The boys basketball sectional tournaments begin Wednesday for the higher divisions, and some great matchups are on the horizon. Here is how I think the East Valley-centric Division I and II sectionals will shake out (with apologies to the lower divisions, which I didn’t see enough to make an educated guess).
Division I, Section II (at Mesquite)
First round: No. 1 Corona del Sol over No. 8 Dobson; No. 5 Gilbert over No. 4 Buena; No. 6 Red Mountain over No. 3 Ironwood Ridge; No. 2 Basha over No. 7 Hamilton.
Corona shouldn’t …

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 …

It’s the final week of the regular season as all final matches take place Thursday night. With the new division/section alignment, 9 automatic qualifying spots for the state tournament (top 3 in each section based on power points) and seven other at-large bids based on PP, it’s going to be a wild finish with many schools playing 2-3 matches this week, and a lot of really good teams will be left out to dry.
(All records are power point matches only as of Monday afternoon):
Notre Dame at Cactus Shadows (Monday); vs. …

Two years ago, little-known Cameron Forte burst onto the scene at the MLK Basketball Classic, scoring 34 points and hauling down 12 rebounds as the McClintock boys basketball team upset No. 1 Sunnyslope.
That performance was a precursor of things to come for Forte, as he led the Chargers to the 4A-I state championship and was named the Tribune’s Player of the Year as a junior.
On Monday, Gilbert guard Freddie Lash was the latest player to springboard into the spotlight at the showcase event. Lash didn’t have a great first half …

We’re about halfway through the boys basketball season, and here are a few thoughts on what I’ve seen thus far:
* Corona del Sol is the Division I favorite.  Coach Sam Duane has only had every player available in one game this season, but the team has still been very impressive, and is expected to be full strength next week. Arizona State-bound shooting guard Calaen Robinson is the team’s scoring leader and best player, but the supporting cast is very good. Avery Moss is one of the state’s better post players …

Basha linebacker Garrett Kaiser was selected as the Comeback Student Athlete of the Year by Phoenix Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine. Kaiser is also eligible for the Comeback Student Athlete of the Year awards, which will be handed out at a banquet in May 2012. The awards honor young athletes who have returned to athletic competition after receiving treatment for an injury, illness, or other physical limitation.
Kaiser was at a practice just before football season began during his sophomore year in 2010 when he tackled another teammate. Unbeknownst to him, he …

The crux of our Sunday football “rewind” story was about Basha’s ups and downs this season (not unlike practically every other football team).
In a later coversation with Bears coach Bernie Busken over the weekend, however, he offered a better glimpse into Basha’s ride that now has it one win away – albeit against a really good Desert Vista team – from the Division I state championship game.
The Bears were East Valley darlings after a 58-41 win against Chandler in Week 4, proclaimed as a team that could legitimately end Hamilton’s …

Here are my Division I playoff predictions. Division II can be found here. Division III can be found here.
Division I
First round schedule: No. 16 Valley Vista at No. 1 Hamilton; No. 9 Chandler at No. 8 Westview; No. 12 Sunnyside at No. 5 Red Mountain; No. 13 Boulder Creek at No. 4 Desert Ridge; No. 14 North Canyon at No. 3 Desert Vista; No. 11 Cibola at No. 6 Pinnacle; No. 10 Tucson at No. 7 Basha; No. 15 Mountain Pointe at No. 2 Brophy.
First round winners: Hamilton, Chandler, Red …

Basha is 5-0 and is headed for a showdown with Desert Ridge in two weeks. However, the Bears have a game against Gilbert on Friday, and if last year taught them anything, they won’t be overlooking the Tigers again.
Basha entered the 5A Division I playoffs last season as the No. 2 overall seed, but were upset by Gilbert 31-21 in the first round. Quarterback Kyle Duran only threw eight interceptions last year, and half came against the Tigers in that game.
More than anything, though, Basha coach Bernie Busken said it …

A slew of East Valley wrestlers are claiming victories during a week-long journey to the Great Plains.
Kamden Krum, who will be a sophomore at Basha this fall, earned All-America status Monday at the Greco-Roman wrestling championships in Fargo, North Dakota.
Krum took fifth place at 91 pounds.