Xavier coach Barb Chura is not bashful when it comes to talking about freshman forward Nikki Walts -- and for good reason. Walts scored two goals in the final 13 minutes Wednesday to help the Gators skip past Desert Vista, 3-1, in a 5A-I girls soccer semifinal at Campo Verde High School.

Broncos pick up the pace in the second half, get goals from Grigsby and Ayers for 2-1 win.

About three dozen athletes, coaches to be honored in ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 8.

Jim Ewan retires from Chandler High after 40-year coaching career; Tom Joseph deserved better at Mountain View.

Junior Dimitri O\'Brien leads team in Class 1A quarterfinals.

School honored cancer survivors, raised donations.

It is not easy for athletes to follow in the footsteps of a successful sibling. For Cory Breinholt, he has experienced a double helping of that pie. Breinholt, a senior completing his fourth varsity season running cross country at Highland High, watched brothers Craig and Derek achieve at a high level in the sport. Craig, who ran from 2002-2004, was the individual state champ in 5A his senior year (2004). Derek peaked at No. 3 in the state his senior season (2007) and collected three top-10 finishes overall at state.

Using two quarterbacks and switching between them is something Mesquite football coach Mike Reardon is used to. He seems to like it. Gives him something to toy with over the weekend after a game. Reardon pulled a switcheroo two weeks ago with his current QBs -- junior Steven Bevan and senior Tommy Trammell. Trammell played well the first three games and then ran into the buzzsaw known as Chaparral. Bevan took over halfway through that game. It was the Wildcats only loss. Reardon liked what he saw of Bevan in that one and the last two weeks Bevan has been the starter. Barring injury, Bevan will be the Wildcats\\\\\\\' guy the rest of the way.

Chandler High and Brophy Prep accomplished some things Thursday night. Both got to see things they needed for later in the season. But only one couid come away with the victory at Austin Field and the W went to the host Wolves. Chandler fought off a third-quarter surge by Brophy with a similar fourth quarter that turned the tables and produced a 43-29 victory in a 5A Fiesta Region clash.

Several unbeatens lock horns in this third full week of high school action. The games are spread across the conferences with several good ones in 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A.

Westwood hurdler Cameron Taylor enjoyed a heck of a summer.

There's no hiding Mo Latu. During team pictures recently Perry High's two-way lineman was positioned in the back row center. Seated amidst 40 or so other teammates that would serve to obscure him. Yet Latu is not engulfed. At 6-foot-3, 310 pounds, the senior sticks out like a sore thumb with extra wide shoulders making it impossible to hide him.

Event featured athletes from the White Mountains area.