Catalina Foothills beat Salpointe 70-67 at home Tuesday night in what many believe is the hottest rivalry in Southern Arizona but that rivalry took five years to develop. Catalina Foothills beat Salpointe nine straight times between 2012 and 2017 but that all changed when the Lancers knocked the Falcons out of the state playoffs in the spring of 2017. That 57-55 victory in the semifinal round of the 4A playoffs put the rivalry on the map.
The two teams split their regular season games last year and both were knocked out in the semifinal round and, this year, the two teams started the day ranked in the top four with Salpointe entering the game at No. 3 with a perfect 10-0 record in power-ranking games and Catalina Foothills came in with a No. 4 ranking and the same 10-0 record. The new set of rankings will be released Wednesday at noon….
Will Menaugh, a developing 6-10 junior post player, had 17 points for @cfhshoops in the Falcons' win over previously unbeaten Salpointe (19-1) tonight. Catalina Foothills is 17-1. pic.twitter.com/0f6JCAvVbY
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) January 22, 2020
Catalina Foothills will visit Salpointe on Feb. 7 and the first round of the 4A playoffs is slated for Feb. 18. The championship game is set for Saturday, Feb. 29. NOTE: Falcon standout Hayden Moser was unavailable due to an ankle injury but he is expected to return to action soon.
.@cfhshoops coach Doug D'Amore comments about the Falcons' win over previously unbeaten Salpointe tonight, his team overcoming significant injuries, his standouts and the raucous atmosphere at the Falcons' gym. pic.twitter.com/I3mTfZNByP
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) January 22, 2020
THE BOX
SC: 11-12-22-22: 67
CF: 10-17-17-26: 70
CF: Blumenthal: 7 (7-8) 21; Menaugh: 8 (1-2) 17; Curtis: 5-14; Comeau: 6-12; Hadley: 2-4; Orozco (2-2) 2. 3 PTS: Curtis 4. TEAM: 28 (10-12).
SC: Gainey: 7 (6-7) 24; Nelson 5 (4-6) 15; Miller 4 (1-3) 10; Weitman 2 (6-7) 10; Cioe: 2 (2-3) 6: Ramon (2-2) 2. 3 PTS: Gainey 4; Miller; Nelson. TEAM: 20 (21-28).
Salpointe guard Braden Miller had 10 points @SalpointeMBB #azpreps365 The Lancers are still 10-1 in ranking games pic.twitter.com/6bmuABiifH
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) January 22, 2020
Catalina Foothills standout Cody Blumenthal #azpreps365 pic.twitter.com/GRO5yd9RgM
— Andy Morales (@AZPreps365Andy) January 22, 2020
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017, a 2019 AZ Education News award winner and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling. 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 is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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