Good week at Higley high school this week:
First, coach Nick Lujan’s boys volleyball team ended its regular season with a win against Liberty on Thursday night.
The Knights clinched a second consecutive region championship and – even though a few schools still have matches to play next week – have assured themselves a home match to start the 4A state tournament for the first time in school history.
Meanwhile, first-year softball coach Jerry Burch’s bunch upset defending 4A Division II state champion Seton Catholic, 6-4, on Thursday night.
It was the most runs …

Quick but important memo to all state tournament baseball and softball coaches:
To report results from Saturday’s first-round state tournament games, please call the Tribune Score Line at (480) 898-6862 between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Three rules to live by for the next two weeks of state tournament competition, in ascending order of importance:
•When it comes to sunscreen and water, consume more than you think you need. By the second week of May, it’s usually made painfully clear summer heat is here to stay.
•Yell, scream and cheer. Postseason play is a whole different entity and should feel like it. You’re welcome to do your part.
•Referees and umpires will get several calls wrong and several that were actually correct, you just didn’t like.
Get over it.
The AIA …

Chandler junior receiver/defensive back Malcolm Holland withdrew from Chandler High on Thursday and will return to Hamilton for his senior season.
Holland played at Hamilton his freshman and sophomore years, then transferred to Chandler before his junior year.
The decision was made a couple months ago to go back to Hamilton, but Holland wanted to play out this baseball season at Chandler.
Holland had 21 receptions for 266 yards and two touchdowns last season, plus 49 tackles and four interceptions on defense.
He had 51 total tackles and two interceptions as a sophomore with …

Corona del Sol left-handed pitcher Brett Butler was named the Comeback Student Athlete of the Year by PCH Sports Medicine on Tuesday night.
Butler, a senior, returned to the mound this season after epileptic seizures and a subsequent brain surgery forced him to miss much of his high school career. Butler suffered paralysis on the right side of his body from the surgery, and had to endure months of rehabilitation to play again.
He was awarded a $2,500 scholarship and a $1,000 cash prize for Corona’s athletic department in a banquet emceed …

Xavier has hired Mary Hauser as its new girls basketball coach.
Hauser is currently the interim coach at Jesuit High School in Beaverton, Oregon, where she led the team to a runner-up in the 6A Oregon State Championship.
She has 18 years experience in coaching basketball at the AAU and high school levels.
Before going to Oregon, Hauser compiled a 125-15 record at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California and a 50-0 league record at Southern California Catholic High School. She was named 1996 California Girls’ High School Basketball Coach …

When Desert Vista coach Stan Luketich arrived at school this morning, he was congratulated for making the 5A-I baseball state tournament. Then he was told that he missed out by one spot. Then he was told he tied for 16th. Back and forth it went for hours.
Well, it’s all figured out now. I think.
The Thunder currently sit in 17th place in the power rankings, five points behind Corona del Sol. However, a game between Chandler and Mesa on Tuesday was postponed because there was a swarm of bees near the …

Desert Vista is down to four finalists, and is expected to name a new boys basketball coach early next week.
Athletic director T.J. Snyder said the administration is in the midst of follow-up interviews.
Doug Harris was fired in mid-March after going 138-70 in five years at the helm, including a state title in 2008. The Thunder went 11-15 last season.
Former Mesquite coach Tom Saltzstein applied for the job but said he is not among the finalists.

Derrick Donaldson, a varsity assistant at Highland High, has been promoted to take over for Scott Lovely.
Lovely coached the Hawks for one season, going 1-25 this year with a roster limited on varsity experience. Highland made the 5A-I title game in 2008-09, but lost its entire starting five when three players graduated and sophomore stars Nick Johnson and Mark Carlino transferred.
Donaldson has been a coach in the program for the past three years. He applied for the open position when Carlino left, and decided to stay with the program after …

Track and field season ramps up with city and district meets this week. Here is a schedule of the different meets:
Tempe City Meet
When: Saturday
Where:  Desert Vista
Teams: Desert Vista, Mountain Pointe, Corona del Sol, McClintock, Tempe, Marcos de Niza
Scottsdale District Meet
When: Wednesday and Friday
Where: Saguaro High School
Teams: Arcadia, Chaparral, Coronado, Desert Mountain, Saguaro
Chandler City Meet
When: Friday
Where: Hamilton High School
Teams: Chandler, Basha, Hamilton, Valley Christian, Seton, Perry
Gilbert-Higley-Queen Creek City Championships
When: Wednesday and Thursday
Where: Higley High School
Teams: Higley, Desert Ridge, Campo Verde, Highland, Gilbert, Mesquite, Queen Creek