Three years ago, a bunt, overthrow, or bobbled grounder led to a 1-0 win or loss.

34th annual Sun Angel Classic

Jillian Leslie was none too happy, and she wasn’t alone.

Most people thought Clarence Clark was crazy.

All-Tribune First Team

While the team practiced corner kicks, Xavier girls soccer coach Barb Chura would joke with defender Kellie Peay about never letting her standout defender move up to be a forward in those situations, even with Peay’s obvious header and ball-in-the-air skills.

There was nothing lucky or unlucky about No. 13.

Who'll stop the reign?

Horizon football coach Doug Shaffer stepped down this week, citing his health.

There’s no surprise that the rejection of the transfer-rule proposal last week took the brunt of print and website headlines, scrutiny and a majority of wrath from outsiders for its downfall.

Somehow, Brophy’s boys tennis team might have gotten stronger.

Two major demons were conquered, and now Xavier girls tennis could move closer to being what its Brophy boys peers have become.

The sound Arizona high school sports made on Friday was a hurricane-force whiff.

He pulled his jersey over his head in disgust before putting it back on. Eight painful seconds later, a captivating Division I boys basketball championship game was over and Pinnacle was left holding a runner-up trophy and their heads buried in their arms on the bench, Drew Bender pulled his jersey off for the last time.

Ah, those first few minutes of a third quarter.

After tinkering around awhile, St. Mary's put its foot down and held up another trophy.

Being not only a gym rat but the coach's son, Brandon Haagsma spent a lot of  time around Valley Christian's boys basketball championship teams growing up:  2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007.

Through struggles on the court and in the foul column, Gilbert Christian kept hoping and waiting for someone to fill Sam Jones' void.

Once again, Hamilton's girls basketball team played itself even with powerhouse St. Mary's.

Perhaps it's because the senior year for a core group of Pinnacle girls basketball players. Perhaps it's because that same core group has been in championship games three times and had its collective heartbroken each time.

Monday's beginning to the girls basketball state tournament quarterfinals featured a Hamilton girls basketball team which looked as if it had been here before, had played in a college backdrop at Wells Fargo Arena more than once. The Huskies came out running, gunning and rebounding in its victory over a quick but inexperienced Avondale Westview squad.

Rolando Rhymes called it "taking the air out of  the ball," and Mesa can attest to what Rhymes meant.

Chill out and relax.

It's true we tend to better remember things that happened most recently, but it's unlikely anyone who witnessed Saturday night's 66-65 final in double overtime saw a better basketball game in the past several years than what Corona del Sol and Mountain Pointe took to two overtimes before the Aztecs won in fitting fashion for this night.

Mesa wrestling coach Bob Williams has taken multiple trips to Europe (namely Germany), the Middle East and the former Soviet Union during the past couple decades, both with high school kids and international competitors.

Mountain Pointe had the right guy with the ball. It was the right shot from 10 feet away. It was in the basket.

There aren't nine lives to spare in the girls basketball state tournaments, but Highland's girls basketball team felt it used a few in one night.