They’ve been under the radar much of the season. That’s due to slow starts and tough schedules. Friday’s game between Phoenix Desert Vista and Tempe Corona del Sol is between teams just as capable of making a postseason dent as some others who started fast and have remained in the foreground.
Corona del Sol opened the season 0-2 (losing to Mesa Dobson and Mesa Red Mountain). The Aztecs have won six straight since. Desert Vista lost two of its first three and three of its first five (Gilbert, Chandler and Peoria Centennial). At No. 12 in the current power-rankings, Desert Vista would be a handful for No. 5 Phoenix Brophy.
The mystery of who will join Chandler Hamilton and, in all likelihood, Red Mountain, in the 5A-I semifinals could just as easily be the Thunder and Aztecs as it is the fast-starting Mesa schools, Chandler or Chandler Basha.
Don’t count Basha out. The offense is clicking and some changes on D have worked well.