Gators seeing double vs. Tucson in hoops, soccer

Saturday’s (March 6) release of state tournament brackets for basketball and soccer by the Arizona Interscholastic Association brought a bit of surprising news to Xavier Prep teams.

Both the XCP basketball and soccer teams will play Tucson High at Xavier.

Following its exciting 62-60 win over Gilbert Perry on Friday night (March 5), XCP’s basketball team (11-3) is ranked third in AIA power points and will face No. 14 Tucson (8-5) at the Activity Center on Tuesday (March 9) at 7 p.m. Tucson also played at Xavier on Feb. 5 and the Gators prevailed 77-26.

The soccer tournament will begin one night later, on Wednesday (March 10), and fifth-seeded Xavier (6-2-1) will meet No. 12 Tucson (5-4) at Petznick Field with a 6 p.m. start.

Basketball quarterfinals will be March 12, with semifinals on March 17 and finals on March 20. All are at the sites of the highest-seeded teams except for the finals, which will be played at Gilbert Mesquite. All times are 7 p.m. except for the finals, at 5 p.m.

Those teams advancing to the soccer quarterfinals will play again on March 13 at the highest seeds. Semifinals are March 17 and finals on March 19 at Gilbert Campo Verde. Quarterfinals are at 2 p.m., semifinals are at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and finals are at 7:15 p.m.

6A Conference basketball state tournament

First round, Tuesday, March 9

Seedings in parentheses

All games, 7 p.m. (Subject to change)

Yuma Cibola (16) at Chandler Hamilton (1), Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (9) at Gilbert Perry (8), Phoenix Desert Vista (12) at Mesa Westwood (5), Mesa Desert Ridge (13) at Mesa Dobson (4), Tucson High (14) at Xavier Prep (3), Phoenix Pinnacle (11) at Mesa High (6), Tucson Rincon at Gilbert Highland (7), Anthem Boulder Creek (15) at Surprise Valley Vista (2).

Quarterfinals – March 12 at higher seed.

Semifinals – March 17 at higher seed.

Finals – March 20 at Gilbert Mesquite.

6A Conferense soccer state tournament

First round, Wednesday, March 10

Seedings in parentheses

All games, 6 p.m. (Subject to change)

Chandler Basha (16) at Gilbert Perry (1), Maricopa High (9) at Mesa Red Mountain (8), Tucson High (12) at Xavier Prep (5), Mesa Mountain View (13) at Gilbert Highland (4), Queen Creek High (14) at Scottsdale Chaparral (3), Peoria Liberty (11) at Chandler Hamilton (6), Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor (10) at Phoenix Desert Vista (7), Mesa Desert Ridge (15) at Phoenix Pinnacle (2).

Quarterfinals – March 13 at higher seed.

Semifinals – March 17 at Gilbert Campo Verde.

Finals – March 19 at Gilbert Campo Verde.