What a year it’s been across north Tucson for the six girls basketball programs within Tucson Local Media’s coverage, with individual and teamwide accolades to go around. 

A brilliant blue sky broke through a wall of slate gray clouds in the early afternoon hours Sunday, Feb. 17, shining light on the University of Arizona campus’ newest gem. 

The course of Pusch Ridge Christian Academy’s second-round playoff clash with Blue Ridge High School swung on a pair of technical fouls in the final quarter. 

The die was cast in the early minutes of Marana High School’s girls basketball opening round playoff game against Maricopa Tuesday night, and the home side came up short.

While the high school basketball playoff season is in full swing, it’s time to pick apart the season that was for the six programs in north Tucson, finding the stars that shined brightest during the year. 

Welcome to the second-season in high school sports, better known as the playoff stretch that enthralls players and fans alike. 

The course of last Friday’s 4A play-in game between Catalina Foothills and Prescott Valley’s Bradshaw Mountain High School was decided shortly after the opening tip.

The start of the girls basketball postseason is around the corner in Arizona, with the state playoffs set to kickoff next week. 

Welcome to the start of the second season in high school basketball, better known as the state playoffs. 

We’ve reached the most important stretch of the regular season in high school soccer and basketball, with the former starting its playoff calendar this week, while the latter starts its run next week. 

Christopher Boan

The Ironwood Ridge High School Nighthawks celebrated winning a section championship in modest fashion Thursday night. The girls soccer squad clinched the title in a 4-0 drumming of the Marana Tigers, capping off an unblemished 5-0 record against 5A Southern region foes. 

The Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District Board voted in favor of moving forward with a $2.5 million contract to replace the ice-making system at the Tucson Convention Center on Tuesday.

Former Canyon del Oro High School standout Robert Metz is returning to play football in the Old Pueblo after signing with the Tucson Sugar Skulls. Metz, who graduated from the Oro Valley high school in 2012, will play linebacker.

We’ve reached the home stretch for high school sports teams across the state, with the state playoffs in each sport just around the corner. 

Welcome to the penultimate week of girls basketball action in Arizona, with playoff odds formalizing by the day. 

Welcome to the second-to-last week of the boys basketball regular season in the state of Arizona. 

The Arizona Wildcats mens basketball program suffered its worst loss against the Southern California Trojans in 46 years last Thursday. The Wildcats (14-6, 5-2) were routed by the Trojans from the get-go, trailing wire-to-wire before falling, 80-57, to the home side. 

The Arizona Interscholastic Association’s Executive Board approved dramatic changes to the organization’s football playoffs Tuesday.

The Arizona Wildcats suffered their worst loss against the Southern California Trojans in 46 years on Thursday.

The search for the next Mountain View High School football coach is over, and a face familiar to the region is taking over.

The Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lions boys basketball team pushed their win streak to eight games with a combination of brute force and deft touch.

High schools across Tucson’s north side are back in action. Here’s a breakdown of the recent trials, tribulations and success of the teams in the Tucson Local Media territory.

The Canyon del Oro girls basketball team stared down the blinding lights of McKale Center Monday morning and went toe-to-toe with one of the city’s best programs.

The girls basketball season has officially reached its fever pitch in Southern Arizona, with several local teams asserting their will. 

Two perennial powers traded figurative blows on the hardwood Tuesday night when Salpointe Catholic and Catalina Foothills met in midtown Tucson. The two teams, who last met in last year’s 4A state semifinal, played a 32-minute slugfest in front of a frenzied sellout crowd, with the Lancers c…

Two high schools on Tucson’s north side will be looking for new coaches for their football programs after resignations were announced last week.

High schools across Tucson’s north side are back from winter break, and their athletics teams are back in action. Here’s a breakdown of the recent trials, tribulations and success of the teams in the Tucson Local  Media territory.

The course of the boys basketball season is taking shape in northwest Tucson, with playoff berths coming into form around the region. 

The Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lions’ boys basketball team delivered a message to the rest of the state Thursday evening in the form of a 32-minute tour de force against rival Sabino to improve to 14-2 for the season. They beat the Sabercats, 69-57. 

As with the boys squads, it’s now the unofficial start of the second-half of the girls basketball season at the high school level, with teams starting up after the long winter break.

We’ve officially put a new calendar up on the wall, with a new year and a clean slate for local teams to make a name for themselves in their respective sports. 

Mountain View High School boys basketball coach Corey Duck had a simple message for his team ahead of their road clash with Rincon/University High School Tuesday night: Do whatever it takes to grind out a win. 

It’s now to the unofficial second half of the boys basketball season, with high school teams from across the state returning to the hardwood through the week. 

On Saturday, Jan. 5, the Oro Valley Lacrosse Club hosted its annual Oro Valley Holiday Classic Lacrosse Tournament, at Naranja Park. More than 20 teams from across Arizona attended, with families cheering on both boys and girls teams all day long.

It was the best of times, followed by the worst of times for the Arizona basketball last Thursday night—though the Wildcats ultimately weathered a storm of their own creation in McKale Center.

The Arizona Wildcats and Utah Utes engaged in an instant classic at McKale Center on Saturday afternoon.

It was the best of times, followed by the worst of times for the Arizona Wildcats on Thursday night.

The Tucson Roadrunners professional hockey team is on track to qualify for the American Hockey League’s postseason for the second consecutive season, should they continue their current trend. 

With the holiday season behind us, it’s not uncommon to gain three to eight pounds. Let’s be honest. We really don’t prepare ourselves for all the social and family gatherings. As the holidays are a time for giving, we have a tendency to forget about ourselves until January, and then we make…

The Arizona Cardinals will be in the market for a new head coach, after firing Steve Wilks on Monday.

It was a year to remember in the northwest Tucson, Oro Valley and Marana region, with more sports-related stories than you can shake a stick at. 

The Marana Tigers unleashed a flurry of three pointers and organized chaos on the Sunnyside Blue Devils last Thursday night. 

Katie Jeffers fought through past a Rincon/University defender a few yards from the Rangers goal, spearing a bouncing ball into the back of the oversized white goal to her right.

Welcome to the heart of the girls basketball season in Arizona, as we enter the final week before the holiday break. 

It was a night of fits, starts, and missed opportunities for the Tucson Roadrunners last Wednesday evening. 

Welcome to the final week (pre-holiday break) of boys basketball in the grand state of Arizona, folks. 

The Catalina Foothills boys basketball team took out a week’s worth of frustration Thursday evening.

Despite a well contested game, Tuesday’s clash between Ironwood Ridge and Sahuaro hinged on a series of late game miscues.