The weather has not been fooling you; spring is quickly approaching. But before we bid farewell to winter, there is still plenty of basketball to watch.
Four Southern Arizona boys teams along with three local girls programs play in this week’s Division II state quarterfinals, while the Palo Verde boys and Pusch Ridge Christian girls are both still alive in Division III action.
While several of the basketball games are scheduled to be played in the Phoenix area, baseball and softball open up locally with two tournaments over the Rodeo weekend. Here’s a look at what to watch:
WEDNESDAY
Girls basketball: No. 9 Ironwood Ridge takes on undefeated and top-seeded Cienega at Amphitheater at 7 p.m. with a trip to the Division II state semifinals on the line.
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The Nighthawks (25-7) have won 10 of their last 11 games and knocked off No. 8 Cave Creek Cactus Shadows 55-49 in the second round on Friday night. The Bobcats (30-0), who reached the state finals last winter, crushed No. 16 Phoenix Moon Valley 62-40 coming off a first-round bye.
When the two met on Dec. 12, Cienega cruised to a 63-36 win behind 16 points from senior Destiny Richardson along with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals from fellow senior Treyanna Clay.
THURSDAY
Boys basketball: Third-seeded Cienega faces No. 11 Nogales at Amphitheater at 7 p.m. in search of its 10th straight win and second straight trip to the Division II state semifinals.
The two teams met earlier this month in the section championship game, and senior Terrence Johnson scored 21 points to as Cienega won 65-51. Coach Matt Johnson and the Bobcats (25-3) also beat Nogales 66-53 on Jan. 8 behind a game-high 26 points from senior Leonard Moody.
Coach Ricardo De La Riva and the Apaches (25-7) beat host Avondale La Joya 71-64 on Saturday night to reach the state quarterfinals for the third time in the last five seasons. Nogales lost to Avondale Agua Fria there in 2013 but went on to win the 4A-I title in 2011.
WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY
Baseball: Cienega and Sahuaro team up to host 24 teams from around the state at Kino Sports Complex for the Ideal Physical Therapy Cowboy Up Classic to kick off the baseball season.
Play begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, with Salpointe Catholic taking on Catalina Foothills in one of four games to open the tournament. Pool play continues on Thursday, starting at 12:30 p.m., and on Friday, starting at 10 a.m., and runs into the night.
The top six teams advance to tournament play, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday with the finals scheduled for 8 p.m.
THURSDAY-SATURDAY
Softball: Canyon del Oro softball coach Kelly Fowler makes her official return when her Dorados host 22 teams from around Arizona in the three-day Dorado Classic at Mike Jacobs Sports Park.
Fowler, a member of the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame, inherits a team that reached the Division II state championship game last year. She spent more than a decade with the program at some level and was part of more than 170 wins and four state titles.
Pool play in the tournament begins at 2 p.m. Thursday and runs into the night with the final game scheduled for 8 p.m.
Action resumes at 8 a.m. on Friday with bracket play opening up at noon. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m.
Contact high school sports coordinator Daniel Gaona at 807-7761 or dgaona@tucson.com. On Twitter @DanielGaona13
