The last game between Sam Beskind & Majok Deng was an instant classic. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

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“What’s wrong with Salpointe?”

Nothing.

No. 11 Salpointe (15-15) opened up the year with a 3-14 record and the negative text messages and emails started to flow in, something one would expect from a struggling college program, but Salpointe is not a college team, high school teams play under a different set of rules – compete and win in region play and you will make the playoffs.

Still, the emails kept coming….

GAME RECAP AT AZPreps365.com

In other action from Southern Arizona teams advancing, freshman forward Alyssa Brown scored 30 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead No. 3 Sahuaro past No. 11 Cienega in a 5A quarterfinal matchup.

No. 8 Sabino and No. 12 Empire won in the 3A bracket and the boys will advance to the quarterfinal round.

In 1A play, the girls of No. 4 Baboquivari and the boys of No. 1 Gregory School earned a spot in the semifinals.

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

GIRLS 6A QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Millennium 56, No. 9 Tucson 24

GIRLS 5A QUARTERFINALS
No. 3 Sahuaro 63, No. 11 Cienega 58

BOYS 4A QUARTERFINALS
No. 11 Salpointe 77, No. 3 Catalina Foothills 71 (2OT)
No. 2 Buckeye 88, No. 10 Nogales 82 (OT)

BOYS 3A SECOND ROUND
No. 8 Sabino 57, No. 9 Page 46
No. 12 Empire 75, No. 5 Snowflake 63

GIRLS 1A QUARTERFINALS
No. 4 Baboquivari 54, No. 5 Valley Lutheran 46
No. 2 St. Michael 55, No. 7 St. David 34

BOYS 1A QUARTERFINALS
No. 1 Gregory School 69, No. 8 Valley Lutheran 56

MONDAY, FEB. 19

GIRLS 3A QUARTERFINALS
No. 10 Sabino vs. No. 2 Window Rock, 4:15 p.m. (Prescott Valley)

TUESDAY, FEB. 20

GIRLS 5A SEMIFINALS
No. 3 Sahuaro vs. No. 2 Mesquite, 3 p.m. (ASU)

BOYS 3A QUARTERFINALS
No. 8 Sabino No. 1 Blue Ridge, 7 p.m. (Prescott Valley)
No. 12 Empire vs. No. 4 Valley Christian, 2 p.m. (Prescott Valley)

FRIDAY, FEB. 23

GIRLS 4A SEMIFINALS
No. 2 Pueblo vs. No. 3 Flagstaff, 2:15 p.m. (GCU)

BOYS 4A SEMIFINALS
No. 11 Salpointe vs. No. 2 Buckeye, 4 p.m. (GCU)

GIRLS 1A SEMIFINALS
No. 4 Baboquivari vs. No. 9 Rock Point, 4:30 p.m. (Prescott Valley)

BOYS 1A SEMIFINALS
No. 1 Gregory School, 3 p.m. (Prescott Valley)

Spencer Lewis guarding Evan Nelson. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he 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