Brophy and Pinnacle are the top 6A boys seeds, but will they survive semifinal matchups? (AzPreps365 photo)

There were some upsets in play-in games and the first round of the 6A boys and girls state basketball tournaments, but that wasn't the case in the quarterfinal rounds last weekend.

In the boys quarterfinals, #1 Brophy Prep had a tougher time than the other three, but subdued Perry, 47-38. #2 Pinnacle, #3 Desert Vista and #5 Mountain Pointe took care of Gilbert, Red Mountain and Chandler, respectively, with little fanfare and double-digit margins ranging from 13 to 32 points.

Two of the girls quarters carried some drama. #3 Gilbert out-free-throwed Hamilton down the stretch for a four-point victory and #2 Vallley Vista was eight points better than Pinnacle. Top-seed Millennium trounced Tucson High and #5 Xavier Prep dominated Mountain Pointe.

A little title-game history about the final fours and a glance at each of the matchups for Wednesday Feb. 21 at Wells Fargo Arena:

BOYS SEMIFINALISTS CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY -- Three of the four schools in the boys semifinals have never hung a hoops championship banner -- Brophy, Pinnacle and Mountain Pointe. Brophy has finished runner-up three times (1986, 2001 and 2011). Pinnacle has appeared in a final twice in 2013 and 2014. The Pioneers lost to Corona del Sol in tight games each time. Mountain Pointe has never played in a title game. Desert Vista has won one title (2008) and finished runner-up three times  (2003, 2004 and 2015). 

6A SEMIS MATCHUPS: #5 Mountain Pointe (25-3) vs. #1 Brophy Prep (26-1): The Pride and Broncos met back on Nov. 28 and Brophy pulled out one of its many narrow triumphs, 62-61. Brophy has won nine games by five points or less and three of them in overtime. Both teams were still evaluating back in November so there have been changes and tweaks here or there. Mountain Pointe has outstanding guard play among junior Khalid Price, senior Amarion Cash and senior Ryan Pate. All three are fine perimeter shooters with Price and Pate hitting a tick under 50 percent from behind the arc. Inside its junior Jalen Graham (11 points per game, and 9 rebounds per game) and sophomore DeAndre Henry (7 ppg and 7 rpg). Mountain Pointe is deep and not afraid to substitute freely in coach Duane Eason's up-tempo style. The Pride average 67 points a game. Brophy has evolved quickly this season into a team that thrives on defense, much to the delight of coach Matt Hooten. The Broncos have allowed 48 points per game (38 in two playoff games). Only a handful of teams have reached the 60s. They don't doesn't have the size of Graham or bulk of Henry, but plenty of reach from the long limbs of Jaxson Baker, Ian Burke and Basil Ribakare. Burke and Baker can be streaky from the perimeter. Marques White, Colin Besch, Ben Paul and Xavier Juniel supply tough, physical defense.    

#3 Desert Vista (25-4) vs. #2 Pinnacle (21-7): These are the highest-scoring teams among the semifinalists. Pinnalce averages 70 points a game and Desert Vista 69. Pinnacle was pretty much the consensus preseason pick as the top team and favorite to win state. The Pioneers started slowly with injuries to sophomore Nico Mannion and senior Trent Baker, but has been full strength since early January. Since the 2018 portion of the schedule began, Pinnacle is 11-1 and has won 13 of its last 14. Mannion averages 23 points a game and six assists and three teammates also average in double figures -- Spencer Rattler (13), Jordan Mains (12) and Mason Johnson (11). The Pioneers have all the ingredients to win the title and would love to be the first boys squad in school history to win a title. They've suffered gut-wrenching defeats in the finals twice. Desert Vista is led by junior newcomer Tyrek Chambers, a move-in from New York and the 6A Central Region player of the year. The Thunder already had ability in hand before Chambers' arrival with senior forward Wesley Harris, senior post Christian Anigwe and senior guard Alijah Gammage. Their size inside can be intimidating and four starters are averaging in double figures in the playoffs. For the season top scorer is Chambers (17.0), followed by Harris (16.9) and Anigwe (10.7). 

