Two of the three local girls basketball teams look to be holding on to their jerseys after the regular season ends in two weeks.
The top 24 teams in each conference qualify for at least a play-in game with an opportunity to make the 16-team playoff field.
The Eastmark girls are in the best position at No. 9 overall with the hopes of breaking into the top eight in order to receive an automatic bid into the postseason.
Teams that finish the regular season ninth through 24th in the 2A to 6A conferences qualify for the conference play-in game in order to make the playoffs.
The Firebirds, who are just in their third season of competition, are 12-9 overall and 3-1 in the 3A Metro standings entering the week.
Eastmark is chasing Gilbert Christian in the region standings after losing 40-33 on Jan. 10. The rematch will be at home on Feb. 2 with hopes of making a push for its first championship.
The Firebirds are led by senior center Mylie Stones and sophomore guard Riley Farnstom with second-year coach Wayne Brimley attempting to get the program to the postseason for the first time.
“We want to set the standard for all of the teams that come after us,” Stones said earlier this season. “We haven’t won a lot the first two years, but now we step on the court knowing we can compete and win.”
The Queen Creek girls enter the week inside the top 24 at No. 21 in 6A so the Bulldogs needs to finish strong to earn a spot in the play-in tournament.
Queen Creek is 5-11 overall and are in third place in the 6A Central, but still have those play-in hopes as long as the Bulldogs have a strong finish to the season.
Three of those wins came in the last five games, so for Queen Creek it might be coming together at the right time.
“We control our own destiny,” first-year coach Glenn Odonal said. “We’re come a long way after having to change the culture and essentially the entire coaching staff.
“We lost one player for personal reasons and another to injury recently. We’ll find out how these girls react to the adversity and adjust to the new lineup.”
A pair of juniors lead the way as Madison Dawson averages 11.6 points and Estrella Garcia, who leads the team in steals at 2.6 per game, adds 10.6 points, but both might be lost for the season.
It means players like Oliaga Glass, who leads the team in rebounds at 5.3, and freshman point guard Marlee Straub will take on more prominent roles.
“We are setting the foundation for things to come with new coaches and building the feeder programs at junior high, and starting a club team for the summer,” Odonal said. “Whatever we accomplish the rest of this year can help set the tone and expectations for the years to come.”
The ALA Queen Creek girls look to be outside of the 4A postseason as the Patriots sit at No. 34 entering this week’s action.
The Patriots are struggling at 3-11 overall and 1-2 4A Desert Sky region standings.
