Some new faces and traditional powers are the favorites to win titles in the 2A Conference basketball state tournaments for boys and girls.

What follows is a glance at each of the favorites.

2A Boys

No. 1 seed Pima (24-2): Pima keeps getting closer to snapping its state semifinal exit postseason streak. This is of no consolation to Pima, but the teams it lost to in the semifinals in the last three years, Gilbert Christian, Yuma Catholic and Arizona Lutheran, went on to become champions. “We are looking forward to competing against some really good teams at this year’s state tournament,” coach Cliff Thompson said. Thompson is in his 15th year as head coach at Pima. He didn’t coach between 2007-09 but has led his program to 24 or more wins in the past four seasons. This year, Pima is led by senior point guard Trey Thompson (17 ppg, 6 apg, 6 rpb) and 6-4 junior forward Dawson Pruszynski (19 ppg, 10 rpg).

(Pima's Dawson Pruszynski is averaging a double-double per game. Photo by Mark Jones/maxpreps.com)

No. 2 Paradise Honors (26-1): The Panthers are making their second ever appearance in the playoffs. The team lost in the first round to No. 6 seed San Carlos last year. Depth, unselfishness and four transfers have helped fuel the team’s most successful season in terms of victories. The transfers, who started at their old school, moved in after a school in the Paradise Honors’ area closed, coach Zach Hettel said. Senior guard Sohn Sims (7.5 ppg, 2.3 spg), the team’s best defender, didn’t play last year because of an ACL football injury. Senior Jared Perry (6-8, 200), who will play at Adams State next year, is averaging 13.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game and has more than 50 dunks. “Jared is a big-time athlete who is also one of the hardest working young men you will ever meet,” Hettel said. Senior guard/forward Ian Jackson is a “glue guy who does everything well and will do anything you ask.”

No. 3 Alchesay (30-1): The Falcons are searching for their first state title since 1993. Besides last year’s runner-up finish, the only other time Alchesay played for a championship was in 1993 and 1998. Senior 6-3 forward Harley Upton leads the team in scoring (17 ppg) and won region player of the year honors for the second year in a row. Two other seniors, Raekwon Cosay and San Juan Slick, also contribute leadership and scoring. “Raekwon is the team’s point guard and does a wonderful job in keeping his teammates motivated during practice, and he also does a good job of settling the team down during tough moments in the game,” coach Kyle Goklish said. “San Juan Slick has the ability to change a game with his three point shot. San Juan does a very good job staying positive in every moment and is a wonderful teammate.” Alchesay has reached the playoffs every season in Goklish’s nine seasons.

The team hasn’t lost since its season opening game against 3A’s Blue Ridge, the No. 1 seed in the 3A state tournament. Alchesay avenged that loss on Dec. 30 and also defeated 3A’s No. 6 state tournament seed Chinle as well as 3A playoff teams Holbrook, Show Low and Safford.

No. 4 Rancho Solano Prep (23-5): Three of the team’s players have committed to 4-year schools next season, including Nick Jackson (Air Force), a 6-8 forward who transferred from Sunnyside. Jackson was a first-team All-State 6A selection by The Arizona Republic last season. He is an “athletic post player who can step out and shoot” and is averaging 15.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Caden Hoffman (Augustana College commit) is the school’s all-time leader in three pointers made. “(Hoffman) is tough, is a high IQ point guard and doesn’t make mistakes,” head coach Aaron Trigg said. Sophomore 6-3 guard Kilmani Hold is averaging 14.3 points per game, and 6-4 guard/forward Elijah Simmons committed to Ottawa. Rancho Solano Prep’s only losses to in-state teams were to Brophy and Sunnyslope.

No. 5 Scottsdale Christian (18-6): The team won its section despite playing without a former 1-2A player of the year, injured Reed Myers, second leading scorer Jordan Moody (Achilles) and leading rebounder Tanner Hoffman (torn ligaments). But Ethan Spry (18 ppg, 6 rpg), Josh Phillips (6 assists per game) and Eddie Cardona have stepped up in their absence. Fredericks and his staff have taken their program to nine title games — won six — in Fredericks’ 33 years at the school.

No. 6 San Carlos (22-4): San Carlos, a state semifinalist last season, is the only top-seeded team with four players who are averaging double figures in points. The leader of the group is Aloysius Case at 19.5 per game. The 5-10 Case is also shooting 56 percent. This season, San Carlos’ losses came to No. 1 state seed Pima, 1A Conference’s No. 1 seed The Gregory School, 2A’s No. 3 seed Alchesay and 3A’s No. 9 seed Page.

No. 7 Sedona Red Rock (17-6): The Scorpions have won 10 of their past 12 games. “We have been successful this season due to our defense and to our hard work between games,” first-year coach Jason Bruce said. “We have some great kids that have played together for the last six years, and the chemistry shows up in games.” Hayden Bruce is shooting 55 percent, including 45 percent from beyond the arc, and 80 percent from the free throw line. Wyatt Greagson has more than 50 steals, and Michael Ortega and Winston Cox are also defensive stoppers.

No. 8 Many Farms (16-8): It’s been a long time since Many Farms won 16 games in a season. With seven seniors, experience seems to be the No. 1 reason why Many Farms turned it around this season.

No. 9 Thatcher (15-9): Thatcher brought in an entire new staff for the first time in almost 40 years this season. “I think the buy in of our seniors has a lot to do with (our success),” first-year coach Chris Riehemann said. It did take a while for the team to get up to speed, because most of the players played for the team’s championship football team. Thatcher’s entire team practiced once before its first game. One of the football stars, Tyler Roebuck, is one of the most unselfish players Riehemann has ever coached, he said. The team’s top defender likely is senior guard Brock Layton (13.5 ppg) and most consistent scorer, Riehemann added.

