Division I
1. Basha
2. Red Mountain
3. Mountain View
4. Desert Ridge
5. Xavier
6. Horizon
7. Perry
8. Mountain Ridge
9. Gilbert
10. Chaparral
It didn’t take long before this became a huge mess. Basha and Red Mountain won out to keep their spots, but the rest is nauseating. Mountain View actually moves up from No. 4 to No. 3 despite its close loss to Red Mountain last week. Normally that wouldn’t happen, except Mountain View already beat Desert Ridge once this season, Horizon fell from No. 4 to No. 6 after losing to Chaparral (though the Huskies beat Desert Vista), Pinnacle exits the rankings after losing four consecutive games, and Xavier remains undefeated after beating Centennial to win the Xavier invitational. In this turbulent week, the Gators vault up the rankings. Perry, Mountain Ridge and Gilbert all won out this week, though not much appeared to be particularly eyebrow-raising beyond the Pumas close wins against Hamilton and Mesquite. Mountain Ridge has four games this week and five in the next seven days beginning Monday. Chaparral enters the rankings because Centennial dropped out after it lost twice (vs. Mountain Pointe and Xavier) in the Xavier Invitational. The Firebirds move in on the strength of recent wins against Horizon, Pinnacle and Desert Mountain, even though they were hammered by Desert Ridge, Gilbert and Tucson High a couple weeks ago. Turbulent to say the least.
Division II
1. Sunrise Mountain
2. Canyon del Oro
3. Greenway
4. Ironwood Ridge
5. Sahuaro
Ah, serenity. No changes here as everyone won out this week. Paradise Valley continues to knock on the door of getting in here after nearly toppling Sunrise Mountain last week (a 2-1 Sunrise Mtn. win). Raymond Kellis and Cienega are also waiting in the wings.
Division III
1. Winslow
2. Benson
3. Estrella Foothills
4. Empire
5. Bourgade Catholic
Another big shakeup here, and it’s even more difficult to discern this early because of out-of-state competition and tournaments dictated most of this action. Winslow keeps its spot at No. 1 for now, while Benson moved up from No. 3 to No.2 by winning out this week. Payson falls out of the rankings (for now) after it had a rough time in the Wickenburg tournament in losses lost to bigger-schools Barry Goldwater, Coolidge and Estrella Foothills. Bourgade Catholic also had it rough after it lost to bigger Peoria, Seton Catholic and North Canyon, but the Eagles barely hang on to No. 5. Estrella Foothills’ strong showing at the Wickenberg Wrangler tournament coupled with a win over a good NW Christian squad vaults it into the No. 3 spot, while Empire moves into the No. 4 spot replacing Payson.
Division IV
1. St. Johns
2. AZ Lutheran
3. Valley Christian
4. NW Christian
5. Tempe Prep
Not too much volatility this week. Northwest Christian falls from No. 2 to No. 4 after it lost to Div. III Estrella Foothills, which allows Valley Christian to move up from No. 4 to No. 3. Still, given NW Christian’s talent and losing to a good Div. III wasn’t enough to push them below Tempe Prep, which stays at No. 5. Phoenix Christian is among a few schools waiting in the wings.
