We break down the 5A boys and girls tournaments, including schedules, favorites and players to keep an eye on.
Boys 5A-I
When: Thursday (first round, 7 p.m.); Saturday (quarterfinals, 7 p.m.); March 4 (semifinals, 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.); March 7 (championship, 4 p.m.)
Top-seed Highland recalls last year's first round upset
Where: First round and quarterfinals at site of highest seed; semifinals and championship at Jobing.com Arena
Thursday's first-round games:No. 16 Corona del Sol at No. 1 Highland; No. 9 Red Mountain at No. 8 Chandler; No. 12 Basha at No. 5 Mesquite; No. 13 Gilbert at No. 4 Cesar Chavez; No. 14 Dobson at No. 3 Mountain View; No. 11 Brophy at No. 6 Buena; No. 10 Hamilton at No. 7 Desert Mountain; No. 15 Maryvale at No. 2 St. Mary's.
Favorite: Highland, which was bounced in the first round last year, appears ready to handle the No. 1 seed this time around.
Other contenders: St. Mary's, Basha, Cesar Chavez, Mountain View, Red Mountain, Chandler
Toughest road to finals: The Mesquite-Basha winner might have to face likes of Chavez, Highland and St. Mary's in succeeding rounds
Final four projection: Highland vs. Basha; Mountain View vs. St. Mary's
Rematches from regular season in 1st round (winner in caps): 4 - Chandler-RED MOUNTAIN; MESQUITE-Basha; CESAR CHAVEZ-Gilbert and Dobson-Mountain View (split two games)
Who's hot: Highland has won nine in a row, many of them by decisive margins.
Who's not: Gilbert has gone 5-10 after a 10-0 start. Playing many of those games in the tough Fiesta Region explains why.
Defender most likely to neutralize an opponent: Eric Hunt, Mountain View. He's not as tall as most post players, but has a huge wing span.
Best player to take that last-second shot: Micah Fetters of Hamilton has done it a couple times this season to win games.
Need a rebound: Devirous Johnson of Chandler has been a double-digit average rebounder two years straight.
10 seconds left, game tied ... get the ball to: Matt Carlino of Highland has an uncanny ability to score or hit the open man with time running out.
Boys 5A-II
When: Thursday (first round, 7 p.m.); Saturday (quarterfinals, 7 p.m.); March 6 (semifinals, 11 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.); March 7 (championship, noon)
Where: First round and quarterfinals at site of highest seed; semifinals and championship at Jobing.com Arena
Thursday's first round games: No. 16 Horizon at No. 1 Ironwood Ridge; No. 9 Willow Canyon at No. 8 Yuma; No. 12 South Mountain at No. 5 Rincon; No. 13 Kofa at No. 4 Boulder Creek; No. 14 Camelback at No. 3 Central; No. 11 Tolleson at No. 6 La Joya; No. 10 Ironwood at No. 7 Pinnacle; No. 15 Marcos de Niza at No. 2 North.
Favorite: North
Other contenders: Ironwood Ridge, Pinnacle
Final four projection: Ironwood Ridge vs. Rincon; North vs. Central
Girls 5A-I
When: Today (first round, 7 p.m.); Friday (quarterfinals, 7 p.m.); March 4 (semifinals, 2:30 p.m. and 4;15 p.m.); March 7 (championship, 2 p.m.)
Where: First round and quarterfinals at site of highest seed; semifinals and championship at Jobing.com Arena
Today's first round games: No. 16 Maryvale at No. 1 St. Mary's; No. 9 Chandler at No. 8 Xavier; No. 12 Desert Mountain at No. 5 Desert Vista; No. 13 Red Mountain at No. 4 Gilbert; No. 14 Buena at No. 3 Mountain View; No. 11 Basha at No. 6 Tucson; No. 10 Mesquite at No. 7 Dobson; No. 15 Hamilton at No. 2 Highland.
Favorite: Highland has separated itself from tough Fiesta Region rivals down the stretch.
Other contenders: St. Mary's, Gilbert, Mesquite, Dobson, Desert Vista, Mountain View
Toughest road to finals: The Xavier-Chandler winner might have to face likes of St. Mary's, Gilbert and Highland in succeeding rounds
Final four projection: St. Mary's vs. Gilbert; Mountain View vs. Highland
Who's hot: Defending champion Highand has won 24 straight games.
Who's not: Hamilton was off to a 13-1 to start, but is 3-10 since against tough Fiesta competition
Rematches from regular season in 1st round (winner in upper case): 2 - MESQUITE-Dobson; Hamilton-HIGHLAND (3 times)
Tearing it up in time for state: In two wins over region rival Dobson down the stretch, Mountain View's Jennifer Schlott netted 23 and 25 points.
Defenders most likely to neutralize an opponent: Chanel Thorley and Malia Magazzeni of Highland are twin defenders inside who are twice what most foes have, and they're good.
If you need a 3: Morgan Wohltman of Highland shot 46 percent from 3-point range this season.
Need a rebound: If it's in her reach, Dobson's Kameron Knutson snags it.
10 seconds left, game tied ... get the ball to: Davellyn Whyte of St.Mary's can shoot outside and be a slasher.
Girls 5A-II
When: Today (first round, 7 p.m.); Friday (quarterfinals, 7 p.m.); March 4 (semifinals, 11 a.m and 12:45 p.m.); March 7 (championship, 10 a.m.)
Where: First round and quarterfinals at site of highest seed; semifinals and championship at Jobing.com Arena
Today's first-round games: No. 16 La Joya at No. 1 Tolleson; No. 9 South Mountain at No. 8 Deer Valley; No. 12 Marcos de Niza at No. 5 Cibola; No. 13 Camelback at No. 4 Westview; No. 14 Ironwood Ridge at No. 3 Valley Vista; No. 11 Rincon at No. 6 Kingman; No. 10 Horizon at No. 7 Boulder Creek and No. 15 Willow Canyon at No. 2 Pinnacle.
Favorite: Tolleson
Other contender: Pinnacle
Final four projection: Tolleson vs. Marcos de Niza; Pinnacle vs. Kingman
