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With playoff brackets announced, teams are ready to begin their journey for a title as the 3A Girls Basketball State Championships are scheduled to get underway this week.

Last season’s playoffs were full of surprises, including only one Top 5 team making it to the Final Four at Arizona Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix a year ago.

Will Alchesay repeat as champs this month? Will Show Low finally get over the hump to claim a title? Who will be the surprise team, or teams, in bracket play? We’ll find out soon as February Frenzy is underway!

SHOW LOW

The Cougars (26-2, 8-1 3A East) have lost only two games all season, but a few of their wins in 2023-24 have people talking like they’re the favorite to win it all.

Show Low shocked the world with a victory over 4A defending state champion Flagstaff back in December, on Flagstaff’s home floor no less.

Victories over Monument Valley (No. 7), Valley Christian (No. 4), Chinle (No. 13), St. Johns (top 2A school), Snowflake (No. 5) and Blue Ridge (No. 12) make it seem like those “people” may be right.

Their losses? A tough Miami club (2A No. 2) in December and a determined Snowflake (3A No. 5) team in early February looking to even the score.

Show Low’s 52-35 loss to Alchesay in the 3A title game a season ago has them itching for another chance at the trophy.

“We are working well as a team, we are playing tough defense and we are comfortable in the roles that we are asked to play,” Show Low head coach Christie Francis said. “We come to practice every day ready to learn, to push ourselves and each other and prepare for the next game ahead.”

Led by Raquel Wilson, Aubrie Wilson, Grace Moore and Mikenzie Kulish, the No. 3-seeded Cougars have three players over 100 steals this year. More has 49.

As a team, they average 21.5 per game.

“Without all 12 girls buying into the team concept and committing to playing good defense, we would not be where we are today,” Francis said.

FOUNTAIN HILLS

Winners of 12 straight, the Falcons (21-4, 11-0 3A North Central) are primed for a run, and other than their season-opening loss to Valley Christian (49-44), No. 6-seeded Fountain Hills has been on a tear this winter.

“This year’s team success is based on many different things. The most important in my opinion is the cohesiveness this group has,” Fountain Hills head coach Amanda Baca said. “They trust each other on the court and share a passion for working hard, which is a big part of the culture building we try to do within this program.”

Led by senior Alicia Ibarra (17.1 ppg) and junior Seliah Smith (11.3 ppg), Fountain Hills has key victories over Northwest Christian, Camp Verde, Gilbert Christian and Mountain View Marana this season.

The Falcons lost in round one to then-No. 10 Chinle a season ago, 68-35.

COOLIDGE

Featuring one of the top scorers in 3A basketball this season in Alaysia White (20.1 ppg), the sophomore also averages 13.5 rebounds and 8.2 steals per game, making her one of the best players in the state of Arizona.

“Alaysia is a dynamic defender who uses her energy and next-level athleticism to pester ball handlers,” Coolidge head coach Aaron Monteverde said. “[She] plays the passing lanes [and] uses her unstoppable motor to create easy opportunities in transition, as well as rebounds and putbacks.”

The Bears lost early in the tournament a season ago, a 44-34 defeat at the hands of Snowflake.

Coolidge (16-9, 7-1 3A South Central) barely lost to region champ Valley Christian back on Feb. 5, 44-42, and should be a threat at No. 8 when games begin this week.

PUSCH RIDGE

The Lions (17-7, 5-1 3A South) has won nine straight and are eager for another crack at a 3A playoff setting after earning a No. 7 seed a season ago, only to be upset by No. 10 Chinle, 61-35.

Chinle move on to the Final Four before a 41-35 loss to Show Low.

“We do not have one superstar, but are a well-balanced team,” Pusch Ridge coach Ken Urdahl said. “Each of our girls understands their individual roles in the overall team goal. Together we have a team that works to become better.”

No. 9 Pusch Ridge has only one player averaging double figures in scoring with senior Sedona Dietrich at 10.8 points per game.

PAYSON

The Longhorns (16-11, 2-7 3A East) have struggled down the stretch with four straight losses heading into the 3A state playoffs, but with senior Lizzy White averaging nearly a double-double (9.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg), you never know what No. 17 Payson will do.

“Lizzy is the returning 3A East Defensive Player of the Year. … She is an absolute force in the paint and a huge reason we have had so much success defensively as a team,” Payson head coach Chaz Davis said.

The Longhorns missed out on the 3A playoffs last season.

OTHER TEAM NOTES

Alchesay comes into the tournament having won only 14 games this season after winning 24 a season ago to claim the 3A title. … Window Rock finished second in the 3A North behind only Page after making the 3A state semifinals a season ago. … Page as the No. 1 seed might be the team to beat this February with 11 straight wins and two seniors in Alyssa Harris and Sofia Cambridge for opposing teams to deal with. … Monument Valley enters this playoff season with a chip on their shoulder after losing to Chile in the Elite 8 as a No. 2 seed a season ago. The No. 7 Mustangs feature three players in double figures scoring.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.