This should have been started last week when power point games began for the spring season. Apologies.
But better late than never, so we’ll get to some of the more interesting games on the docket this week around the East Valley.
(All records are power-point games only as of Monday morning):
Division I
Red Mountain at Mountain View (Tuesday):  An early-season battle of the Mesa schools should be a good one. The Lions (2-1) are defending champions (5A-I), and, after a loss to a good Gilbert team, beat a solid Desert Ridge and Casa …

At least a couple Chandler High wrestlers took the “Prusuing Victory with Honor” mantra seriously.
The Wolves competed at the Brad Jones Wrestling Invitational last weekend at Peoria Centennial High School, a meet recently named after fallen Glendale Police Officer Brad Jones.
Jones, who’d been with the police department for four years, was dispatched to aid a probation officer dealing with a probationer.
At some point during the contact, a physical struggle ensued. Jones radioed for help and several officers responded to assist him, but the suspect drew a gun, fired at Jones …

It’s the final go-round of regular season games for girls basketball. Everything wraps up Friday night and Sectionals from each Division begin next Tuesday, with semifinals set for Thursday night and championship games on Friday night, Feb. 10  (Division IV girls are Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday).
The top eight teams in each Section advance to the Sectional Tournament, which is single elimination. If a team wins its first game in the Sectional Tournament it should advance to the state tournament.
(All games are 7 p.m.  and records are PP games only through Monday).
Pinnacle at St. …

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):
Perry vs. Mesquite  (Monday); at Mountain Pointe …

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. …

The three-week crush is on everywhere to get one of those 24 playoff spots come February. Appetites were whetted by the terrific Chandler-St. Mary’s matchup last Friday night, but more good stuff is coming quickly.
(All games at 7 p.m.  Records are power point games only as of Monday, Jan. 9).
Xavier at Highland (Monday):  Talk about starting off the week with a bang, the Gators (6-2) and Hawks (6-1) could meet again after this, somewhere along the lines of a state quarterfinals matchup. If you like shooting, defense and fundamentals, this …

A few years ago, I did a story examining the state of girls basketball in Arizona, and I’ll always remember the reaction of one local coach.
During the interview, she mentioned that the area was much-improved. Once the recorder was off, though, she let me know that Arizona was still way behind the top states and that the talent here just couldn’t compete.
Now fast forward to Thursday, where Arizona had a very good showing at the Nike Tournament of Champions, the top girls basketball tournament in the nation.
Chandler, Mountain View and …

Chandler guard Simone Westbrook missed the first nine games of the team’s season for disciplinary reasons, but is making up for lost time.
The Wolves are 2-0 in the Nike Tournament of Champions since she returned to the court, and the University of Arizona-bound senior has played a big role in both wins.
Westbrook came off the bench in the first game against Chaminade (Calif.), contributing nine points, eight rebounds, six assists and six steals in a 70-54 victory. On Wednesday against Eastlake (Wash.), she scored 28 points and had eight steals …

Point guard Omar Lee is back at Chandler for his last high school basketball season. The senior played for the Wolves two seasons ago before transferring to Marcos de Niza.
He averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals last year for the Padres.
Lee is expected to be the starting point guard for Chandler. He averaged 6.0 points and 2.2 assists for the Wolves as a sophomore.

They’re selling tickets early for the latest installment of Chandler vs. Hamilton on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Hamilton H.S.
Both schools are pre-selling tickets to the game at their respective schools. Chandler is at 350 N. Arizona Ave. Hamilton is located at 3700 S. Arizona Ave., in Chandler.
Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $6 for students, and children age 5-and-under are free.