Featured

Valley Union upsets Desert Christian in 1A action; Updated playoff schedule

By Andy Morales

Posted on February 6, 2024

Valley Union. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson)

No. 10 Valley Union beat No. 7 Desert Christian 30-26 Tuesday night to advance to the 1A quarterfinal round to be played Friday night. The Blue Devils will travel to play at No. 2 Joseph City after the Wildcats beat No. 15 Williams 66-29 in their opening game to set up the quarterfinal match.

Valley Union (11-8 in ranking games) went 1-2 against Desert Christian (13-5), including a 37-31 loss at the 1A Super Regional on Saturday, and it looked like the Eagles were going to win again after the team went up 11-2 with 2:17 left in the second quarter, but Breiah Two Moons hit a 3-pointer as the clock expired in the half and the shot started a run that continued after the break.

The Blue Devils fought back and tied the game at 12-12 with 5:19 left in the third and Gio Curiel put Valley Union up 17-14 on a 3-pointer with 2:21 left. Two Moons hit a couple of free throws with 12.7 seconds left to put Valley Union up 19-14 heading into the fourth quarter.

Emmy Welch hit a 3 to cut the lead down to 19-17 in the opening minute of the fourth and Kaitlyn Farius tied the game up at 21-21 with 3:40 left in the game and it looked like the Eagles would regain control of the game but Curiel scored and then Kali Prudler scored to put the Blue Devils up 25-21 with 2:56 left.

Abby Numer cut the lead down to 25-23 with 2:37 left and Two Moons extended the lead to 27-23 with 1:16 left but Anika Mulkey scored to cut the lead down to 27-25 with 34.5 seconds left. Prudler put Valley Union up 29-25 with 24.3 seconds left and Mulkey hit a free throw with 11.1 seconds left to cut the lead down to 29-26 but Two Moons made a free throw for the 30-26 final margin.

The Eagles went 5 of 16 at the free throw line which turned out to be a determining factor in the loss. Mulkey led Desert Christian with 11 points and Farius and Addison Jones scored four points each. Two Moons led Valley Union with 11 points, Prudler scored eight and Curiel had five.

Valley Union senior Breiah Two Moons scored 11 points to help the Blue Devils upset Desert Christian 30-26 #azpreps365 pic.twitter.com/NJde1ovZK8

— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) February 7, 2024

CHASING 1,000 CAREER POINTS
956: Sara Galindo, Jr. Pueblo

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6

1A GIRLS BASKETBALL FIRST ROUND
No. 1 St. David 58, No. 16 North Valley Christian 21
No. 10 Valley Union 30, No. 7 Desert Christian 26
No. 5 St. Michael 51, No. 12 Baboquivari 14
No. 3 Ft. Thomas 51, No. 14 Patagonia 30

3A BOYS SOCCER FIRST ROUND
No. 2 Pusch Ridge 1, No. 15 Scottsdale Christian 0
No. 12 Tanque Verde over No. 5 ALA-Ironwood, 1-1 (PK 6-5)
No. 1 Gilbert Christian 3, No. 16 Palo Verde 1

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

1A BOYS BASKETBALL FIRST ROUND
No. 16 Williams at No. 1 Gregory School, 7 p.m.
No. 14 Cicero at No. 3 Desert Christian, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Ray at No. 4 Baboquivari, 7 p.m.

3A GIRLS SOCCER FIRST ROUND
No. 12 Gilbert Classical at No. 5 Pusch Ridge, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8

2A GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT

4A-6A GIRLS/BOYS SOCCER PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT
G 6A: No. 22 Sunnyside at No. 11 Highland, 5 p.m.
B 6A: No. 21 Rincon/UHS at No. 12 Sunnyslope, 6 p.m.
G 5A: No. 22 Casa Grande at No. 11 Catalina Foothills, 6 p.m.
G 5A: No. 18 Buena at No. 15 Ironwood Ridge, 4 p.m.
B 5A: No. 11 Cienega over No. 22 Kellis, 1-0 (F)
B 5A: No. 21 Independence at No. 12 Desert View, 6 p.m.
B 5A: No. 18 Desert Mountain at No. 15 Ironwood Ridge, 6 p.m.
B 5A: No. 19 Mountain View at No. 14 Washington, 6 p.m.
B 5A: No. 23 Buena at No. 10 Sunrise Mountain, 6 p.m.
G 4A: No. 21 ALA-Gilbert North at No. 12 Canyon del Oro, 6 p.m.
G 4A: No. 17 Douglas at No. 16 Estrella Foothills, 6 p.m.
G 4A: No. 19 Sahuarita at No. 14 Eastmark, 6 p.m.
G 4A: No. 22 Sahuaro at No. 11 Saguaro, 4 p.m.
B 4A: No. 23 Prescott at No. 10 Amphitheater, 6 p.m.
B 4A: No. 17 Walden Grove at No. 16 Sahuarita, 6 p.m.
B 4A: No. 19 Douglas at No. 14 Saguaro, 6 p.m.
B 4A: No. 24 Pueblo at No. 9 Arcadia, 6 p.m.