BASKETBALL SECTIONAL PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

As reported here first: The top eight teams from each section qualifies for the sectional tournaments. The top four from each sectional automatically qualifies for the state tournament. Since each division has three sections,12 automatic bids will come from the sectionals for each division.

Since there are now 24 teams at the state tournament for each division, the remaining 12 at-large bids will come from power points even if a team did not qualify for sectionals.

Seeding for the sectionals and the state tournaments will be based on power points. The top eight teams will get a first-round bye at state.

BOYS

Division I-Section II

February 8-11
At Gilbert: Mesquite or Desert Ridge

(3) Ironwood Ridge has qualified for sectionals and the state tournament regardless. They finish up tonight with a game against (11) Rincon at home. Rincon is on the bubble for the state tournament but probably too far out for a sectional bid even if they upset Ironwood Ridge.

(4) Buena is in but (10) Cienega travels to D-II foe Douglas Friday night in a game they need to win to be safe for an at-large bid. A win might be enough, actually, to get them a sectional bid.

Division II-Section I

February 8-11
At Amphi and Flowing Wells

(1) Amphi and (3) Nogales are in with no sweat.

(4) Catalina Foothills travels to D-II Cactus Shadows tonight and then come home to play D-I Cesar Chavez on Friday night. Cactus Shadows is fighting for a sectional bid in their section and Cesar Chavez is 13-3 in power point games.

At this point, the Falcons are safe for state but they need at least a split to guarantee sectionals.

(5) Salpointe finishes at home with Sabino tonight and 13-3 Boulder Creek Friday night. The Lancers also need a split.

(6) Douglas hosts 11-5 Rio Rico and 11-6 Cienega today and tomorrow. Lose one and it might cost them. Lose both and they might skid out of the state playoffs.

(9) Sahuaro plays Tanque Verde at home tomorrow. The Cougars may be too far out for an at-large bid. They need to beat Tanque Verde and hope one of the top eight teams makes a mistake.

It looks like there are just not enough points or scenarios available for (10) Cholla and (11) CDO.

Division III-Section II

February 8-11
At Pueblo and Cholla

(1) Thatcher is in but they finish with (2) Gilbert Christian Friday night at home.

(3) Empire is in with two winnable games left this week against Patagonia and Baboquivari.

(5) Safford needs to beat both 15-1 Snowflake and 11-5 Duncan on the road. (6) Tombstone appears safe but (7) Rio Rico may drop out of sectionals if they lose to both Douglas and San Miguel.

(10) Willcox has no chance even with a victory over 11-5 Duncan unless everyone else collapses.

Division IV-Section II

February 7-9
At Cienega

(1) Desert Christian is in as is (2) St. Gregory. The two play each other Friday at Desert Christian.

(3) Duncan is safe as is (6) Patagonia if the split their remaining two games. (7) Tohono O’Odham plays a winless Ajo team at home Friday night. It will be fun to see them at sectionals.

(8) St. David has the most to lose this week. They are a bubble sectional team but they finish with D-III foes Benson and Tombstone. St. David’s playoffs actually begins tonight.

(9) San Miguel travels to 11-5 Rio Rico on Friday night. San Miguel needs to win and hope St. David stumbles. It’s their only chance.

GIRLS

Division I-Section II

February 7-11
At Gilbert: Mesquite High School and Desert Ridge High School

(5) Tucson High is on a two-game losing streak and now must travel to 13-3 Dobson Friday night. They need to find a way to regroup from their loss to Cienega on Wednesday and pull out a win.

The Badgers are safe for state but I’m sure they would like to play at sectionals.

(7) Buena is most likely safe for sectionals with one game remaining against 1-15 Desert View but (8) Cienega has a big game with Douglas on Friday night at home after they play Santa Rita tonight.

The Bobcats are a lock for state but sectionals would look good also.

(9) Mountain View travels to Sabino Friday night. They need tow in to secure an at-large bid and even sneak into sectionals.

Division II-Section I

February 7-11
At Amphi and Flowing Wells

(1) Flowing Wells, (2) Douglas, (3) Palo Verde and (4) Pusch Ridge are sectional locks even though Pusch Ridge travels to Palo Verde on Friday night.

(5) Cholla looks good as does (6) Nogales and (7) Sahuaro. Sahuaro cannot afford to lose to 9-9 Tanque Verde at home Friday night.

(8) CDO travels to Marana Friday night in a must-win game because they are not currently in the running for a state bid.

Division III-Section II

February 7-11
At Pueblo and Cholla

(1) Safford, (2) Thatcher and (3) Benson look to be safe for sectionals.

(5) Tanque Verde needs to play tough at Sahuaro Friday night. Their season can go either way with one game remaining. (6) Bisbee is in the same position as Tanque Verde.

If Bisbee loses to 13-3 Benson then they may be out of sectionals and state. (10) Empire has two games left and they need a minor miracle to get a sectional bid.

Division IV-Section II

February 7-9
At Desert View and Cienega

(1) Desert Christian is in as is (2) Green Fields and (4) St. Gregory.

Desert Christian and Green Fields might get to play each other at sectionals but St. Gregory must travel to Desert Christian to end the regular season Friday night.

(5) St. David looks good for a sectional spot as does (6) San Miguel. (7) Duncan is safe for state but has to win to remain in the sectional hunt.

(9) Tohono O’Odham has two easy games left on their schedule. They are going to state but a sectional bid would bring lots of fans in.

(11) ASDB is actually a bubble team for an at-large state bid at (26) but they have two difficult games remaining at Immaculate Heart and Green Fields.

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