Arizonaβs βbig schoolsβ playoff brackets were unveiled Saturday morning, and they include just three Southern Arizona teams.
Salpointe Catholic (Class 6A), Marana (5A) and Canyon del Oro (4A) all qualified for their 16-team brackets. All three will play at home Friday.
This yearβs βbig schoolsβ playoffs include 6A, 5A and 4A playoffs as well as an Open Division featuring the eight top-rated teams in the state. Those are: No. 1 Peoria Liberty, No. 2 Chandler Basha, No. 3 Chandler, No. 4 Chandler Hamilton, No. 5 Scottsdale Saguaro, No. 6 Peoria Centennial, No. 7 Queen Creek American Leadership Academy and No. 8 Glendale Sandra Day OβConnor.
Tucson-area schools had better luck in the small-school brackets. Sabino and Pusch Ridge Christian both made the 3A state playoffs; the Lions are still alive following Friday nightβs 44-0 state quarterfinal victory over Round Valley. Pusch Ridge will face Mesa Eastmark in next Saturdayβs semifinals. In 2A, Tanque Verde advanced to the playoffs before losing in the first round.
Hereβs a look at next weekendβs playoff games, with local teams in bold. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted:
FRIDAY
Class 6A state playoffs, first round
No. 16 Laveen Cesar Chavez at No. 1 Queen Creek Casteel
No. 9 Glendale Mountain Ridge at No. 8 Phoenix Mountain Pointe
No. 12 Boulder Creek at No. 5 Queen Creek
No. 13 Surprise Valley Vista at No. 13 Phoenix Pinnacle
No. 14 Mesa at No. 3 Tempe Corona del Sol
No. 11 Phoenix Brophy Prep at No. 6 Mesa Red Mountain
No. 10 Gilbert Williams Field at No. 7 Salpointe Catholic
No. 15 Gilbert Perry at No. 2 Goodyear Highland
No. 16 Paradise Valley at No. 1 Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep
No. 9 Phoenix Sunnyslope at No. 8 Marana
No. 12 Gilbert at No. 5 Scottsdale Horizon
No. 13 Surprise Willow Canyon at No. 4 Glendale Cactus
No. 14 Waddell Canyon View at No. 3 Gilbert Higley
No. 11 Phoenix Central at No. 6 Goodyear Desert Edge
No. 10 Goodyear Millennium at No. 7 Gilbert Campo Verde
No. 15 Buckeye Verrado at No. 2 Scottsdale Dsert Mountain
No. 16 Chandler AZ College Prep at No. 1 ALA-Gilbert North
No. 9 Phoenix Northwest Christian at No. 8 Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain
No. 12 Buckeye Union at No. 5 Yuma Catholic
No. 13 Lake Havasu at No. 4 Surprise Poston Butte
No. 14 Phoenix Thunderbird at No. 3 Tempe Marcos de Niza
No. 11 Phoenix St. Maryβs at No. 6 Canyon del Oro
No.10 Prescott at No. 7 Apache Junction
No. 15 Scottsdale Arcadia at No. 2 Snowflake
SATURDAY
No. 3 Pusch Ridge Christian vs. No. 2 Mesa Eastmark at Phoenix Mountain Pointe High School, 2 p.m.
No. 4 Show Low vs. No. 1 Thatcher at Phoenix Mountain Pointe High School, 6 p.m.
