The top eight teams from the 4A-6A conferences comprise the Open Division.
Teams ranked high in 4A, 5A and 6A may qualify for the Open Division, pushing up the teams in the conference rankings.
The following is a look at the rankings from Open Division to 4A (the 1A state playoffs are in the semifinal round and the 2A and 3A state playoffs begin Friday).
Open Division
- Open: Top eight teams from 4A-6A conferences
6A, 5A, 4A (16-team bracket): In order to qualify, a school must have played a minimum of six (6) games. After qualifying teams are added to the Open Division state tournament bracket and removed from the conference rankings (if applicable), remaining teams will be re-seeded No. 1 through No. 16 and will make up the state tournament brackets. The state tournament brackets will be seeded according to the overall AIA rankings powered by MaxPreps. The state tournaments will consist of four rounds and be single elimination.
- Chandler (7-0)
- Basha (8-0)
- Hamilton (7-0)
- Cactus (7-0)
- Queen Creek (6-1)
- ALA – Queen Creek (6-1)
- Saguaro (6-1)
- Highland (6-1)
13. Salpointe (6-2)
NOTES: Salpointe moved down a spot to No. 13 and Desert View, No. 15 last week, is no longer listed. The 5A Southern schedule for both schools affects their power rating. The other region teams are No. 26 Mountain View, No. 27 Buena, No. 33 Flowing Wells and No. 40 Cholla.
6A, 5A, 4A: Teams ranked 1-16 following selection of Open Division participants:
5A
- Saguaro (7-1)
- Horizon (7-1)
- Salpointe (6-2)
- Desert View (7-1)
- Verrado (7-1)
10. Cienega (5-3)
11. Marana (6-1)
18. Ironwood Ridge (3-4)
NOTES: Only Saguaro presently is in the Open Division rankings, which means if the season ended today, No. 3 Salpointe would be the No. 2 seed in the 5A playoffs, Desert View would be No. 3, Cienega No. 9, Marana No. 10, and Ironwood Ridge would be one spot out of the postseason at No. 17. … Marana (7-1, 3-0 5A Sonoran) flip-flopped their rankings with Cienega (5-3, 3-0). Those teams play Friday at Marana to move a step closer to the 5A Sonoran title. The game could catapult the winner into the top 8 and improve the possibility of hosting a first round game in the state playoffs. Ironwood Ridge (4-4, 2-1) hosts No. 34 Nogales on Friday which could adversely affect the Nighthawks’ ranking.
4A
- Cactus (8-0)
- ALA – Queen Creek (8-1)
- Poston Butte (6-2)
- Casa Grande (8-0)
- Mesquite (5-3)
15. Canyon del Oro (5-4)
19. Mica Mountain (2-2)
NOTES: CDO, under 13-year coach Dustin Peace, remained competitive into the fourth quarter against No. 4 Casa Grande but lost 28-6 last week. The Dorados remained at No. 15 and in playoff contention after the loss. They have this week off before ending the regular season next week at No. 35 Sahuaro. … With Cactus and ALA – Queen Creek presently in the Open Division, CDO would be the No. 13 seed in the 4A playoffs if the season ended today. … No. 19 Mica Mountain would be one spot out of the 4A playoffs at No. 17. The Thunderbolts, in their first year of varsity competition, host No. 30 Amphi on Friday. Mica Mountain coach Pat Nugent scheduled impromptu games at home against 6A power Mesa Mountain View (No. 10 team in 6A) and against Salpointe and that has vaulted the Thunderbirds’ power ratings. … No. 31 Empire (5-4) hosts No. 27 Catalina Foothills (4-4) on Friday for the 4A Gila title. Based on their rankings, it appears neither will make the 4A state playoffs. Again, the region champs in 4A-6A do not automatically qualify for the state playoffs. The postseason is based on power rankings.
3A
FIRST ROUND
Friday
No. 10 Thatcher at No. 7 Pusch Ridge, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Sabino at No. 8 Show Low, 7 p.m.
2A
FIRST ROUND
Friday
No. 14 Sequoia Pathway at No. 3 Benson, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Holbrook at No. 8 Willcox, 7 p.m.
1A
SEMIFINALS
Saturday
No. 3 Williams vs. No. 2 St. David, at Scottsdale Coronado, 6 p.m.
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District
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