the first quarter on way to a 33-29 loss in Prescott Valley. Bree Olson finished with a team-high 13 points for Pusch Ridge.
{p class=”p1”}“We pulled within two a few times,” said Pusch Ridge coach Lonnie Tvrdy. “We always felt like we were going to get over the hump, but never did. Even with 30 seconds left, we had a chance down a basket.”
{h2}Boys Division V state tournament, second round{/h2}
No. 18 Superior 61, No. 2 The Gregory School 60, OT
{p class=”p1”}Nick Rosquist’s 34 points weren’t enough, as The Gregory School was edged by Superior 61-60 in overtime in Prescott. Addison Mort added 17 in the loss. Up 33-24 at halftime, the Hawks were outscored 17-6 in the fourth quarter. Shooting just 45 percent (10 of 22) from the charity stripe, it’s the fourth consecutive year the Gregory School has lost in the second round.
{p class=”p1”}“It seemed like we lost our spirit a little,” said Hawks coach Michelle Berry. “We’re a young team. I don’t know if they got nervous, or if the stage was too big. Credit to Superior, though. They found fire in their bellies.”
No. 4 Bisbee 68, No. 13 St. Augustine Catholic 40
Bisbee avenged last month’s five-point loss to St. Augustine Catholic, by beating the Wolves when it mattered most in Prescott on Saturday. With the 68-40 win, the Pumas advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in at least a decade. Bisbee (18-3) will play No. 5 Valley Sanders at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at a location to be determined.
{h2}Girls Division V state tournament, second round{/h2}
No. 1 Sanders Valley 61, No. 16 The Gregory School 30
Despite 22 points from Taylor Thompson, The Gregory School was no match for top-seeded Sanders Valley. The Hawks were outscored 35-9 in the first and third quarters combined, on the way to a 61-30 loss in Prescott.
{p class=”p2”}“The score doesn’t do it justice,” said Gregory School coach Michelle Berry. “Round Valley is the real deal, but I think we played our best game all season.”
