Arizona 3A, 2A high school basketball semis set this weekend

Large crowds are expected for this weekend’s state high school basketball semifinals and championship games, as large contingents of fans from Native American communities in Northern Arizona follow their teams to Phoenix.

The semifinal and finals games in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s 3A Conference will be held at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Friday and Saturday. Chinle will play Page at 3 p.m., on Friday in one girls 3A semifinal, and Fort Defiance Window Rock plays Show Low at 4:30 p.m., in the other semifinal. Before those games, Pima faces Miami in one of the 2A girls semifinals at noon, followed by San Carlos playing Phoenix Country Day. The winners of those semifinal games will play for the state championships on Saturday at the coliseum.

On the boys side, it will be all private and charter schools in both 2A and 3A semifinals.

At 9 a.m., Friday, Scottsdale Rancho Solano Prep plays Phoenix Arizona Lutheran in one 2A boys semifinal, followed by Phoenix Christian against San Tan Charter in the other at 10:30 a.m.

Then, to cap off Friday’s big bill of small-schools semifinals, starting at 6 p.m., two-time defending state champion

Chandler Valley Christian will be playing American Leadership Ironwood in the first 3A semifinal at 6 p.m., followed by Yuma Catholic against Gilbert Christian in the other 3A semifinal.

The 2A and 3A state championships start Saturday at noon at the coliseum, with 2A boys, followed by 2A girls at 2 p.m. The 3A girls will play at 4 p.m., followed by 3A boys at 6.

All of the 3A boys semifinal teams advanced after winning by double digits in the quarterfinals.

Valley Christian, led by Luke Shaw’s 27 points, beat Tucson Sabino 92-60; American Leadership Ironwood beat Thatcher 72-60; Yuma Catholic beat Phoenix

Northwest Christian 63-46; and Gilbert Christian beat Snowflake 84-64.

Shaw set Valley Christian’s all-time scoring record, despite missing most of the second half of the season due to a foot injury. This could be his third straight state championship with Valley Christian, which never has won three state titles in boys basketball before under coach Greg Haagsma.

Valley Christian (27-2) is a strong team even without Shaw and is considered the favorite in boys’ 3A. Austin Wallace is capable of scoring more than 20 points on any given night. And the Grier twins — Carson and Kyle — both average in double figures.