Similar to the boys side, the girls schedules are back in-full (and possibly overload) coming down the stretch with only three more weeks of regular season action left, and a lot of schools facing a lot of matches in not-a-lot of days.
(Records are power point matches only as of Monday, Jan. 9).
Gilbert at Highland (Tuesday):  Gilbert-school matchups rarely disappoint, and the high-powered Hawks (5-1) and steady Tigers (4-1) shouldn’t either. Highland won 4-2 in the first meeting on Dec. 21. Given the remaining schedule, Gilbert might have the best chance …

Higley’s blowout loss to Williams Field on Friday night turned out to be merely a sad beginning.
In a more crushing blow, Knights coach Eddy Zubey said quarterback Eric Kump is likely out for the season after two doctors’ opinions both confirmed a torn ACL.
Kump will have an MRI on Monday evening, but Zubey wasn’t optimistic.
Kump was only sacked five times before Friday night, but was injured late in the first quarter of the Knights’ 49-22 loss to the Black Hawks. He entered Friday’s game with 1,157 passing yards, 17 touchdowns …

The week of Williams Field vs. Higley usually occupies complete time and mind for all parties involved, but Black Hawks coach Steve Campbell suddenly finds himself and his family with far bigger concerns.
Campbell’s mother underwent emergency brain surgery to remove a malignant tumor on Monday at St. Joseph’s hospital.
Campbell’s parents live in Payson. He said on Sunday his father took his mother, 59, to the hospital when she showed symptoms of having a stroke. Tests revealed the tumor on her brain.
His sisters flew in from California earlier this week, while …

Higley freshman Mykayla Skinner qualified for the U.S. Junior National Team in late August.
Competing as an individual, Skinner – who’s already won three All-Around competitions in 2011 – finished 10th in the All-Around and second on the vault at the VISA Championships in St. Paul, and then was named to the U.S. Junior National team.
In June, Mykayla traveled to Texas for the American Classic where she won the all-around title and placed second on vault and floor exercise. This qualified Mykayla to the VISA Championships.
 
 

Higley coach Eddy Zubey begins a new era at the school, replacing Jim Beall who stepped down after last season after building the program from day one since 2001. The Knights have their sights set on a second consecutive playoff appearance, but before camp began Zubey talked about a new offense and a first for the football program.
What are your early returns based on spring and summer workouts?
In passing league we probably won 90 percent of our games against schools from Division I down to Division V. In shirts and …

Higley senior quarterback Eric Kump won the MVP award from the West division at  the Top 100 National Underclassmen football camp held in Los Angeles last weekend.
It’s the second time Kump has won an MVP. He did so in March when the Top 100 combine was at Chaparral High School.
Kump advances to the national competition in Oklahoma on July 22.
Kump threw for 828 yards and 13 touchdowns last season for Higley while splitting time. He’s expected to be the Knights full-time starting quarterback for the 2011 season.

Player of the Year: Tess McPherson (Notre Dame)
Coach of the Year: Mike Hollowel  (Notre Dame)
First Team
P: Tess McPherson (Notre Dame)
C: Jenna Coates (Higley
INF: Courtney Rodriguez (Seton Catholic); Amber Webster (Coronado); Jessica Delawder (Williams Field); Nicole Bailey (Notre Dame); Cassidy Boggs (Higley); Lindsey Buckner (Notre Dame).
OF: Brandi Heimburg (Arcadia); Mary Ahern (Notre Dame); Sierra Vigil (Williams Field); Lindsie Kreiger (Coronado).
UT: Alicia Portillo (Maricopa); Madkson Merrill (Higley).
Second Team
P: Madison Austin (Seton Catholic)
C: Kaylie Brittain (Williams Field)
INF: Brittany Heyer (Williams Field); McKenna Wiegand (Seton Catholic); Vanessa Flores …

In what Higley coach Eddy Zubey will serve as community service and maybe a little team bonding en route to spring football practice, the Knights are doing grunt work at the Special Olympics this week.
The Games are held at Mesa Community College beginning Saturday morning and running all day. The Knights roster will be on hand to help set up and take down equipment, run the starting and finishing lines and be something of a go-fer for all things in between.
The Knights will be there from 8 a.m. to 12 …

It’s the 23rd hour, swansong, bubble time, fat lady warming up, etc…
Whatever lame adjective/cliche you want to use, a handful of softball schools have Wednesday’s games (or need help) to squeeze into the top 16 and live to play this weekend’s state tournaments, or simply the 8/9 borderline between a home game and sitting on a bus.
Here’s a look at who’s straddling the line between tournament time and turning in uniforms this spring:
5A-I
No. 13 Skyline at No. 20 Mountain Pointe: The Coyotes got off to a fast start in power …

Softball playoffs don’t begin until next weekend, and the tournament goes up another notch once Rose Mofford games enter the fray, but the postseason push basically begins now.
Basha and Gilbert are both locks for high seeds, but they’re still vying for the final Central Region championship. The Bears have a one-game lead and are the hottest team in the state these days, while the Tigers have been steady-as-she-goes. Gilbert played Mountain View on Thursday night, and the Bears will play the Toros next week.
Down below, Chandler, Mesquite and Highland are …