Citizen Staff Writer
KEN BRAZZLE
kbrazzle@tucsoncitizen.com
Colby Weaver was not a fan of how he and his Salpointe boys basketball teammates played in the first half of Thursday’s 5A-I Southern Region semifinal at Mountain View High School.
So in the second half, he took matters in his own hands, igniting a second half comeback that sparked Salpointe to a 45-42 win over Tucson High
“I was a little frustrated at halftime,” said Weaver. “I didn’t play the way I wanted to. I knew that we had another half and if I get the ball to Frankie (Kalil), our point guard, he would find me. I could get some open shots and make plays.”
Weaver scored 14 of his game-high 21 points in the second half, leading the Lancers into Saturday’s region championship against Sierra Vista Buena.
Salpointe, which trailed the Badgers much of the game, pulled within two at 42-40 when Weaver scored his team’s first six points of the fourth quarter. Salpointe’s Trevor Eggleston later scored inside to give Salpointe a 43-42 lead with 2:13 remaining.
Kalil, who finished with 10 points, added another basket with 1:01 left, sealing the win. Tucson High failed to score in the final three minutes of the game.
“We played a lot better defense the second half,” Salpointe coach Sean Loomer said. “That really helped a lot. We moved things around and put more ballhandlers in to get more penetration. Trevor Eggleston did a great job for us defending in the second half.”
Tucson High held a 28-20 lead at halftime and led 36-34 heading into the fourth quarter.
“Tucson High did a great job and we came out flat,” Loomer said. “We weren’t doing anything well the first half. We rebounded better the second half and got more aggressive defensively. We tried to make something happen. We were fortunate we pulled it out in the second half.”
St. Gregory 39, Phoenix Valley Lutheran 37: At Prescott High School, the defending state champion advanced to Friday’s semifinals, where the Hawks will play Williams. Friday’s semifinal will be played at Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain High School at 2:45 p.m.
Girls basketball
No. 2 Sierra Vista Buena 58, No. 3 Salpointe 49: At Mountain View High School, Sierra Vista Buena used a 19-5 second quarter to gain control of Thursday’s 5A-I Southern Region semifinal.
The Colts advance to Saturday’s region championship game at Mountain View against the tournament’s top seed, Tucson High.
Keyondra White and Jelesia Gray each scored 14 points for Buena. Jessica Miller led Salpointe with 21 points.
New AIA scheduling ahead?
The Arizona Republic
The Arizona Interscholastic Association is looking into a statewide computer scheduling program for high school sports with the hope of keep coaches and kids in school more, reduce travel costs and remove some of the politics of who gets to select which teams they’ll play.
If computer scheduling moves forward, it will divide the state into five boundaries – Phoenix metro, Tucson metro, schools near and north of I-40, schools north of Phoenix and south of I-40, and southern Arizona schools.
Teams can’t play opponents outside their boundaries, but there’s wiggle room to fill schedules. Rivalry games outside of each boundary will continue under computer scheduling.
Regular season tournaments would not be affected.
CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS
Class 4A quarterfinal basketball games start at 7 p.m. at the schools of the higher-seeded team.
Girls – Class 4A Division I
> No. 9 Prescott at No. 1 CDO
> No. 6 Sahuaro at No. 3 Cave Creek Cactus Shadows
Girls – Class 4A Division II
> No. 8 Douglas at No. 1 Page
> No. 5 Cottonwood Mingus at No. 4 Palo Verde
Boys – Class 4A Division I
> No. 5 Catalina Foothills at No. 4 Cienega
Boys – Class 4A Division II
> No. 11 Gilbert Perry at No. 3 Amphi
> No. 7 Scottsdale Arcadia at No. 2 Santa Rita