READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!

Articles from local papers about sports, clubs and classes at Amphi High School.

Thank you to The Arizona Daily Star for their permission to reprint stories here.

Panthers put 'hammer down'

HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: AMPHITHEATER 80, PALO VERDE 52

Michael J. Craven Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Game plans rarely unfold exactly as they are drawn, but Amphitheater's execution wasn't far from perfect against Palo Verde on Tuesday night. Even Panthers coach Ben Hurley, the author, was a little surprised at how nicely things came together. For the first time this season against Palo Verde, Amphi was able to completely manipulate the game, and responded with an 80-52 thumping of its crosstown counterpart. The win extended the Panthers' winning streak to 26 and clinched the 4A-II Gila Region title. "I just think it was a game where we were running on all cylinders," Hurley said. "Everything was working for us on offense. Everything was working for us on defense. It was just one of those nights." The domination came early and often. Midway through the first quarter, Amphi embarked on a 24-0 run that didn't end until a minute into the second period. By the time the Titans knew what hit them, the score was 33-7. "With our press, we can put the hammer down at any time," Amphi forward Tim Derksen said. The shock was that "the hammer" came down at all. In two previous games, Amphi (26-1, 13-0 4A-II Gila) and Palo Verde (21-6, 9-4) traded baskets to the final minute. The Panthers won by three in November, and by six on Palo Verde's home floor in early January. So what happened this time? "The difference was that it was more of a team effort," Derksen said. "Everyone contributed." In fact, the Panthers had five players in double figures. Lester Medford had a team-high 17, Malcolm Millner and Fred Simms each had 16, Bakeer Fellah had 12 and Derksen chipped in 10. It also didn't hurt that Amphi was able to play its style of basketball, something the Panthers were unable to do in previous meetings. That style includes a fast-paced, up-tempo rhythm, pressing throughout the game, and, on the rare occasion an opponent breaks the press, an in-your-face, physical half-court defense. All of it was present. "I'm glad we made it more up-tempo this time," Millner said. "We made them play our game." Palo Verde threatened to make a game of it in the second quarter, using a 20-8 run to cut the deficit to 14, but that's when the Panthers shut off the rally. Amphi scored 10 of the next 14 points, took a 20-point lead into the break and never looked back. Titans star Bryce Cotton scored 15 of his game-high 29 in the second quarter, but his effort simply was not enough. The Panthers led by 30 at the end of the third quarter, and by 33 during the fourth. Hurley said he believes the win should secure Amphi a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs. "Now is the time we want to be playing our best basketball, because we're just about to roll into the playoffs." "The only thing that's on our mind is state championship," Derksen added. "If we don't win a state championship, the streak, all these wins, they don't even matter." high school soccer state PLAYOFF SCHEDULE Boys semifinals Today 5A-I (at Gilbert Campo Verde) • No. 1 Salpointe Catholic vs. No. 5 Tempe Corona del Sol, 5 p.m. 4A-I (at Tucson High School) • No. 1 Canyon del Oro vs. No. 4 Glendale Apollo, 5 p.m. • No. 6 Sabino vs. No. 15 Sahuaro, 7 p.m. 4A-II (at Salpointe Catholic) • No. 3 Amphitheater vs. No. 10 Palo Verde, 5 p.m. Friday 1A/2A/3A (at Phoenix Paradise Valley) • No. 1 Pusch Ridge vs. No. 5 Safford, 5 p.m. Girls semifinals Today 5A-II (at Phoenix Paradise Valley) • No. 5 Mountain View vs. No. 9 Scottsdale Desert Mountain, 5 p.m. Thursday 4A-I (at Tucson High School) • No. 1 Catalina Foothills vs. No. 5 Flowing Wells, 5 p.m.