GIRLS SEMIFINALISTS CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY -- Two of the final four have won championships with Gilbert High, the oldest school of the four, owning the most (four). The Tigers won in 1984, 1986, 1991 and 1992. They were runner-up in 1979. Valley Vista, open just a decade, won its first title last year and was runner-up in 2016 to Hamilton. Millennium and Xavier Prep have not won a championship. Millennium was runner-up in 2015 to Dobson and last year to Valley Vista. Xavier Prep has played in two finals -- 1977 and 1986.

6A SEMIS MATCHUPS: #1 Millennium (24-6) vs. #5 Xavier Prep (25-5): Millennium returned plenty of experienced players from last year's finals loss to Valley Vista and it's been evident. The Tigers have only on loss of their six to an Arizona school (Valley Vista). Coach Cory Rojeck is completing his ninth season and the team has made postseason eight years in a row - seven with 20-win seasons. Junior Dominique Phillips is averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds a game with scoring ability inside and outside. Sophomore post Ali Zelaya missed half the season, but has produced 12 ppg and 7 rpg in her return. Versatile from her position. Another post who excels on defense is junior Alaina Diggs, She checks in averaging 8 ppg and 10 rpg. Sophomore point guard Jasmine Singleton is a shutdown defender night in and night out. Senior shooting guard Tyonna Singleton chips in with 9 ppg. Xavier showed promise last year as the No. 7 seed, but was knocked out n the first round at state. Coach Jennifer Gillom has returned for a second stint as head mentor and has the Gator faithful revved up with this title run. Gillom has instilled a team concept the players have bought into and its paid dividends. They are led by junior point guard Leilani McIntosh, who averaged 11 ppg, 5 assists and six steals. McIntosh is the consummate point guard. Senior power forward Montana Oltrogge has the ability to spread the floor and is a strong rebounder and post defender. She leads Xavier in scoring -- 18 ppg, 6 rpg. Senior center Kate Hassett good offensively inside and a shot blocker. She averaged 10 ppg and 5 rpg. Oltrogge and Hassett were bothered by injuries late in the season with Oltrogge missing a handful of games. Both made their presence felt on the floor in the semifinals.

#3 Gilbert (26-3) vs. #2 Valley Vista (23-6): Gilbert made a name for itself in December winning the second-tier bracket of the Nike Tournament of Champions. The Tigers have equaled  last year's finish with a second consecutive semifinal appearance and third playoff campaign in succession after a lengthy drought. The catalysts are 5-foot-6 junior twin sisters Haley and Hanna Cavinder, who average 23 ppg and 22 ppg, respectively. Both sisters have eclisped the 1,500-point mark in their careers so far. Haley also fills the stat sheet with 9 rpg and 7 apg and Hanna checks in with 6 apg. New Mexico transfer Brynn Wade has been a welcome addition in the post averaging almost 10 ppg and 12 rpg. She has blocked 100 shots this season. Senior Stacy Hock is in her fourth varsity season and averages 7 ppg. Gilbert lost in November to Valley Vista (61-42) and to defending 5A champion Mesquite. Gilbert has a 71-17 record in three seasons under coach Kyle Pederson. Valley Vista lost more players to graduation than any of the other semifinalists, but coach Rachel Matakas has watched her team stay in the thick of the chase for a repeat. Three key players return led by four-year starting guard Taylor Chavez, who is headed to Oregion State in the fall.  She can play each guard spot and can score from anywhere. Chavez is averaging 24 ppg, 5 apg and 6 spg. Matakas believes she has the top defensive guard in the state in Rysha Banner. She is quick, athletic and can pop the net from 3-point land. Banner averageds 14 ppg. Senior wing Clarissa Rodarte is strong and physical and a good mid-range jump shooter. Valley Vista is averaging 20 wins a season. Matakas opened the program in 2008 and is concluding her 11th season. Valley Vista's only losses to Arizona teams this year are to defending 4A champ Seton Catholic, 5A Mesquite and Millennium.