MESA - Jeff Lowery's potential game-winning shot from the baseline came up short as No. 2 Mesa escaped with a 54-53 overtime win over No. 4 Desert Vista in a 5A-I Fiesta Region game on Friday night at Mesa.

Mesa High's boys basketball team is back on top after a 16-year absence, but the return wasn't easy.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association's executive board has placed the Mesa High boys basketball team on probation for one year on a recruiting violation. The penalty will keep the Jackrabbits out of this year's postseason, but will expire before next year's state tournament.

Blondy Baruti’s first game at Mesa in more than a year got off to a rousing start.

May 24, 2005

Shane Burcar is headed for his fourth job in four years. This time he’s not going far to begin his new assignment and it’s familiar territory.

It took a little time, but Mesa High's boys basketball team is on the rebound.

Mesa Community College men’s basketball assistant Mike Grothaus will be the next coach at Basha.

Nathan Murphy often handles 3-point shooting for second-ranked Mesa Mountain View. But since Murphy was sidelined Tuesday night after suffering a concussion during the final minutes of Monday’s practice, someone else had to step up in that department.

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

Mesa High’s Aaron Fuller had a wealth of motivation heading into the 2007-08 basketball season.

At the end of a practice earlier this week, Mesa boys basketball coach Shane Burcar told his team not to buy into the hype. So if you happen to play for the Jackrabbits, stop reading this article.

Chandler High boys basketball coach Mike Ellsworth has reportedly been suspended by the school, and it is unclear if and when he will return.

Only two seasons removed from winning a 5A state championship, Mesa High boys basketball coach Shawn Lynch has resigned.

Mesa High’s forfeiture of 10 boys basketball games as a result of a recruiting violation in the Blondy Baruti case will have an impact on six games that count in the AIA power rankings and go toward determining state playoff berths.

Mesa Desert Ridge found its new boys basketball coach by promoting from within the district.

Nate Bjorkgren resigned as Cave Creek Cactus Shadows’ boys basketball coach late last week, and will return to his native Iowa to become an assistant with the NBA Development League team in Iowa.

Basha High has hired Jeff Platt, a former college assistant coach, as its new boys basketball coach, athletic director Dick Baniszewski said Monday.

The Carl Hayden and Phoenix Alhambra boys basketball teams combined to go 14-36 this season.

The Carl Hayden and Phoenix Alhambra boys basketball teams combined to go 14-36 this season.

Athlete of the week: Taylor Rohde - The 6-foot-8 senior center averaged 26.4 points and four assists per game, helping Phoenix Pinnacle to the championship of the Paradise Valley Invitational. Rohde signed a letter of intent earlier this month with ASU.

Mesa Mountain View coach Gary Ernst has to be enjoying his situation.

Registration is open for boys and girls to join Mesa Youth Basketball next month. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are welcome to the league, run by the Mesa Unified School District.

If the first week of the season is any indication, Mesa should have plenty to look forward to in the 2009-10 boys basketball season.