Greg Hansen: Rare air for Panthers

Amphi feels it's on the verge of doing something special

In a parking lot outside McKale Center on Monday afternoon, 11 not-so-shy young men stripped to the waist and painted themselves shades of Amphi green and black. Then came a second coat of paint. The first guy became an A. The next guy was an M. Then came P, H, I, T, H, E, A, T, E, R. "Those knuckleheads have been doing it every game," smiling Amphi boys basketball coach Ben Hurley would say two hours later. "We really feed off their energy." To their credit, the green-and-black brigade knows good entertainment and can't seem to get enough. On Monday, a day off from school, they arrived in full colors to watch the Amphi Relays, Part 19. In winning for the 19th consecutive time, Amphi scored 98 points in a game abbreviated from 32 minutes to about 28 when officials decided not to stop the clock for the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter. The Panthers (19-1) still might have scored 100 had not sophomore star Tim Derksen elected to dribble out the final seconds, showing some mercy in a 98-58, MLK Basketball Classic victory over Pueblo, which, at 11-7, is a capable team itself. It's just that Amphi appears to be onto something so special that it has a chance to win its first basketball state championship in 71 years of existence. "We've got chemistry," said speedy junior guard Lester Medford, the trigger-man of a run-and-stun defense that forced more than 30 Pueblo turnovers. "What we run is perfect for us." In his third season as Amphi's head coach, Hurley has implemented a dribble-drive offense that has become the rage, invented by once-obscure junior-college coach Vance Walberg and brought to light by Kentucky's John Calipari. In the dribble-drive, quickness kills, and Amphi's Medford, Malcolm Millner, Domineik Banks and Fred Simms, among others, operate at blur-level speed. Former UA associate head coach Jim Rosbrough, now an assistant coach at Pima College, watched Amphi take a 55-26 halftime Monday lead and left impressed. He compared Amphi's offensive structure to the attacking offense Arizona deployed with Michael Dickerson, Mike Bibby and Miles Simon to win the 1997 NCAA championship. Amphi is averaging 83 points, which is the equivalent of 104 in a college game. In their last five outings, the Panthers have scored 101, 99, 109, 80 and 98. Of course, none of those points can be put toward tonight's colossal showdown against Santa Rita, Tucson's most feared boys basketball opponent with Southern Arizona's most accomplished player, point guard Terrell Stoglin. The Panthers will meet the Eagles at 7 on the Amphi campus in what Hurley suggests could be played before a capacity crowd. "We played at Palo Verde last Friday, and our side of the gym was full for a road game," he said. "We've got about 2,000 seats there, maybe 2,200. It should be full." Amphi's rise to prominence isn't unexpected. Hurley coached the Panthers to a 26-7 finish and a region championship last year. He uses 10 players in his pressing, trapping defensive system, which can be exhausting. It's a no-star system, although Derksen, a lefty with good touch, has range to 20 feet and can also score off the dribble. By the time Amphi led 82-48 after three quarters Monday, I counted 46 points that came as a result of defensive pressure, steals and interceptions, that led to quick strikes on offense. It's a smothering and unrelenting, guard-abundant style that Hurley fully installed over the summer. "You attack like crazy," said Pat Derksen, who was Amphi's varsity coach from 1987 to 2006 and has returned as an assistant. "I've really been renewed by the energy and enthusiasm of this club." The beauty of Amphi's emergence is that it isn't a team that fell together by accident. "I saw them all coming from middle school and other Amphi district youth teams," Hurley said. "They've known each other for a long time, and they play together well. They're unselfish. They know we need to run 'em in and out to stay fresh." Tonight's Amphi-Santa Rita game is a continuation of a remarkably competitive three-way Gila Region series that also includes 16-4 Palo Verde. It's a reflection on the notably improved caliber of high school basketball in Tucson, which probably has a dozen potential Division I scholarship recruits, perhaps the highest number ever. Amphi has played in but one state title game in 71 years, a 1949 loss to Tucson High, and has produced just four all-state players in that span: Sid Kain in 1949, Jim Sparks in 1952, Bill O'Donald in 1953 and Craig Meyer in 1964. But that's ancient history; starting tonight, the Panthers of 2010 have a chance to make a little of their own. Contact Greg Hansen at 573-4362 or ghansen@azstarnet.com

