They’re all over the sports pages!!

Almost everywhere you look, you’ll find female athletes from high schools in Phoenix, the north and northwest Valley excelling at the collegiate level.

Take today (Thursday), for instance.

Start with the photo of Arizona State basketball guard Dymond Simon of Phoenix St. Mary’s, who scored 13 points to lead the Sun Devils past Oregon State in the first round of the Pac-10 Conference Tournament. A few of her teammates are from the north-northwest Valley – Becca Tobin of Glendale Cactus and Olivia Major of Phoenix Washington.

Another St. Mary’s product, Davellyn Whyte, was busy helping the University of Arizona defeat Oregon with a 23-point effort.

Also take a look at Grand Canyon University’s basketball team, preparing to play in the NCAA Division II West Regional. Antelopes senior Samantha Murphy, from Phoenix Xavier Prep, is one of the leading candidates to be the Pacific West Player of the Year.

Grand Canyon also is excelling in softball. Former Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor pitcher Kirstin Linert was named national Division II and Pacific West Pitcher of the Week.