Basketball Garners Open Division Berth for Second Straight Season
Brophy will host No. 24 Prescott on Wednesday as the No. 9 seed in the Open Division bracket announced Saturday. The winner will advance to play the winner of No. 8 Boulder Creek and No. 25 Desert Vista on Friday.
“Anytime you get a chance to play in a bracket format like this, you have 32 outstanding teams who have had good seasons,” said Head Coach Matt Hooten. “You are battling to win five games, 2 to get in the elite eight of the open, and three to win the title. It is an exciting time of the year.”
Prescott is 19-2 on the season and the No. 7 ranked team in 4A after winning the Grand Canton Region with an 11-0 record. The Badgers have won 13 straight games overall.
“We had a chance to see them a little bit at the NAU Team Camp,” said Hooten. “They had a really good season last year and brought a lot of those guys back. They have a dynamic point guard, some shooters, and a talented big guy. We are going to have to do our homework and be prepared for a great game.”
Brophy played a combined 12 games against teams in the Open bracket during the regular season.
“The intensity of the games we have been in from the first game of the season is a huge benefit when you get to this time of the year where every position matters,” said Hooten. “You are trying to win every quarter. It is a situation we have been in since early December.”
Brophy College Preparatory celebrated its 76th commencement on Saturday, May 18, at 9 a.m. in Robson Gymnasium. This graduation was significant for the Class of 2024, who began their high school journey remotely due to the pandemic.
The Class of 2024 demonstrated resilience and connection despite the challenges of starting their education online. Their unity and adaptability were evident throughout their time at Brophy, embodying their class theme: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Valedictorian Doer Leo He delivered a memorable speech, drawing parallels to the movie "Finding Nemo" and encouraging his classmates to persevere with the phrase, "Just keep swimming." President Bob Ryan and Principal Jim Bopp also spoke, highlighting the graduates' resilience and urging them to be agents of positive change.
The ceremony concluded with a strong sense of pride and accomplishment, celebrating the Class of 2024's journey from remote learning to a united and triumphant graduation.