All-guard Amphi too talented, too quick for Dorados

By Casey Crowe Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.09.2009

Guard-heavy is not a fair term for the Amphitheater boys hoops program. That is because the entire roster is composed completely of guards, the only true position on the floor in the Panthers style of play. With that make-up, speed is king and the Panthers showed off a fast and talent-loaded backcourt by routing Canyon del Oro 82-42 on the Dorados' home floor Tuesday night. Seven players scored at least seven points for the Panthers. "There are no positions really, except guard," said Amphi sophomore Tim Derksen, the son of former longtime Amphi coach Pat Derksen. "It is just a bunch of guards trying to run up and down the floor, giving each other help and making plays." This game was not close from the outset. Amphi star Lester Medford drilled a three-pointer to open the game. Domeinik Banks stole the ball on the ensuing Dorados possession, returned that for a layup and forced a Canyon del Oro timeout 32 seconds into the game. "We're all about fundamentals and the help side on defense," said Medford, who totaled 16. "It's a team thing for everyone. We just get up on our guys, and then we have people backing us up if they get by." The stoppage in play did not slow down the Panthers' flow at all. Amphitheater (7-1) forced the Dorados (2-6) to throw the ball out of bounds on the next trip down court, and Derksen drilled a short jumper on the other end for a 7-0 lead. After the Panthers full-court swarm immediately forced another turnover, Derksen — who finished with 15 points — drained a three-pointer for a 10-0 lead. Canyon del Oro did not score until there were 2 minutes 2 seconds left in the first quarter, and by then, Amphi owned an 18-0 advantage, which the Panthers stretched to 28-4 by the time the period was over. It got even worse for the Dorados in the second quarter. Leading scorer Josh Lewis went down with an apparent ankle injury and left the game for the duration. A three-pointer from reserve guard Zach Roth at the buzzer to end the first half made it 52-27, a lead Amphi stretched to 80-34 in the third quarter, forcing a running clock for the entirety of the final period. "We've run this game plan for the last 20 years, but this year we really have the personnel, loaded at the guards, to play at this level," said Amphi coach Ben Hurley. "And it seems like someone different steps up every game. Every night there is a different top player."

AMPHITHEATER 35, WILLIAMS FIELD 34, OT

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.14.2009

At Gilbert, No. 13 Amphi (8-3) knocked off No. 4 Williams Field (9-2) in an overtime thriller by blocking the Black Hawks' extra-point attempt. • Highlight reel: Amphi will face No.5 Santa Rita in the quarterfinals Friday. The Panthers lost to the Eagles 37-7 on Oct.16. • By the numbers: 1997. The last year Amphi won a state playoff game. Amphi finished as state runner-up. • He said it: "We hung in there, and we went into overtime, and they had the overtime, and we beat them. It was a pretty gutsy ball game. ¬ "The only way you can beat the best is by playing the best, and (Santa Rita is) the best. We'll work hard all week, try to hang with them." — Amphi coach Vern Friedli

Amphi Advances to the Semi-Finals

Amphitheater 3, Phoenix Greenway 1 (13-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-22): At Phoenix, Amphitheater's dangerous frontline combo of Erin Bradley and Taylor Lane combined for 26 kills, 36 digs and 11 aces as the No. 5-seeded Panthers pulled off the road upset of No. 4 Greenway. After losing the opener, Amphi swept three straight sets. "We've played like that all year, where it usually takes us a game to adjust," said Amphi coach David Thistle. "But once we settled down and used the scouting report, we were great." Amphi will play at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at Chandler Hamilton High School.

How will this year's volleyball team fare?

Volleyball Super Seven: Preseason

Gallery 125, open at the Performing Arts Center at Amphi High School displays some of the talent and hard work of Amphi's students.

