Who wins Open Division quarterfinals?
After a week off following the round of 16, the Arizona girls’ high school basketball Open Division playoffs chugs along into the quarterfinals Thursday night. Thanks to an upset of Tucson Salpointe Catholic last week, it’s an all-Valley affair featuring the state’s very best teams.
The Arizona Republic breaks down the matchups, all of which are set for 7 p.m. at the higher seeds:
No. 1 Chandler Hamilton vs. No. 9 Gilbert
It’s unusual for the No. 1 seed to be involved in the most intriguing quarterfinal matchup. Often, this is a spot for a lopsided game.
Gilbert, though, is no pushover. The Tigers have gone toe to toe with both Phoenix Xavier Prep and Phoenix Desert Vista. In the only regular season matchup between these teams, they pushed Hamilton to overtime before falling, 51-47.
Freshman Caia Campbell, sophomore Aspen McClees and seniors Meisha Caserio and Morgan Evenson are all capable scorers that enable Gilbert to score from all over the floor. And in a round of 16 blowout over Gilbert Williams Field, junior Leila Josey stepped up, with a teamhigh 13 points.
But Hamilton — its No. 1 seed suggests — is a tricky opponent. Led by senior Savanna Creal, the Huskies are a physical team that can dominate on the interior on both ends. In the round of 16, they blew past a strong Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor team, winning, 53-31.
Prediction: Hamilton 55, Gilbert 52.
No. 4 Phoenix Desert Vista vs. No. 5 Chandler Seton Catholic
At the start of the Open, 4A teams were everywhere. Salpointe Catholic was the No. 3 seed, Gilbert Mesquite was No. 7 and Flagstaff was No. 11. Now, all those schools are gone. In fact, all the 5A schools are gone too.
So in a 6A-heavy Open quarterfinals, Seton Catholic is the lone remaining hint of diversity. The Sentinels won by 29 and 32 in the first two rounds, leaving no questions as to whether they belong on this stage.
Unfortunately, Desert Vista stands in their way. If the playoffs were seeded by coaches rather than by a computer system, the Thunder might be the No. 1 team in the state. If not, they would probably be No. 2.
This is a team that features perhaps the state’s best all-around player in Shay Ijiwoye, along with a host of excellent scorers (Dylan Swindle, Trinity Jones, Eanae Dagons, Aniyah Riddell). Seton Catholic has its hands full.
Prediction: Desert Vista 58, Seton
Catholic 44.
No. 6 Phoenix Pinnacle vs. No. 14 Surprise Valley Vista
Thanks to its 69-58 win over Salpointe Catholic in the round of 16, Valley Vista won’t get a chance to win a fifth straight 6A championship (three of which came before the advent of the Open). The Monsoon, though, will be OK with that. This is an experienced team with an interior force (Emma Dasovich) and two guards who can take a game over from beyond the arc (Jocelyn Chavez and Tsysn Johnson).
Pinnacle, though, is built well to combat Valley Vista’s strengths. 6-foot junior Heather Stedman is their leading scorer, while Norah Moo is a 6-foot-1 rebounding machine who’s averaging 14.0 and 13.5. Mia Singstock gives the Pioneers a 3point threat of their own.
If Valley Vista can stop — or even slow — both of Pinnacle’s interior threats, the upset is possible.
Prediction: Pinnacle 61, Valley Vista
57.
No. 2 Phoenix Xavier Prep vs. No. 23 Phoenix Sunnyslope
From November to February, throughout the entire regular season, Xavier Prep was the best team in Arizona. They can score inside and they can score outside.
They can score in transition and they can score in the half court. They pass the ball in a way only the very best high school teams do. Their defense, when its intensity is right, is suffocating.
Sunnyslope, of course, earned its way here. The Vikings beat No. 10 seed Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep in overtime then snuck past No. 26 seed Goodyear Millennium, 63-56. Junior Teagan McIlroy came up big in both contests. But this is the Open’s biggest Cinderella facing its biggest favorite — even if the No. 2 seed beside Xavier Prep’s name hides that fact. In the only regular season matchup between these schools, Xavier Prep won, 76-43. An upset would be a stunner.
Xavier Prep 65, Sunnyslope