Girls basketball games to see this week

25 January 2012 No Comments Mark Heller

A day (or two) late again, but while soccer is in its final few days, girls basketball regular season is in its final week before the new Sectional tournaments (the top 8 teams from each sectional play in its respective tournament, which counts toward power points) at the beginning of February.

It’s a light schedule in terms of big attractions for this week’s games, but next week will more than make up for it.

(All records are power point games only through Tuesday night):

Xavier at Westwood (Wednesday): The Gators (9-5) are currently No. 17 in power points and, more importantly, No. 5 in Division I, Section III. Westwood (8-5) is No. 8 in the section and was already beaten soundly by the Gators earlier this season. Expect a logjam in spots six through 10 with Westwood, Desert Mountain, Chaparral and Sandra Day O’Connor all trying to get into the top 8.

Marcos de Niza at McClintock (Thursday); vs. Westwood (Friday): The Padres (6-7) have a long way to go at No. 14 in Div. I, Section 3, and probably need to win out (or very close) to move up enough to get a No. 7 or 8 spot in the section tournament, but stranger things have happened. The Padres crushed McClintock early this month, barely lost to Westwood (51-49) at the beginning of December, and could easily beat Phoenix Central, Corona del Sol and Mesa to end the regular season.

Skyline vs. Perry (Thursday); at Mesa (Friday): Speaking of dizzying rides, the Coyotes (9-5) have been everywhere when it comes to winning/losing streaks. Sitting at No. 10 in Div. I, Section 2, the Coyotes have a good chance to sweep this week’s games and get into Sectional contention again before having to play Mountain View on Jan. 31, then the Pumas again Feb. 2. No margin for error allowed here.

Basha at Desert Ridge (Thursday); vs. Casa Grande (Friday): Sitting right below Skyline in Section 2 is Basha at No. 11, and, similar to Skyline, the Bears have a golden chance to make a move against a couple struggling programs this week. Will it be enough to move up much? Hard to say given the opponents won’t add many victory points to these equations, but with Gilbert and Mountain View on deck next week, three wins out of those four games would at least give them a shot at the top 8.

Desert Mountain at Horizon (Friday): It’s been a ride for the Wolves (8-6), which seem to have found a habit of never winning or losing more than two games in a row, but are No. 7 in Section 3 with a little room to wiggle between them and No. 8 Westwood. Horizon is 8-5 and No. 12 in PP in the section, but after this game, the Huskies have a very favorable schedule for their final four regular season games, with no .500 teams left. Horizon won 59-42 in early December when the schools last met.

Saguaro at Notre Dame (Friday): Both schools are sitting fine in the scheme of Division II, with Saguaro (11-2) at No. 4 and Notre Dame (10-5) at No. 6. The Sabercats won the first meeting, 54-50, in mid-December, but it goes without saying the emotions and exhaustion being felt at Notre Dame this week in mourning of football/soccer coach Scot Bemis. There’s a decent chance these two schools could see each other twice more in postseason play.

Queen Creek at Apache Junction (Saturday): A.J. strong start to the PP season has morphed into an every-other-game rate of success, but the Prospectors are in contention at No. 10 in Division II, Section 3, and have a winnable game Thursday against Combs. The Bulldogs (7-5) and next week against Campo Verde (9-5) are a final, great chance for A.J. to make a push.