Girls Basketball Preview

Practice began November 2 and games can begin November 23. Most area schools will begin December 1.

1A

St. Gregory lost in the second round of the state playoffs last year to eventual runner-up Pima 40-38. They were the second seed in the South because St. David took the top spot.

St. David also lost in the second round to eventual state champion Surrey Garden 46-38. Surry was listed as a 3 seed from the West and that remains the toughest section of 1A.

St. Augustine took the third seed and lost in the first round as did 4 seed ASDB.

Bowie/San Simon and Duncan are the only East teams in 1A that we consider part of Southern Arizona. They both lost in the first round.

St. Gregory: Emma Finkelstein and Taryn Parsons enter their senior year.

St. David: Lost top two scorers Breana Carpenter and Barbara Kartchner but keep the third scorer, junior Kayla Carpenter. Marissa Garcia is a senior.

Duncan will bring back at least five seniors including forward Bonnie Bodine.

2A

Willcox was the East top seed and made it all the way to the championship game last year where they lost to the North top seed St. Johns 49-34.

Thatcher made it to the second round where they almost upset Camp Verde 42-41.

Benson and Tombstone each lost in the first round.

Pusch Ridge was one of the best teams but lost in their regional tournament to North Pointe Prep and it counted against them.

Willcox: Lost two big players in Alesha Jones and Chachi Klump but keep center Susie Guerrero for one more year and Shelby Harguess is only a junior.

Thatcher: 5’11” Chelsea Motes and 5’10” Salena Scroggins return.

Pusch Ridge: Hannah McLeod is gone and so is Jessica Villerius. 6’1” Cheyenne Link returns as does Vanessa Cook.

Benson: Kayla Haro returns.

Tombstone: 6’4” A’Jha Edwards is now a senior.

3A

Safford was a 4 seed and made it to the second round.

Safford: Guard Miranda Mazenek returns for her last year.

Empire: Shelia Oliver is the leading scorer and she is only a junior but they lose Katie Kelly. Dani Hawley is a senior.

4A II

Palo Verde was a 4 seed but was upset by 5 Mingus in the second round 49-47 last year.

Douglas made it to the second round while Catalina lost to Palo Verde in the first round.

Sahuarita also lost on the first round.

Palo Verde: They no longer have Amber Cordova or Cindy Miranda but 6’1” Darian Sanders is only a sophomore and Grace Rivas has one more year.

Catalina: Jasmine Grant is now a senior but Jordan Button is gone. Darcy Earnhart is a junior and now becomes the number two scorer behind Grant.

Sahuarita: Ivana Vidal has graduated and so has her “Moose” nickname. Unfortunately, so did 15 points a game. Clarissa Jimenez comes back for her last year.

Amphi: Essence Johnson is a now a senior and so is Vanessa King.

Cholla: Top scorer Laura Lopez is only a junior and second leading scorer Alicia Hunter enters her final year.

Rio Rico: Lost Hannah Simpson but Tibisay Alvarez has one more year.

Santa Rita: Chasity Smith is only a sophomore.

4A I

Canyon del Oro won the state championship last year going in as the 1 seed. Cienega lost in the first round as did Nogales and Catalina Foothills.

Sahuaro made it to the second round.

CDO: Nadi Carey is gone and so is Sarah Batterton. Six seniors have gone on. Sydney Lewis returns. It could be a down year.

Cienega: Top scorer Alyssa Deal is only a junior and second leader Megan Placencia returns for one more year.

Nogales: Olivia Valencia is now a senior. Nogales lost 10 seniors last year.

Cat Foothills: Shakayla McEaddy returns.

Sabino: Kaitlin Allison returns as the leading scorer.

Marana: Jamee Swan is only a sophomore and Lindsay Honea returns. Look for Marana to make some noise this winter.

5A II

Ironwood Ridge and Rincon lost in the first round last year.

Ironwood Ridge could use help from the volleyball team again this year – especially from Brianna Hughes.

Rincon: 6’0” Gabby Lacy returns as does Alyssa Mort.

Mountain View: Tiffany Clausen is now a senior.

5A I

Buena lost in the first round and Tucson made it to the second round last year.

Salpointe: Twin towers Erin Castaneda and Monika Brady come back for their last year.

Buena: Leading scorer Keyondra White returns as does Taneka Ruben.

Tucson: Christine Clark has one more year. Ratanya Newsome joins Clark.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 9:20 pm and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.