CHANDLER — David Silvas had seen Chandler Valley Christian on film. He had an idea of how to attack the Trojans. But on Tuesday, Florence had no answers for the blitzkrieg headed its way.
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FLORENCE — After struggling a little in the first half, Florence’s girls took the upper hand in the second half and eked out a 38-36 win over the Safford Bulldogs Friday night in Florence.
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The high school basketball season is racing forward, as the regular season ends Friday. While some teams battle for playoff positioning, others try to close out their season by making a strong impression. Here’s a look at the latest PinalCentral boys basketball power rankings.
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FLORENCE — Florence and Safford were tied at 8 just over halfway through the first quarter, but the home team was in control for the rest of contest, smoking the Bulldogs 84-34.
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With just two weeks until the start of the state tournament, the good basketball teams are starting to separate from the pack. Here’s PinalCentral’s latest power rankings of the season for girls basketball.
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With a pandemic-shortened regular season in high school basketball, there are just a handful of games left for most teams before the playoffs begin. Here’s a look at the latest PinalCentral boys basketball power rankings.
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COOLIDGE — This COVID-affected season has put many basketball teams to the test, rewarding programs with strong numbers and stability. This has played into the hands of those like the Florence girls, while forcing those like Coolidge to hustle just to keep up.
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When Coolidge’s Nick Harrison hit a dramatic 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Friday’s game against rival Florence into overtime, all I could do was smile and shake my head.
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SAN TAN VALLEY — San Tan Foothills High School is used to changing football coaches every year or two, but “I’m going to stop that streak,” their latest coach said.
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COOLIDGE — As the buzzing crowd trickled out of the Roundhouse on Friday night, Florence coach David Silvas got done talking to his players, walked back onto the court and let out a thunderous yell. It could only be described as full of adrenaline, pride and relief.
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As the high school basketball season barrels toward mid-February, it’s a good time to take a look at the top teams in Pinal County. Here’s PinalCentral’s first power rankings of the season for girls basketball.
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The high school basketball season is now well underway, and with a pandemic-shortened regular season, the playoffs will be here in the blink of an eye. Now that most teams have at least a handful of games under their belt, here’s a look at the first PinalCentral power rankings of the season,…
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FLORENCE — In a game where neither coach was particularly happy with their players’ discipline, it was Florence that had enough offensive efficiency Tuesday to overcome the general sloppiness.
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FLORENCE — Even with his Gophers up by double digits heading into the fourth quarter, and more than six years since the last time they have lost to Coolidge, coach David Silvas knew better than being complacent.
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FLORENCE — In a home game Thursday night in which visiting American Leadership Academy-Ironwood struggled just to get within four baskets of the hosts, there was a surprise announcement halfway through the fourth quarter.
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FLORENCE — After an awkward first half, the Gophers pulled it together and smoked visiting American Leadership Academy-Ironwood 47-17 Thursday night.
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FLORENCE — With eight seniors on the team, most of whom know coach David Silvas and each other quite well, the Florence boys basketball team is looking for another banner year.
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FLORENCE — Schools opening and closing, students in quarantine and even the season itself called off and then resumed, have all taken a toll on the Gophers. After 10 weeks of practice, coach Bob Bellemare finally had the whole team together for the first time on Jan. 14.
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PHOENIX — Just four days after the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s executive board voted to cancel the winter sports season, that decision was reversed.
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PHOENIX — In a move that came out of nowhere for many, the Arizona Interscholastic Association executive board voted to cancel the winter sports season Friday morning.
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CASA GRANDE — Despite playing football in the midst of a pandemic, Santa Cruz Valley had business to take care of on the field, and it did exactly that. Its star player and coach lead PinalCentral’s all-county team honors.
1. Grinder Sports Complex
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CASA GRANDE — Nothing was normal in 2020, and that includes high school volleyball. But Combs senior Kerstyn Hedrick wasn’t going to let challenges slow her down.
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FLORENCE — Several Gophers were recognized for their outstanding achievements after a season that threw every obstacle their way.
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CASA GRANDE — Two Casa Grande Union seniors finished their high school cross country careers with a cherry on top, posting the two fastest times in Pinal County at the boys and girls state cross country meets.
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FLORENCE — San Tan Foothill’s Justice Gutierrez caught a 48-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Peyton Moore in the game’s final seconds, thrilling fans. But it was Florence who was in control throughout the game in a 42-12 win.
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PHOENIX – Amid rising cases of COVID-19 in the state, David Hines met with state health officials recently to gain insight for the high school winter sports season. The executive director of the Arizona Interscholastic Association recommended delaying the start of basketball, soccer and wres…
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PHOENIX – The Arizona Interscholastic Association recommended postponing the start of winter high school sports such as basketball, wrestling and soccer to its executive board Monday, possibly pushing the start of those sports into January.
