It was a good night for boy’s basketball. Cienega, Buena and Sunnyside completed a Division I sweep by taking down three higher seeded teams far from home.

Buena traveled just as far as a team should have to to play what many up north believed would be a first round exit from the state playoffs. Deer Valley is located somewhere near the 101 and forever in northern Glendale – some 210 miles away from Sierra Vista. That’s what happens when a 21 seed is forced to play a 12 seed.

In fact, this game never would have taken place a couple of years ago before the AIA moved to expand the playoffs from 16 teams to 24 because a 22 seed never even existed.

Buena was the top seed and in the semifinals in 2011 but a slow decline moved them from the top spot a couple of years ago to an 11 seed last year and a 22 seed this year but they played like they were the home team – forget about the 4-hour drive.

The Colts led by five points late in the game but Deer Valley battled back to tie the game at 52-52 but Roderick Springer (18 points) and RaShawn Avery (17) ultimately proved too much and Buena won 60-55.

More on the Buena game HERE.

Cienega and Sunnyside had to go to an extra period to get their jobs done but they did it. Like Buena, Cienega got on a bus and traveled from Vail to Avondale to take out the 14 seeded Westview Nights.

Junior guard David Rauer sent the game to overtime as time expired and the fortunes favored the underdogs from there.

Raul Castro scored 20 points to help the Blue Devils take out Brophy 73-69 in the other overtime game of the night. Brophy was a 9 seed and a media darling from up north and Sunnyside was the last team to qualify for the state playoffs.

Anytime the 24th team takes out a top 10 team it is noteworthy but, when that team represents working-class values in a blue-collar neighborhood, it becomes a statement game.

Cholla was the only Southern Arizona team with a high enough seed to be able to host a first round game Thursday night and they made the most of it by beating Coconino 54-42 in a D-II game.

Amphi had to travel to Glendale to beat Copper Canyon 66-64 to advance in the D-II playoffs but Canyon del Oro was unable to upset Desert Edge and fell 58-55 to the team from Goodyear.

BOYS DIVISION I

Thursday, February 14
19 Cienega 60, 14 Westview 57 (OT)
21 Buena 60, 12 Deer Valley 55
24 Sunnyside 73, 9 Brophy Prep 69 (OT)

Saturday, February 16: 7 pm
19 Cienega at 3 Pinnacle
21 Buena at 5 Desert Mountain
24 Sunnyside at 8 Millenium

BOYS DIVISION II

Thursday, February 14
13 Cholla 54, 20 Coconino 42
19 Amphi 66, 14 Copper Canyon 64
12 Desert Edge 58, 21 CDO 55

Saturday, February 16: 7 pm
2 Catalina Foothills hosts 15 Kellis
6 Salpointe hosts 11 Greenway
7 Nogales hosts 10 Poston Butte
8 Sahuaro hosts 9 Saguaro
13 Cholla at 4 Paradise Valley
19 Amphi at 3 Sierra Linda

BOYS DIVISION III

Friday, February 15
11 Thatcher vs. 6 Estrella Foothills at NAU: Noon
15 Rio Rico vs. 2 Gilbert Christina at NAU: 6 pm

BOYS DIVISION IV

Friday, February 15
2 Desert Christian, BYE
9 Duncan vs. 24 Phoenix Country Day at Prescott HS: 7:30 pm
10 St. Gregory vs. 23 Arizona Charter at Tim’s Toyota: 3 pm
12 St. David vs, 21 Bagdad at Tim’s Toyota: 7:30 pm
15 San Miguel vs. 18 Red Mesa at Tim’s Toyota: Noon

Saturday, February 16
2 Desert Christian vs. 15 San Miguel/18 Red Mesa winner

GIRLS DIVISION I

Friday, February 15: 7 pm
12 Mountain View at 5 Hamilton

GIRLS DIVISION II

Friday, February 15: 7 pm
6 Flowing Wells hosts 11 Arcadia
7 Sahuaro hosts 10 Campo Verde
13 CDO at 4 Thunderbird

GIRLS DIVISION III

Saturday, February 16
8 Safford vs. 9 Many Farms at NAU, 9 am

GIRLS DIVISION IV

Friday, February 15
3 Duncan, BYE
7 Desert Christian, BYE
8 St. Gregory, BYE
15 St. David vs. 18 St. Michael, Tim’s Toyota: 6 pm
16 Valley Union vs. 17 Red Mesa, Tim’s Toyota: 4:30 pm
19 San Miguel vs. 14 Phoenix Christian, Tim’s Toyota: 10:30 am
20 Immaculate Heart vs. 13 Pima, Bradshaw Mountain: 3 pm
22 Green Fields vs. 11 Joy Christian, Prescott HS: 1:30 pm

Saturday, February 16
3 Duncan vs. 19 San Miguel/14 Phoenix Christian winner
7 Desert Christian vs. 10 AZ Lutheran/23 Yuma Catholic winner
8 St. Gregory vs. 9 Rock Point/24 Mesa Prep winner

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