The Republic predicts the 6A-4A Arizona high school boys basketball quarterfinals
The Arizona Republic breaks down and predicts the winners for each of the 6A through 4A boys basketball quarterfinal games that will be played Wednesday night at 7 p.m..
There was a 32-team Open Division this year for the first time. That involved the top 32 teams in the three big conferences, 6A, 5A and 4A. Teams that lost in the first two rounds got another chance to keep their season alive by dropping into their respecitive 16-team conference playoff brackets. So, here we are, into the quarterfinals for each of those big-school conferences (all games played at higher seed's school).
6A quarterfinals
No. 9 Gilbert (18-11) at No. 1 Gilbert Highland (26-3)
Both fell out of the Open. Gilbert lost to American Leadership Gilbert North in the first round. Highland lost to the House brothers and Desert Mountain in the second round. This isnt a blowout in the making. Althought it's been a tough year for Gilbert, the Tigers played their rival tough both times, losing by 12 and five points. This is Todd Fazio's best team since taking over the Highland program. And, with senior Noah Peterson averaging 18 points and steering this team through, the Hawks have a great shot at taking home a trophy.
Prediction: Highland 61, Gilbert 55
No. 5 Mesa Mountain View (18-11) at No. 4 Phoenix Pinnacle (16-13)
This is a chance for Mountain View to pay back the 81-67 loss to Pinnacle in the first round of the Open. Pinnacle got bumped from the Open in the second round, an 87-34 setback. Pinnacle has been the best bounce-back team in the state. But what can the Toros do better this time around? They'll have to find a way to contain scoring machines Bryce Ford and Ashton Reese. They combined to score 47 points against the Toros the last time.
Prediction: Pinnacle, 71, Mountain View 66
No. 6 Mesa (21-7) at No. 3 Anthem Boulder Creek (19-8)
This is a big chance for Mesa to break through. Much of it depends on whether point guard Rowan McKenzie plays for Boulder Creek. He's been out with an injury and it's changed the way the Jaguars attack. They'll need another monster game from 6-8 sophomore Andrew Bhesania, who had a triple double against Carl Hayden. Mesa has strong guard play in Kota Benson and Parker Escalante.
Prediction: Boulder Creek 63, Mesa 61, OT
More:From reservation to city, Mesa's Kota Benson making up for lost time on court
No. 10 Laveen Cesar Chavez (21-7) at No. 2 Phoenix Brophy Prep (22-8)
Cesar Chavez is the only team left that didn't start out in the Open. But it has a nothing-to-lose attitude and a terrific scoring guard in Lex Clontz, who averages 18 points. Brophy will try to wear on Chavez, behind 6-6 wing Arman Madi and junior guard Braeden Speed. Brophy was a favorite to reach the Open final. Now it wants to win 6A.
Prediction: Brophy Prep 68, Cesar Chazez 57
5A quarterfinals
No. 8 Vail Cienega (21-7) at No. 1 Gilbert Campo Verde (25-4)
This is a do-over for both teams that got bounced from the Open. Senior center Mason Tippett will try to carry over the game he had in the first round of the 5A tournament - 22 points and 12 rebounds in a 64-53 comeback win over Sierra Vista Buena - and try to move Cienega into the semifinals. But it won't be easy, especially if Isaiah Kai and Cohen Ferguson are both on.
Prediction: Campo Verde 63, Cienega 59
No. 5 Peoria Centennial (18-8) at No. 4 Waddell Canyon View (21-7)
Canyon View coach Randy Lavender led Centennial to its first 5A state title last year. Now he's got a chance to end his former school's season. David Grace will come up with a great plan to try to offset Canyon View. Emory Young and Gage Galbreath will be fired up to face their former coach. This could come down to the final shot.
Prediction: Centennial 59, Canyon View 57
No. 11 Peoria Sunrise Mountain (16-11) at No. 3 Phoenix North Canyon (20-4)
This is Michael O'Guinn's best team at North Canyon, an athletic, unselfish group, led by King Turner and Wyatt MacKay, who are both 6-4 and can score it from all three levels. Sunrise Mountain will need a big game from Carter Gittens, who is averaging 20 points. This is the first meeting between the teams. North Canyon's record is better but Sunrise Mountain's tough schedule could pay off.
Prediction: Sunrise Mountain 66, North Canyon 63
No. 10 Phoenix Horizon at No. 2 Goodyear Millennium (25-4)
Millennium is making the most of its second chance, after leaving in the second round of the Open in a loss to Liberty. With fearless freshman Cameron Holmes leading the way, this is a team destined to reach the 5A final. Horizon will need a career night from Jack Brackmann to advance.
Prediction: Millennium 73, Horizon 61
4A quarterfinals
No. 8 Glendale Deer Valley (20-7) at No. 1 ALA Gilbert North (27-2)
Overall, Deer Valley's had the tougher schedule. And it's hard to bet against Jed Dunn in a playoff game because of how well he has his team prepared. But this is a tough ALA Gilbrert North team that beat Desert Mountain 76-73 the first week of the season. How Deer Valley defends guards Dylan Novak and MGurie Andrus will have a lot to say on who advances. All-Arizona football player Brandon Phelps is the X factor for ALA Gilbert North and will get them over the hump in a tight game.
Prediction: ALA Gilbert North 62, Deer Valley 61
No. 5 Gilbert Mesquite (20-8) at No. 4 Prescott (21-3)
Mesquite is using the loss to Brophy Prep in the Open as motivation to repeat as 4A champion. But Prescott won its first playoff game in 25 years and wants more, behind high-scoring sophomore Uriah Tenette, who averages 24 points a game. CohenJ Gonzales will try to neutralize Tenette with his ability to knock down 3s. Zane Gaul is a tough matchup in the blocks for Prescott. He had 16 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks in a 4A first-round win over Salpointe Catholic.
Prediction: Mesquite 68, Prescott 67
No. 6 Glendale Cactus (22-5) at No. 3 Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain (23-4)
Big man Bradey Henige is coming off a triple dougle for the ages -- 36 points, 21 rebounds, 10 blocked shots -- in a Cactus win over Pueblo. The Cobras will need another huge effort from him to advance. Bradshaw Mountain is tough to beat at home. It took St. Mary's to the wire in the Open, before losing 60-56.
Prediction: Cactus 61, Bradshaw Mountain 59
No. 10 El Mirage Dysart (22-6) at No. 2 Peoria (25-4)
With Peoria senior guard Andrew Camacho revved up and ready to roll, there seems no stopping the Panthers. Peoria beat Dysart 82-63 on Dec. 13. That was a long time ago. Dysart, led by Nate Morales (14 points a game), is much better now. But so is Peoria, which is hungry after falling out of the Open.
Prediction: Peoria 80, Dysart 69
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Predicting the 6A-4A Arizona HS boys basketball quarterfinals
