On Sunday, the Tribune released a list of 10 offensive players to watch in the upcoming football season. Ask many coaches, though, and it’s defense that wins championships. While the offensive stars are readying to score points, the defenders are counting down the days until they can zero in on opposing quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.

Athletes will tell you that jelling as a group is crucial to championship teams. At least that’s what the Tribune’s boys volleyball player of the year says.

Mountain Pointe girls soccer coach Mark Wilson has a number in mind.

The Cardinals’ first big game of the 2000s proved one thing: No matter how many improvements they’ve made, they’re not at the level of the Seattle Seahawks, the perennial NFC West champs.

By Tuesday night, both Gilbert and Mesquite high schools were expected to have finalized their respective football coaches in Tim Rutt (Gilbert) and Jim Jones (Mesquite).

One year removed from the state boys soccer quarterfinals, Hamilton is hovering around the .500 mark, but Fiesta Region player of the year Jason Cascio hasn’t missed a beat.

 Amy Patton of Tempe McClintock and Tyler Stephens-Jenkins of Phoenix St. Mary’s have signed letters of intent to play basketball at Northern Arizona University.

Higher expectations is the name of the game this season for the Suns.

As we embark on a new season, one thing is certain in the 4A, 3A and 2A conferences: East Valley teams are in the mix as state title contenders.

Orshawante Bryant pulled in a team playoff-record 13 receptions in the Arizona Rattlers’ quarterfinal win — six more catches than he had had in a game all season.

Bernie Busken has avoided the off-field controversy that originally drove him out of town.

Before leaving for the NHL draft in North Carolina, Phoenix Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett identified three areas that required immediate attention if his team was going to avoid a replay of last season — a year that began with bright hopes but quickly dissolved into the franchise’s worst since moving to Arizona.

Repeating as state champion in prep athletics is no easy feat. Although there are a smattering of teams that make long playoff runs each year, actually finishing on top in back-to-back seasons doesn’t happen often.

The four East Valley boys basketball coaching searches are either in the interview stage or nearing it. There doesn’t seem to be a ton of overlap among the top candidates for each position, and each situation is unique from the others.

Apache Junction Prospectors

Baseball is revered in Scottsdale high schools by students, faculty and alumni alike.

We pause briefly from the Valley’s occupation with hockey lockouts, perennially losing football — now in new, quite resplendent uniforms — and a ho-hum start to the baseball season to present, ladies and gentlemen, your Phoenix Suns.

Had the Diamondbacks wanted to abandon their young, they could have made several splashy moves at the trading deadline.

The Arizona Rattlers fired Danny White Wednesday, the only coach the franchise has had since its inception in 1992.

Once worse for the wear, Seton Catholic’s football team now feels stronger for enduring the proverbial spanking.

Seven coaches (John Sanders, Charlie Ragle, Mike Reardon, Kelley Moore, Richard Milligan, Mike Gibbons and Pete Wahlheim) either changed schools or became head coaches for the first time at East Valley schools in 2007.

Most championship runs, no matter the sport, no matter the level, generally include a remarkable, season-saving play.

For Suns fans, rooting against the Lakers has never been so much fun.

Maybe it was because his own house is short on healthy bodies this month. Maybe he hasn’t had time to learn about the rest of his newly-aligned neighbors. Maybe he simply doesn’t care.