2A girls

(Valley is the 2-time defending champ. Photo by Mark Jones/maxpreps.com)

No. 1 seed Sedona Red Rock (24-1): The Scorpions have reached the final four the past two seasons. “We are a very quick team that has a great basketball IQ,” coach Dave Moncibaez said. “We can transition very well on the offense and defense and have excellent outside shooters. We move the ball quickly and have that run-and-gun style and mentality.” Seven of the players are either seniors or juniors. Four of the seniors, guard Jo Toscano, point guard Liza Westervelt, guard Chenoa Crans, and forward Brittany Medel, are the captains. “Liza is a ball handler and shooter,” Moncibaez said. “Toscano is an outside shooter. Brittany Medel is a post with great underneath quick hands.

"Mary Wesetvelt is a guard and post and is effective in both positions and can hit from the outside and post up as well. (Sophomore guard) Jackie King's speed and quickness can break out on transition ahead of the pack and has a great mid range shot."

No. 2 Leading Edge (23-4): Last season, the Gilbert program reached the state championship game in its first year as an Arizona Interscholastic Association member. This year, the team is led by five seniors with college offers, Ariana Clavell, Prima Chillis (16 ppg, 7 rpg, 6 spg, 4 apg), Emily Broos, Halle Price (13.5 ppg) and Jasmine McKinney (14.5 ppg). Maria Estrada is averaging 14.5 points per game. “We have been successful this season, I believe, because of our family atmosphere, belief in each other as well as the motivation from losing in last year’s state title game,” coach Erik Gray said. “We have six seniors and many of them have been playing together since they were in junior high.” The team lost an important piece, Clavell, a 6-2 post player, early in the season with a labrum injury. The team still defeated 6A Horizon this season.

1. 3 Valley (20-1): The Pirates are 75-4 since Dorothy Mitchell took over three seasons ago. The program has reached the championship game during that span, winning its past two title game appearances. Valley’s only loss this season was by three points to the 3A Conference’s state tournament’s 1 seed, Ganado. Junior Valiyah Yazzie’s 23.2 points per game average ranks fifth best in the state, according to maxpreps.com. Nizhoni James’ 61 threes and 5.5 steals rank ninth and eighth in the state, respectively. The team is averaging 22.4 steals per game this season, third highest in the state.

No. 4 Chandler Prep (21-3): “We have a great group of juniors who have been starters since they were freshmen,” said first-year coach Shawn Lytle. “Couple that with good leadership, and we have played well this year.” Junior point guard Justine Cooper is averaging 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and six steals per game. Junior shooting guard Olivia Mulloy is averaging 12 points and five rebounds per game and has 55 threes this season. Shooting guard Jordan Morrison is averaging 12 points, five rebounds per game and has 30 threes so far. Post player Taylor Mantle is averaging five rebounds per game and is “our senior leader and top defensive player.”

No. 5 Scottsdale Christian (20-5): The program won its region and reached the playoffs for the third year in a row under third-year coach Travis Hearn, the senior pastor for Impact Church and team paster for the Phoenix Suns. “This is a brand new group of girls compared to last year’s team, which returned only one starter, Kylie Hearn,” Hearn said. “We graduated seven seniors last year. Our active roster has only seven girls. We actually have eight, but our second best player, sophomore star Jordan McDonald, tore her ACL in the first two minutes of the first game of the year against Ray. Our team has defied all the odds, having two girls start who were on JV last year, Lily Snyder and Emma Kawamoto, and one girl start who didn't play at all last year, sophomore Hayden Hancock.” Kylie is the state’s leader in assists at 8.1 and is also averaging 16.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.8 steals per game. Last year, another player suffered an injury in the first game of the season against Ray, Payton Kolar. She returned this year and had a break out season, averaging 17 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. “The sleeping giant woke up,” Hearn joked.

No. 6 Camp Verde (23-7): This is the 17th time coach Mark Showers’ program has reached the postseason in his 21 seasons. Camp Verde reached the semifinals in 2009 and 2012 and was the 2A runner up in 2007. The amazing thing about this season is that Camp Verde has so far improved its win total by five games with a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores. The “veteran” of the team is junior guard Hope Ontiveros. The strength of the team is in its sophomore class, including guard Amanda Lozanilla (10 ppg) and guard Tanna Decker. “The scoring has been spread out, which has not allowed teams to concentrate on just one athlete,” Shower said.

No. 7 San Carlos (20-6): There’s only one senior on San Carlos’ roster, Britney Nosie. This is the sixth time in the past eight seasons that San Carlos has won at least 20 games. Sophomore Alyssa Martin is shooting 50 percent and leads the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. Junior Beyonce Cutter (12.6 ppg) and sophomore Heaven Cosen (10.4 ppg) are the other team’s leading scorers.

No. 8 Gilbert Christian (22-7): The program is 194-52 and has won two titles with Daryl Young at the helm since the 2010-11 season. At 5-feet-5, two-year captain Rachel Field leads the team in rebounding (8.2 per game) and is second in scoring (9.3 per game). The defense only allows 27 points per game. “Returning varsity starter Sarah van Rijn buying into the role as our leading scorer and point guard has been a difference maker for us on offense,” Young said. “An important part of our success has been dealing positively with injuries. Victoria Zebb (returning leading scorer from 2016-17 and our floor leader) fractured a bone in early December and has had to sit and watch six weeks of her senior season. We have also had two different varsity athletes miss multiple weeks of the season with concussions. The team persevered these trials with positive attitudes, resilience and commitment.” Field, van Rijn, Zebb and junior Gwyneth Finkbeiner are the captains.