Canyon del Oro’s mission to win a state championship for the first time since 2009, when it went unbeaten in Dustin Peace’s first year as head coach, remained on course Saturday with the Dorados added to the 4A state tournament and not the Open Division.
CDO, 10-0 and the 4A Kino champions with a 5-0 record, learned of its favorable fate Saturday morning when the brackets were announced by the AIA.
The Dorados were No. 8 in the Open Division last week (after the points-multiplier system was applied) and many around the program were concerned about having to play for a state title against predominantly 6A powerhouses in the Open Division.
CDO will play for a championship instead against 4A schools, including 4A Kino rivals Mica Mountain and Walden Grove.
Mica Mountain (9-1) is the No. 3 seed and Walden Grove (6-4) the No. 11 seed.
The first round games are Thursday at 7 p.m. — not Friday — because of Veterans Day on Friday.
CDO will host No. 16 Poston Butte (6-4).
No. 14 Snowflake (7-3) will play at Mica Mountain.
Walden Grove will travel to No. 6 Northwest Christian (8-2).
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