Postseason prep basketball tourneys tip off this week

Region basketball tournaments start this week, and that usually means the much-anticipated showdown between Centennial and Bishop Gorman for the Sunset Region girls title.

Only they can’t meet in the final this season.

For the first time since 2002 the Gaels and Bulldogs won’t face off in the Sunset championship game, though they still could see each other in the semifinals. Gorman (20-6) finished second in the Southwest League this season, putting the Gaels on the same side of the bracket as Centennial (26-2).

Southwest champion Desert Oasis (19-5) is the other top team in the tournament, which begins on Wednesday at host sites. Centennial has played in 17 consecutive Sunset title games, and the Bulldogs currently are ranked No. 4 in the nation by USA Today.

Liberty (28-1) looks like the overwhelming favorite in the Sunrise Region girls tournament, which also begins on Wednesday along with the Class 3A Southern Region tournament.

The boys region tournaments begin on Tuesday at host sites, and eight-time defending Sunset champion Bishop Gorman (17-9) figures to have its hands full. Clark (23-3), the area’s top-ranked team, defeated the Gaels 68-62 on Jan. 31, and is a top contender to unseat Gorman. But the Chargers will have to get past Oregon-signee Troy Brown and No. 3 Centennial (22-4) first. Clark and Centennial will meet in the semifinals if they get past Tuesday’s first round.

On the Sunrise boys side, Coronado (15-9) will look to repeat as champ, but the Cougars figure to face a stiff test from Canyon Springs (20-2).

The Sunset Region tournaments move to Shadow Ridge after the first round, with boys semifinals on Thursday and girls semis on Friday. Both championship games are scheduled for Saturday. The Sunrise semifinals and finals will be played at Canyon Springs, with the 3A tournaments moving to Sunrise Mountain for semifinals and finals.