The Republic picks Open quarterfinals
It’s down to the final eight teams in the 32-team Open Division state high school boys basketball tournament. Eight of the top nine seeds have reached this point, so the AIA computer algorithms had it right, even if there is dispute on the order of the top seeds.
There is much more drama and intrigue in Year 2 of the AIA Open playoffs. Here’s a breakdown of the quarterfinal games and The Arizona Republic’s picks for which teams will advance to the semifinals.
All quarterfinal games are Friday at 7 p.m., at the higher seed’s home court. The semifinals will be played Feb. 28 at Scottsdale Chaparral as part of a doubleheader.
Open Division quarterfinals
No. 9 Phoenix Brophy Prep (17-10) at No. 1 Gilbert Perry (21-6)
If you want to call this a toss-up game, nobody would laugh. Brophy is one team that is a thorn in Perry’s side. The Broncos and Pumas split games against each other this season. When Brophy’s Ryan Burbach gets going from outside, it really opens up the penetration of point guard Braeden Speed even more. Brophy is relentless on the glass, which means the Pumas’ 6-foot-8 junior star Koa Peat will need help on the glass. If Perry isn’t able to hit its outside shots, Brophy could run away from them. But this is Peat’s time of the year to really ball out. He’s won state championships in his first two years of high school. There is no bigger clutch player or top defender in big games than Peat. Who can forget the triple-overtime win Perry pulled out in the 6A semifinals at jam-packed Brophy two years ago when Peat was a freshman and proved an obstacle at the rim?
Perry 63, Brophy Prep 58
Prediction:
No. 5 Scottsdale Desert Mountain (21-6) at No. 4 Chandler Basha (21-6)
Basha is oozing confidence right now. The Bears are the last team to beat Perry. And sophomore PG Mason Magee has been super cool running the offense. He’ll have his hands full with either the House twins (Kaden and Kalek) or the Bardwell twins (Jabron and Javon). Desert Mountain is a team of guards. The Wolves have been shaky down the stretch, nearly losing a 16-point lead in the second half against 4A Thunderbird in the first round, before winning by five. They’ll need to get back to how they were running teams off the court earlier when they were scoring in the 90s. But Basha will try to dictate the pace to its liking and may take the shot clock down on almost every possession if they can’t get
out on the break.
Prediction: Basha 67, Desert Mountain 64
No. 6 Goodyear Millennium (23-4) at No. 3 Phoenix Sunnyslope (20-6)
This could be the best of four outstanding quarterfinal matchups. It feels like a state championship game. Get there early because Sunnyslope has a small gym and it’s going to be packed. They met on the last day of November at Hoophall West with Millennium, behind the electric guard play of Sabien Cain, rallied in the final quarter and beat Sunnyslope in overtime. Sunnyslope had no answer for Millennium’s press that forced turnovers into points quickly. Will Ty Amundsen try this strategy early on this time around? Guards John Mattingly, Delton Prescott and Rider Portela will have any press thrown at them figured out this time around. The Vikings are playing at a high level, especially with 610 freshman Darius Wabbington having a break-out second half. Millennium is on a mission. The Tigers played a tough out-of-state schedule to get ready for these tough games and it’s going to pay off in the end with Cameron Holmes and Kingston Tosi — two of the best two-way basketball players in Arizona — getting it
done at both ends of the court.
Prediction: Millennium 73, Sunnyslope 72
No. 7 Phoenix St. Mary’s (23-6) at No. 2 Scottsdale Notre Dame (24-4)
These teams opened the season way back on Nov. 18 with Notre Dame pulling out an 81-76 win on St. Mary’s court. The Knights have come a long way since then. Senior point guard Styles Phipps is looking like a strong contender for Player of the Year. He’s finding open teammates like 6-11 sophomore Cameron Williams and 6-7 junior Caspian Jones, who are finishing strong at the rim. Williams has been one of the biggest revelations in the state this season, showing continued progress on offense with a mid-range jump shot. He’s as good as any big man at protecting the rim in Arizona. With Notre Dame, you have to watch out for guards Brennan Peterson and Bryce Quinet and Anthony Batson Jr., which matches up well against St. Mary’s Big 3. The Knights have the height advantage, but NDP’s depth, quickness, tenacity and ability to knock down big shots makes this a tough matchup. This could go into overtime.
St. Mary’s 84,