SAN TAN VALLEY — Competing in four events at the Division III state track meet didn’t seem like much of a challenge for Poston Butte’s Octavious Joe, so he tried out his skills at the Arizona Decathlon State Championships.

PHOENIX — Taniela “Bubba” Taunima walked around the athletic fields of Desert Vista High School on Saturday carrying a chocolate cake almost as big as him.

PHOENIX — Poston Butte had a good day at the finals of the Division III state track meet, taking ninth in the boys team standings. And that was mostly due to the efforts of electric junior Octavious Joe.

PHOENIX — George Costanza once proclaimed it was the Summer of George. Perhaps now it’s the Summer of Bubba.

SAN TAN VALLEY — The Poston Butte baseball program had already broken records and achieved things no other team in school history had done. Why not add one more accomplishment to the resume and send four players to the next level?

MESA — There’s an old adage in baseball about not giving a good team extra outs. Gilbert Mesquite took advantage of additional opportunities it received against Poston Butte in the 4A state semifinals.

SAN TAN VALLEY — Poston Butte’s first batter, Junior Lopez, hit the ball out of the park Saturday, which may have told Coconino High School they were in for a tough day.

QUEEN CREEK — Regent Benedict ran the final stretch of his 1600-meter race Friday with his next closest competition barely in view behind. It’s not his ideal arrangement, as he prefers a closer competition, as evidenced by his final time of 4:55:49 being a full 11 seconds off his personal be…

SAN TAN VALLEY — Many spring teams enter this season with a lot of questions and uncertainty following last season’s abrupt cancelation due to the pandemic.

SAN TAN VALLEY — Of all the Pinal County baseball teams that had to cancel their 2020 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, none was dealt a more cruel blow than San Tan Foothills.

SAN TAN VALLEY — The baseball teams with very talented rosters had it toughest when the spring sports season was canceled one year ago. Poston Butte was one of those teams, but with zero seniors on the 2020 roster, the Broncos are primed for a championship run.

SAN TAN VALLEY — The Combs baseball program doesn’t have the same participation as other sports at the school, and that impact is particularly felt during a pandemic-shortened season.

SAN TAN VALLEY — It’s only fitting that three San Tan Valley high schools had reason to celebrate at the Division III wrestling state tournament, and that includes American Leadership Academy-Ironwood.

SAN TAN VALLEY — A wrestling season that often seemed cursed ended in charmed fashion for the Poston Butte Broncos.

SAN TAN VALLEY — Six Pinal County schools competed at the Division III state tournament Thursday, but Combs outshone them all on wrestling’s biggest stage.

SCOTTSDALE — Heading into halftime Tuesday, the Combs girls basketball team looked in prime position for an upset win over Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep. But in the second half, there was no Cinderella story to be told.

GILBERT — With no seniors and only one junior on the floor Tuesday night, it would be safe to say the Poston Butte Broncos were ahead of schedule as they competed against some of the state's best players in the first round of the 4A playoffs.

SAN TAN VALLEY – The first match up between the Combs and Poston Butte girls basketball teams was physical but compared to Friday’s game it was a cakewalk.

SAN TAN VALLEY — Under normal circumstances Friday night’s match-up between the Combs and Poston Butte boys basketball teams would have been for a playoff spot.

QUEEN CREEK – American Leadership Academy-Ironwood is in its third season as a member of the Arizona Interscholastic Association and it’s safe to say that the Warriors were not on anyone’s radar this year.

QUEEN CREEK – American Leadership Academy-Ironwood is in its third season as a member of the Arizona Interscholastic Association and it’s safe to say that the Warriors were not on anyone’s radar this year.

SAN TAN VALLEY – Krystle Mann, a stay-at-home mother to three sons, makes and sells cornbread and jam to pay for new baseball gear and help cover club fees – approximately $1,500 per year.

SAN TAN VALLEY — Friday’s match-up between Poston Butte and San Tan Foothills would likely never happen any other season.

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.