Key matchup: With 20 new starters overall, 10 on offense and 10 on defense, Toros must rely on new group to neutralize Deer Valley offense that returns two receivers who combined for 1,022 yards and 68 receptions last year.

Outlook: A week off after a nontitle game visit to Sun Devil Stadium allows Red Mountain to refocus and pick up a victory in its second start.

Chandler Basha showed Friday that while it is young on talent, it is used to finding ways to win. The Bears captured a 27-3 homecoming victory over Glendale Deer Valley in 5A nonregion action. Bears quarterback Troy Graham had nine completions on 16 attempts for two touchdowns, including a 50-yard pass to Ryan McBurney with 2:05 left in the second quarter to put the Bears up 13-0. The Bears also picked up 224 rushing yards, 60 of them on a rushing touchdown from back Dusty Rush. Despite the numbers, Basha (3-0) had problems all night with stalled offensive drives caused mostly by penalties (eight for 108 yards) or miscues. "I think we were flat," Basha coach Tim McBurney said. "We have a young team that does not know how to come and prepare each week." McBurney said the loss of playing the first game of the season (San Luis forfeited in Week 1) still is problematic for his team. "This is a young team and we need all the game experience we can get to become a good team and we're not there yet," McBurney said. However, the Bears' defense did force four Deer Valley turnovers and kept the Skyhawks (1-2) from doing much offensively the entire game. The game took on a somber tone when Deer Valley's Jared Ritter was injured on a Skyhawk offensive play just a minute into the second half. Ritter was examined by emergency personnel on the scene and then removed from the field on a backboard and flown by emergency helicopter to St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix as a precautionary measure. His condition was not immediately known.

May 14, 2004

Entering his first year as a high school head coach, Deer Valley’s Joe Kersting is happy to have a rare pair of juniors with talent and experience at quarterback and tailback.

Key matchup: Deer Valley’s secondary will have its hands full trying to contain Desert Ridge’s top three receivers (Carl Curtis, Chris Heldore and Lucas Robinson), all of whom have a least 50 catches this season.

Three seniors at Deer Valley signed letters of intent with colleges last week.

Chandler Basha showed Friday that while it is young on talent, it is used to finding ways to win.

The Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions girls volleyball team doesn't have down years. While last year's team saw a four year run of making it to at least the state semifinals come a close Jon Devenney's club still managed to go 31-11 and advance to the 5A Div-I state quarterfinals. Even in defeat the No. 8 seeded Mountain Lions fought valiantly as they ended up being the only team in the state tournament to push top seed Gilbert, the eventual champion, to a fifth and deciding game. After dominating the Northwest Region where they won four straight region crowns the Mountain Lions will have a new home this year as they join Xavier, St. Mary's and Desert Mountain in the Desert Valley Region. "It's going to be a good league and I'm excited about it," the Mountain Lions coach said. "Playing that caliber of team gets you ready for the playoffs." If they are to continue their run of success the Mountain Lions will do it with a lot of new faces. Five players return from 2006 with middle blocker Sam Schofield being the lone senior on the roster. "We're hoping we'll do similar to last year, but the girls know it will take a lot of work," said Devenney who begins his seventh season at the helm, having taken the Mountain Lions to the state playoff in each of his first six campaigns including a championship run in 2004. "We have athletes with talent, we just don't have experience." While Scofield (6-foot-2-inches) has spent each of her past two varsity seasons as the team's middle blocker Devenney is at least entertaining the idea of moving Schofieldr to the outside to give the team more offensive firepower. "I think we're definitely going to be more of a defensive team," the coach said. "We'll get our share of kills obviously, but if we're going to win a lot of matches we're going to do it by keeping the ball in play and not making mistakes." Running the offense will be sophomore setter Haley Rutherford who steps into the spot left by three year varsity starter Brittany Clark. "As great as Brittany was I think we'll be fine with Haley," the coach said. "She doesn't have the varsity experience, but she has been a setter for a lot of years at the club level. She's a great kid who works real hard." In addition to Scofield junior Katie Peterson (5-foot-11) figures to be an offensive weapon Rutherfold will look for. After focusing mainly on defense in her first varsity season a year ago Devenney said Peterson will figure more prominently in the offense in 2007. "If she can continue to be consistent defensively and then expand her offensive game she'll really be an important piece for us." Devenney also said that the Mountain Lions could look to a freshman to be an offensive contributor, Sam Schofield's younger sister Chelsey (6-foot-1) who not only has some height, but also some serious skills. "It's been a while since we've had a freshman play a lot, but she's very athletic and has well rounded skills both offensively and defensively," he said. All told Devenney said he's keeping five outside hitters on the roster just hoping a couple emerge as consistent weapons. Along with the younger Schofield juniors McKenzie Jensen and Alee Eaton and sophomores Tory Gregory and Shannon Rutherford all will get their chance to emerge on the outside. Defensively juniors Kelly Murphy, Kelsey Brockett and Kyra Loehnis will provide back row coverage. "We've got a number of different options with this team," Devenney said. "There are a lot of versatile players because we're so athletic." The coach said he's looking to see the mental strength of his team. "My question is going to be consistency," he said. "This group hasn't played all that much together which means you have to do the little things well. When the ball is set perfect we can be effective, but when it isn't perfect you've got to be able to keep your wits." DEER VALLEY The Mountain Lions old region rival Deer Valley opens its second season under coach Jackie Wallace looking to build on the experience they gained as a largely young team in 2006 Following an 18-23 season in which they took third in the Northwest Region Wallace expects more this season. "We're definitely better," she said. ?From a maturity standpoint, from a leadership standpoint I think we're much better equipped to deal with adversity. Boulder Creek will be tough. I don't know a lot about some of the new teams in our region, but one of our goals is to win the region." To do that the Skyhawks, who played in the 5A Div-II state championship in 2005, will look to a group of seven returners including five starters to lead the way. On the outside Sarah Davis, at only 5-foot-4 might not intimidate with her size, but opponents quickly come away impressed by her ability to play above the net. And while Davis's offensive skills are eye catching so to are the defensive skills possessed by junior captain Izzy Gaulia the Skyhawks equivalent to the Suns Leandro Barbosa. Deer Valley's Brazilian Blur broke the school record for digs as a sophomore. "She's ridiculous," Wallace said. "You could practically let her take care of the back row by herself. I don't know how many coaches last year came up to me to compliment her game." Joining Gaulia (5-foot-7) as a captain is senior setter Alyssa Rodrigues. "She's got great hands," the coach said. "Even if it's a bad pass she can make something out of nothing. We're going to run a faster offense this year." Middle blocker Kaci Kinnett, a senior, provides the team with some leadership while junior Makayla Higgins, an opposite may be the team's most improved player from a year ago according to their coach. Middle Kaitlynn Ausmus, a sophomore, who will make her varsity debut on Tuesday in the team's season opener, has caught the eye of her coach. "She's going to be one to watch," said the Deer Valley graduate who coached on the junior varsity level for 12 years before taking over last season. "I'm really excited about the season. I love this team. They're a lot of fun to be around and it's exciting to watch them play. You can see the improvement almost every day."

Shawn Deadwiler had 19 points and Jeff Battle added 16 as Phoenix South Mountain beat Glendale Deer Valley, 75-54, in the boys 5A Division II state basketball championship game Tuesday at Glendale Arena. The title was the first for South (29-4), a one-time basketball powerhouse, since 1992.

Shawn Deadwiler had 19 points and Jeff Battle added 16 as Phoenix South Mountain beat Glendale Deer Valley, 75-54, in the boys 5A Division II state basketball championship game Tuesday at Glendale Arena. The title was the first for South (29-4), a one-time basketball powerhouse, since 1992.

Ugly, frustrating, disappointing.

Deer Valley has named its new football coach Thursday — and it’s a big name.

Kyle Ciliento has put up gaudy numbers all year. All he needed on Thursday was one to put Phoenix Pinnacle into the 5A-II boys soccer state championship game. He got two for good measure.

Tempe Marcos de Niza held a comfortable lead late in the second quarter Friday night.

It was worth the wait. Thanks to extra-inning games played by other teams, No. 4 seed Scottsdale Horizon and No. 1 seed Glendale Deer Valley had to wait almost two hours Tuesday night to meet in an elimination game at the 5A-II state softball tournament at the Rose Mofford Softball Complex.

Losing when you’re outmanned and against better athletes is one thing. Losing when you don’t play up to your capabilities is another.

The Deer Valley High School Skyhawk Players will present the Cole Porter musical “Anything Goes,” for four performances, March 3, 4, 10 and 11.

The Deer Valley High School Skyhawk Players will present the Cole Porter musical “Anything Goes,” for four performances, March 3, 4, 10 and 11.

The Deer Valley High School Skyhawk Players will present the Cole Porter musical “Anything Goes,” for four performances, March 3, 4, 10 and 11.

The offseason work, the regular season and tournament matches, the win-or-go-home state tournament - after all of that, Highland's season came down to a race for nine points.

The offseason work, the regular season and tournament matches, the win-or-go-home state tournament — after all of that, Highland’s season came down to a race for nine points.

High expectations come with a heavy burden, especially for a team missing its starting quarterback and one of its defensive stars along with 10 other players.