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FLORENCE — It seems at this point of the season, no team is being left unscathed by the dreaded quarantine, and it was the Gophers’ turn on Friday.
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FLORENCE — It was a great start for the Florence Gophers, as they jumped out to a quick lead on their first possession, but Safford scored 42 unanswered points. The Gophers mounted a late comeback in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs’ lead was too much as Safford left Florence with a 42-27 win.
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THATCHER — The Florence Gophers were ahead 31-21 at halftime, but the Thatcher Eagles fought back for a 49-38 win.
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FLORENCE — Florence defenders held Chandler Valley Christian to just one touchdown in the second half, but the first half belonged to the Trojans, who handed the home team a 30-7 defeat on the Gophers’ homecoming Friday.
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FLORENCE — Florence’s first win of the season Saturday had some exciting moments, like Tommy Carberry’s 98-yard kickoff return for the Gophers’ third touchdown, and Daven Neal’s 40-yard catch near the end zone for the evening’s final score with 32 seconds left.
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FLORENCE — The Town of Florence Recreation Division is happy to announce the opening of registration for the upcoming JR NFL Youth Flag Football League.
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FLORENCE — Three touchdowns ahead in the second quarter, it looked like the home team had already put the game away.
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COOLIDGE — Jacob Gunter had been waiting for three years for a moment under center. After serving three years as backup to Valentine Rodriguez in Coolidge, he was finally able to win the starting spot after a close offseason competition. Finally on Friday night, it was his time.
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COOLIDGE — It might have come later than normal, but the Pinal County high school football season is wasting no time getting to the big games.
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FLORENCE — Gifted players who thrilled fans, like running back Joshua Maignon and defensive end Regen Terry, have graduated.
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SAN TAN VALLEY – It was a rough season last year for the Poston Butte volleyball team, as it finished 2-8 in a difficult 4A Desert Sky region which featured Chandler Seton Catholic, Phoenix Arcadia and Gilbert Mesquite.
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PHOENIX — A COVID-19 benchmark set by the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee was changed Thursday, allowing a wider path for returning to high school football.
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We’re getting closer to the actual start of high school football games in Arizona, and some coaches and media members are nervous about a COVID-19 benchmark that needs to be reached. The worry is overblown, and it won’t stop the season from starting on time.
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CASA GRANDE — After months of speculation, planning and research, high school football is just around the corner.
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PHOENIX — High school fall sports have the green light to begin, and the Gophers will be facing some new foes.
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FLORENCE — Grinder Sports Group’s plans in Florence are essentially unaffected by another major sports complex coming to southeast Mesa, a top official said Tuesday.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: PinalCentral is going through each football position group to list five players to watch in Pinal County this season. This is the seventh and final installment in the series. Keep in mind that some of these players may play multiple positions and don’t always fit neatly into o…
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FLORENCE — ESPN Wide World of Sports in Florida’s Walt Disney resort is similar to what Grinder Sports Group LLC wants to build in Florence, the Florence Planning and Zoning Commission was told.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: PinalCentral is going through each football position group to list five players to watch in Pinal County this season. This is the second installment in the series. Keep in mind that some of these players may play multiple positions and don’t always fit neatly into one position group.
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CASA GRANDE — High school football coaches across Arizona have differing opinions on when football should start.
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FLORENCE — The hiring of a freshman football coach is not usually news. But it’s not often that the new coach has a Super Bowl ring.
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SAN TAN VALLEY -- It’s been a rough year for many high school athletes, mostly because the COVID-19 pandemic has spoiled their seasons.
CHANDLER — David Silvas had seen Chandler Valley Christian on film. He had an idea of how to attack the Trojans. But on Tuesday, Florence had no answers for the blitzkrieg headed its way.
FLORENCE — After struggling a little in the first half, Florence’s girls took the upper hand in the second half and eked out a 38-36 win over the Safford Bulldogs Friday night in Florence.
The high school basketball season is racing forward, as the regular season ends Friday. While some teams battle for playoff positioning, others try to close out their season by making a strong…
FLORENCE — Florence and Safford were tied at 8 just over halfway through the first quarter, but the home team was in control for the rest of contest, smoking the Bulldogs 84-34.
PHOENIX — Central Arizona College has its best chance ever of finally being able to offer four-year degrees to its students.
COOLIDGE — February is usually an important month for Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology as it tries to recruit partner schools and students. This year, CAVIT is trying something d…
FLORENCE — Students in the elementary grades will return for regular in-person classes on Feb. 8, and high school students will return on Feb. 16, the Florence Unified School District governin…
CASA GRANDE — The following student achievements were reported to PinalCentral:
FLORENCE — In response to high teacher absences, the Florence Unified School District board voted Tuesday night to return the district’s 10,000 students in San Tan Valley and Florence to onlin…
SIGNAL PEAK — Central Arizona College has announced the following students graduated in December. The listing is organized alphabetically by campus and includes the certificate and/or degree t…