Previewing upcoming Arizona girls' high school basketball championship games
After three and a half months, the Arizona girls’ high school basketball season heads into championship week. Over the next three days at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, champions will be crowned in 4A, 5A and 6A. Most interestingly, the week will be capped with the state’s first-ever Open Division championship game.
The Republic breaks down all four title games.
4A
Flagstaff vs. Pueblo, tip-off: Thursday, 6 p.m.
After losing All-Arizona selection Gracelyn Nez, not many saw Flagstaff making a repeat run to the 4A title game. Not only have the second-seeded Eagles made it to the Madhouse on McDowell, but they’ve done so in dominant fashion, winning their first three 4A playoff games by a combined 80 points. That’s a credit to head coach Tyrone Johnson, but also to his team, which has embraced a balanced, defense-first approach without a go-to star like Nez. They’re allowing just 38.9 points per game on the season and 40.1 points per game in the playoffs.
Plus, unlike last year, when the Eagles ran into a buzzsaw of a Salpointe Catholic team in the championship, their route this go-around is doable, in large part because Salpointe and Seton Catholic were in the Open playoffs. That’s not to say that No. 4 seed Pueblo is a pushover, though. The Warriors knocked off No. 1 seed Mesquite in a thrilling, 52-48, overtime battle in the semifinals Tuesday night. As usual, Victoria and America Cazares were the stars in that one. The pair is averaging 36.2 points per game. Slowing them down will be the key for Flagstaff.
Prediction: Flagstaff 47, Pueblo 42
5A
Sunrise Mountain vs. Canyon View, tip-off: Friday, 6 p.m.
5A teams are surely happy to not have to deal with Millennium in their bracket. The Tigers have won the conference four times in a row, but are now contesting the Open Division final. In their stead, we should have a balanced, exciting championship game.
No. 1 seed Canyon View, in particular, will be relieved with Millennium’s absence. The Jaguars saw their two-loss season last year end at the hands of the Tigers and then lost to them twice this year. Outside of those games, though, they’ve lost just once to an in-state team since November. Their semifinal win over Catalina Foothills was particularly impressive. Catalina Foothills came out firing, scoring 62 points on the night. But freshman Jaila Flowers was just too good, dropping 30 to lead Canyon View to a 10-point win.
No. 3 seed Sunrise Mountain also had a thrilling semifinal battle, sneaking past Betty Fairfax, 57-56. The Mustangs rely heavily on a pair of seniors who are a nightmare for any opponent to deal with: Mackenzie Nielsen, who leads the way with 19.3 points per game, and Mackenzie Dunham, who averages 17.4 points and 13.3 rebounds.
Prediction: Sunrise Mountain 54, Canyon View 52
Read more: Valley Vista knocks off No. 1 Hamilton to reach 6A title game
6A
Valley Vista vs. Dobson, tip-off: Saturday, 10 a.m.
When Valley Vista started 2-5 back in December, it was easy to write the Monsoon off. With their top three scorers lost to graduation, Valley Vista was in a rebuild. A sixth title in seven years seemed out of the question. Now, though? Valley Vista isn’t just the best team in 6A, but they might be a top-three team in the state. Had they not drawn No. 1 seed Desert Vista in the Open Division round of 16, they could have made a deep run in that bracket. Instead, they’ll enter the 6A title game as the tentative favorite. Yes, they’re the No. 5 seed, but to realize the lack of accuracy behind that designation, you only have to look as far as Tuesday’s 61-38 dismantling of No. 1 seed Hamilton.
On the other side is No. 3 Dobson. The Mustangs are a defense-first outfit, averaging just 34.2 points allowed. But they can score the ball, too, primarily through junior guard Ahdiayh Chee. Chee is averaging 14.8 points per game and scored 29 in the quarterfinal win over Mountain Ridge last week.
Prediction: Valley Vista 58, Dobson 45
More: Dave Williams wasn't sure about coaching again. He now has Desert Vista on brink of title
Open
Desert Vista vs. Millennium, tip-off: Saturday, 3 p.m.
All of the above is a precursor to Saturday’s main event. The inaugural Open final couldn’t be set up better. Whereas the football Open has devolved into a glorified 6A tournament thanks to realignment, Saturday’s championship game will pit the four-time reigning 5A champion, No. 6 seed Millennium, against the team that has been on a pedestal as the presumed best team in the state since November, No. 1 Desert Vista. This is exactly what the Open was invented for. No one in 6A could knock off Desert Vista, but maybe Millennium can.
In Thursday’s semifinal, the Tigers certainly looked like the type of team that could pull the upset off. They stunned No. 2 seed Perry, 45-39, behind a sterling defensive effort and 20 first-half points from Elli Guiney, who finished with 25. As good as Perry and star forward Khamil Pierre are, though, Desert Vista is a different beast. Jerzy Robinson continued one of the best freshman seasons in recent memory in the semis, scoring 32 against Xavier Prep. But the real reason Desert Vista is so good is that they don’t have to rely on Robinson to carry the load. Shay Ijiwoye and Eanae Dagons, in particular, are stars in their own right. That creates a nightmare for any opponent.
Prediction: Desert Vista 65, Millennium 52
For subscribers: Breaking down boys 6A, 5A basketball semifinals, 4A final
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Previewing Arizona girls' high school basketball championship games
