Majok Deng (22) & Jimmy Stewart got things started. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
The state basketball playoffs are less than two weeks away and teams are busy wrapping up region championships, hoping to get the automatic berth that comes with the title. Each conference has its unique playoff qualifying rules but the 4A Conference is pretty straight forward with a 16-team bracket made up of eight region champions plus eight at-large berths.
No. 5 Catalina Foothills claimed the 4A Kino Region title with a 56-48 win over No.3 Salpointe on Thursday night. The victory gave the Falcons a 7-0 record in region play and a 14-3 record in power-ranking games….
GAME STORY AT AZPreps365.com
In other region races from Southern Arizona, No. 25 Rincon/University (2-1) will play No. 17 Sunnyside (1-2) for the 6A Tucson Sub-Region championship on Friday, Feb 3. No. 26 Tucson (2-2) has too many conference losses to win out in a three-way tie. If Sunnyside beats Rincon the Blue Devils will have a better conference record.
The winner of Rincon/Sunnyside will play the Yuma Sub-Region champion San Luis on Tuesday, Feb. 7 for the region title.
The 6A Conference has a play-in tournament so the top 24 teams have a shot.
No. 7 Cholla won the 5A Sonoran Region but the 5A Southern Region is still up for grabs. No. 13 Mountain View (6-1) can claim the region with a win over No. 6 Cienega (4-3) on Friday. No. 5 Buena (5-2) needs to beat No. 10 Sahuaro and hope Mountain View loses. That would give the Colts a better conference record.
No. 16 Sabino won the 3A South Region but the top three teams in each region earns a playoff berth to the 24-team bracket. No. 24 Empire has secured the second berth while the third bid is a battle between No. 22 Tanque Verde, No. 25 Santa Rita and No. 26 Pusch Ridge.
No. 3 San Carlos won the 2A South Region but No. 6 St. Augustine has claimed the second playoff spot. No. 24 Desert Christian can still claim a play-in berth.
No. 1 The Gregory School won the 1A South region. No.6 St. David claimed the other spot from the region. No. 7 Baboquivari, No. 9 Immaculate Heart and No. 11 Patagonia look to make the tournament also.
Girl’s playoff recap tomorrow night.
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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