Picking up where holidays left off in East Valley

January 5, 2015 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


The holidays are over. Playing time for non-starters will be precious.Games off for minor injuries or precaution will be few. All the games matter now. A chance to take inventory for teams in winter sports after their post-Christmas escapades:

BOYS BASKETBALL

Nationally-ranked Corona del Sol (12-1) dropped a tough one to nationally-ranked Sierra Canyon, CA (65-64) for its first loss of the season on Saturday. That loss doesn't render the Aztecs any less formidable. Corona, led by Dane Kuiper, Alex Barcello and Marvin Bagley III, has won 50 consecutive games againts Arizona opponents over the last two-plus seasons. It's safe to say Corona, which was the only unbeaten team among 16 teams at VisitiMesa..com, has its next Arizona challenge and perhaps its only one in January, in a matchup with Desert Vista (13-1) on Jan. 27. Desert Vista posted a respectable 3-1 record at VisitMesa.com. Its loss was a 52-51 decision to Loyola, IL. The Thunder have four starters averaging in double figures, led by Brandon Clarke and Quincy Taylor. 

The all-tournament team and other accolades from the VisitiMesa.com Challenge: All-Tournament Team -- Delano Jones, Tempe High; Quinton Adlesh, Mission Prep; Daron Russell, Imhotep; Jaekwon Carlyle, Imhotep; Brandon Danowski, Loyola; Quincy Taylor, Desert Vista; Brandon Clarke, Desert Vista; Vionte Daniels, Federal Way; Jalen McDaniels, Federal Way; Dane Kuiper, Corona; Alex Barcello, Corona. Most Outstanding Player - Marvin Bagley III, Corona del Sol;  Lockdown Defensive Player -- Ben Wahlberg, Pinnacle; Breakout/Upside Player -- Colton Kresel, Chaparral.

Basha, which is 12-3, under second-year head coach Mike Grothaus, dethroned McClintock Shootout defending champ Perry (11-2) with a 73-63 win in an injury-plagued title game. Basha lost 6-foot-10 Devin Kirby for the season due to two dislocated knees and a broken tibia on a fall late in the first period. Perry standout sophomore guard Markus Howard suffered a concussion chasing down a ball and crashing into the bleachers in the game's final minute. If it weren't for Corona del Sol, the D-I race would be ridiculously wide open. Add Chaparral (11-4), Pinnacle (12-4), Chandler (10-4), Gilbert (8-5), Mesa (14-1) from the East Valley plus Central and Cesar Chavez to the mix of  good teams.

Division II teamd of note from the East Valley are Tempe High (9-4), McClintock (9-5) and Arcadia (9-5) Tempe drew attention after some impressive showings at VisitMesa.com. Tempe is poised to have a good month in January, led by guard Delano Jones, who shot lights out in the Buffaloes four contests vs. Chaparral, Mesa Mountain View, Desert Vista and Loyola, IL. Jones shot 52 percent (37-of-71) from the field -- 48 percent from 3-point range (16-of-33) in the tourney.  Arcadis finished third at McClintock's Shootout and McClintock finished fifth. Arcadia handed Tempe one of its losses early and McClintock and Arcadia have split a pair of meetings.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Desert Vista and Millennium were a combined 3-5 at the NIke TOC in Chandler just prior to Christmas. They discovered they weren't invincible. They played for a second time this season in their final game of the TOC. Desert Vista avengend its loss to the Lady Tigers in the Lady Padres title game Thanksgiving weekend. Both teams have three losses heading to 2015, but still appear to be the top two teams in Division I. Dobson, which may have something to say about that, is 15-1. Dobson won the Red Mountain Holiday Classic last week to go along with its Highland Tournament title. It's only loss is to Hamilton on a buzzer-beater. A couple other D-I girls teams to keep an eye on are Hamilton (9-5), Mesquite (10-6) and Liberty (10-2).

Horizon dominated the field in the Lady Titan Classic at Arcadia, winning five games and trouncing Sierra Linda in the final. Horizon(12-3)  has a road game Thursday with another hot D-I team, Mesa Mtn. View. Mountain View (9-5) won its bracket last week in the So. Cal Tournament in San Diego, but dropped a 55-48 decision to Cibola last Saturday.

Division II teams of note are Seton Catholic and Maricopa. Seton (11-4) was 2-2 at the Nke TOC and its losses during Thanksgiving were to D-I schools in the Highland Tournament. Maricopa (9-3) gave Seton a game prior to the Nike TOC before falling and finished fourth last week in Valley Christian's Christmas Tournament. Valley Christian appears intent on taking the D-III title this year after being upset in the final last year by Fountain Hills. The Lady Trojans won their tournament again and are 15-0.   

BOYS SOCCER

Hamilton won the tournament it hosts -- the Arizona Showcase -- for the first time in the tournament's four forays on New Year's Day. Hamilton was on its game going 6-0 and powdering the nets to the tune of 31 goals in those contests. The Huskies upended surprising Copper Canyon, for a second time in the tournament in the final. Hamilton (9-0-2) has a pair of ties (Chandler and San Luis to a cople very good teams), but no losses to date. The Huskies began exclusive power-ranking matches Monday hosting Pinnacle. Teams playing well heading to the new year from the EV are Corona del Sol, Chandler, Highland and Gilbert.

GIRLS SOCCER

Looks like a very competitive year at the top in Division I. Highland captured the Black Division of the Arizona Showcase edging Desert Vista, 1-0. Highland also won the Coyote Classic, defeating Perry in the final. Desert Vista topped Highland earlier in December in a power-ranking match. Desert Vista has placed second in two high-profile tournaments -- the other Horizon's tournament of Champions the first week of December. Other EV teams to watch along with Highland and Desert Vista are Perry, Hamilton, Pinnacle and Basha. Basha reached the final four of the Coyote Classic at Campo Verde. Perry was second at the Coyote Classic and in the quarters losing in a shootout to Boulder Creek at AZ Showcase. Hamilton posted a 4-1 win over Pinnacle on Monday after failling short of reaching the final at the Arizona Showcase. Desert Ridge is unbeaten, but is set to face the meat of its schedule the rest of the way