Southern Arizona 5A Playoffs: under the radar performers

The Divisions in the Arizona State Playoffs are now set. The 4A through 6A Conferences are at the round of 16, and the Open Division is in the Quarterfinals. In Southern Arizona, the 5A Conference has 3 teams that performed very well during the regular season and are in position to possibly reach the Finals or win a State Title. Pueblo, Catalina Foothills, and Nogales are the 3 teams from Southern Arizona that are still alive and all of these teams have had contributions from players that are considered under the radar.     Southern Arizona 5A under the radar performers:      [player_tooltip player_id='1196508' first='Brooklyn' last='Espinosa'] plays a critical role for the #4 Ranked Pueblo Warriors. She is a very good defender and rebounder. She can cover guards or forwards on defense, and she is extremely good in press situations. On offense, she can score the mid-range shot, and she is versatile around the basket. Just a Sophomore, she has a lot of upside.     [player_tooltip player_id='1196511' first='Asia' last='Clark'] is another player for Pueblo that plays a vital role in their success. She is a very good scorer. She can score on all 3 levels, but she is developing into a very good 3 point shooter. She can play the shooting guard position or small forward. She is also a tenacious defender especially in the press which Pueblo is extremely efficient with.     [player_tooltip player_id='1196502' first='Celine' last='Lopez'] is a developing player that starts for a very good Pueblo team. She is very poised for a Freshman. She can handle the ball under pressure, and she can hit open shots when those opportunities arise. She is a very good defender and she has tremendous upside as her game continues to evolve.     [player_tooltip player_id='772666' first='Kayanna' last='Chief'], despite being the Region Offensive Player of the Year, is an under the radar player in my opinion. She is a very good shooter especially from 3. She has a very high basketball IQ and she can create shots off the dribble and also facilitate to open players. She is long for a guard and is a nightmare to guard on the corner 3. She is an under rated defensive player that knows how to get into good position as a defender and a rebounder.     [player_tooltip player_id='1197415' first='Maliya' last='Tiznado'] is a very good point guard that has excellent ball skills and passing ability. She is very savvy under pressure and she is calm for a Sophomore in critical situations. She is a good shooter and defender and her ceiling is high as she fits well in a very good system at Catalina Foothills.     [player_tooltip player_id='1050012' first='Lexi' last='Chavez'] is a budding star for the Nogales Lady Apaches. She logged huge minutes this year as a freshman, and she will continue to get better and better. She is a very good shooter and she has the ability to create shots for herself off the dribble. She is a very coachable player and she displays excellent leadership skills. She will be one of the best to ever come out of Nogales when her career is over.     [player_tooltip player_id='1197266' first='Viviana' last='Carillo'] plays multiple roles for the Lady Apaches and is counted on to defend the other teams best offensive player. She is a long defender that has a tremendous motor. She can score the mid range shot or she can score in the paint. She is always upbeat and communicating to her teammates and keeps the energy up for her team which is important for Nogales as they move forward.     Judith Casas is one of the unheralded players for the Lady Apaches that can do it all. She can play the point guard position which is her natural spot, or she can play the shooting guard positions and hit open shots at a high level. She is a tenacious defender and she plays with energy and passion. Nogales relies on her experience and poise to help them get through crucial moments of games.

The Divisions in the Arizona State Playoffs are now set. The 4A through 6A Conferences are at the round of 16, and the Open Division is in the Quarterfinals. In Southern Arizona, the 5A Conference has 3 teams that performed very well during the regular season and are in position to possibly reach the Finals or win a State Title. Pueblo, Catalina Foothills, and Nogales are the 3 teams from Southern Arizona that are still alive and all of these teams have had contributions from players that are considered under the radar.