The "Harry Potter" culture warriors have surged into action one last time, adding their familiar notes of discord to the fanfares greeting the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

YUMA - Chandler Valley Christian elected to play. But it would be perfectly understandable if the Trojans’ hearts weren’t in Friday’s 55-22 2A nonregion loss to host Yuma Catholic.

SALEM, Mass. - Hundreds of Harry Potter fanatics have turned this historic seaport, best known for its witches and their trials, into a makeshift college campus fit for a young wizard.

Bo Barnes led all scorers with 18 points, including two foul shots with 14 seconds remaining to break a tie and give Scottsdale Christian a 55-53 win over Tempe Marcos de Niza in the first round of the Horizon Invitational boys basketball tournament Thursday night.

Emily Harris of Scottsdale Desert Mountain handed Phoenix Xavier’s Vianett Mena her first loss of the year in the 5A Desert Valley Region Badminton Tournament Championship 11-5, 9-11, 11-3 at Phoenix Mountain Pointe to take the singles crown.

Scottsdale Desert Mountain’s Emily Harris and Phoenix Xavier’s Vianett Mena finished the first day of the 5A state singles badminton tournament at Mesa Dobson unbeaten (3-0) and will meet in today’s semifinals.

When you have read the last sentence on the last page of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” — and no, we’re not going to reveal any plot twists here — you will say, “Of course.”

2A Central Region

OFFENSE

Chandler dentist Dale Steiner has been awarded the Rotary International Paul Harris Award for his volunteer work giving good dental hygiene/dental health presentations at local elementary schools, assisting Boy Scouts in earning merit badges, serving Christian youth retreats and organizing monthly dental study club meetings.

No. 7 Valley Christian vs. No. 3 St. Johns

After Saturday night’s Arizona State volleyball match against No. 11 Washington, it won’t just be the end of the season for the Sun Devils, but the end of a legacy for three former prep stars.

A bullet fired 23 years ago finally killed Steve Harris.

A Chandler officer who was fired only to be reinstated months later received a $380,438 jury award on Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court for wrongful termination, said his attorney Tony Shaw of Prescott.

The Arizona Baseball Coaches Association has put out their all-state teams for each division.

Religion and faith cannot be sheltered from criticism and vigorous debate if civilization itself is to survive, argues writer Sam Harris, author of “Letter to a Christian Nation,” a quick-read, 96-page book that raises fundamental questions about belief itself.

LOS ANGELES - Kathy Griffin, who shook up an Emmy ceremony last year with her rowdy acceptance speech, is bringing her act to this year's prime-time awards show. Griffin and Don Rickles, a comedian who's legendary for his combative style, will team up as presenters at the Sept. 21 ceremony airing on ABC, the TV academy says.

Mesa boys basketball coach Shane Burcar prefers his team use a controlled chaos to be effective.

Phoenix Desert Vista gave notice to the 5A-I ranks Tuesday — the Thunder are back.

Brophy boys soccer forward Riggs Lennon had three goals as the Broncos cruised to a 6-0 victory over Chaparral on Thursday night. Colin Zaccagnio, Adam Mosharaffa and Tyler Dial scored their first goals of the year for Brophy.