New gallery features photos by area high school students

Jennifer Bates stood back and watched as people stopped and fixated on her photograph. Before Wednesday, Bates had never had her work on display for public viewing. But now her photograph of a teenage girl covered in corporate logos is part of a "Culture Jam 2009" show at a new student-run gallery at Amphitheater High School, 125 W. Yavapai Road. Gallery 125, which opened Wednesday, features works from student photographers from Amphi, Canyon del Oro and Flowing Wells high schools. "It's a step up from just having your work in competitions," Bates said. "I stood there and thought, 'He's looking at my photo.'" Half of the space in Gallery 125, which is located in the lobby of Amphi's performing arts center, is dedicated to a permanent collection of work by current and former Amphi students. The other half of the space will be used to showcase different exhibitions. "I never dreamed when we started this that it would evolve into this. For me, it's a great success," Amphi photography teacher Andrew Bevington said about Gallery 125. Bevington said that collaborating with two other high schools on the gallery's first exhibition speaks to Amphi's mission to make Gallery 125 a premier venue for high school photographers. Gallery 125 is a culmination of two years of work by Amphi students and Bevington. The Joint Technological Education District is providing financial support. Former Amphi student Chelsea Cota, who has photographs on display in the permanent collection, put a team of students together, wrote a mission statement and came up with a concept for Gallery 125. Cota is a student at the University of Arizona. "They wanted to make it for us (Amphi students), but also to incorporate all the schools in Tucson and possibly the larger Southwest region," Bevington said. Amphi senior Marlena Ratliff is responsible for running the gallery's day-to-day operations. Amphi students Tim Gilbert and Bailey Milbauer also are involved. Ratliff, 18, has a photograph, "The Fall," on display in the permanent collection, which is called "Constructed Image" and explores themes such as loss, isolation and fear. Ratliff photographed her mother's wedding dress for "The Fall." "It's not just a picture of a wedding dress falling," she said. "It represents the fall of innocence." Having a part in opening Gallery 125 allowed Ratliff to discover what it's like to do more than just take photos. "You don't just click the camera, stick the photo in a frame and slap it on the wall," she said. "There's more to it." Ratliff and other students spackled and painted the lobby walls and meticulously measured and leveled photos so they would hang on the wall evenly. "All year long we have put so much effort into this, trying to make this space become a gallery to showcase student work," she said. Amphi junior Travis Frank has two black-and-white prints on display in the gallery. In his photos, 16-year-old Frank captured balloons exploding. "I've always had an interest in photography, and when I heard about the gallery I jumped at the opportunity," he said. Frank said he likes that he can walk around the gallery and see his own work, as well as the work of his current and former classmates. "I think it's a very strong body of work," he said. "It's a really good reminder that even if it's high school, it's a great place to find young artists." Contact reporter Andrea Rivera at 806-7737 or arivera@azstarnet.com.

Amphitheater 71, Buckeye 66

Host Amphitheater (24-6) needed 26 fourth-quarter points to rally from a three-point deficit at the end of the third period. Amphi, the No. 2 seed, was out-scored 23-10 in the third, but the Panthers advanced to the second round with the help of Chris Johnson.
Player of the game: Johnson had 21 points — 10 field goals and 1 for 2 from the free-throw line.
He said it: "(Buckeye) really picked up the intensity in the second half, but we played our game in the fourth and got it done." — Amphi coach Ben Hurley

The Star Super Seven (Boys Hoops) - Drive to the Playoffs

02/02/2009 11:55 PM
Casey Crowe
A serious debt of hype is due to Cienega.
Behind the silky long-range touch of 6-foot-3-inch, 160-pound shooting guard Coree Aten, and the vast improvement of 6-foot-4-inch forward Brandon Burnett, the Bobcats are Southern Arizona’s top 4A-I hoops team, and then some… According to the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s power-points system, Matt Johnson’s Cienega squad is the No.1-ranked – that’s right, Number One – boys squad in the entire state’s 4A-I. And closely trailing Cienega is one of the best defenses in the state as Catalina Foothills, under former Salpointe Catholic coach Michael Steward’s tutelage, is the No.2-ranked team in the conference. Both squads easily cracked this week’s Star Super Seven, with the Cienega honors ridiculously overdue. 1) Santa Rita (16-8): Winners of 11 of last 12, and on a five-game tear of double-digit victories. Jim Ferguson’s Eagles are the No.2-ranked team in the state’s 4A-II.
2) Ironwood Ridge (19-4): Brian Peabody’s Nighthawks are 17-1 against Southern Arizona foes, the only loss coming against Santa Rita; ranked No. 2 in the state’s 5A-II.
3) Sierra Vista Buena (18-6): Winners of 10 of last 11 and the No.8-ranked team in the state’s highest-level conference – the 5A-I.
4) Cienega (19-7): Winners of 11 straight, and the No.1-ranked team in the state’s 4A-I.
5) Amphitheater (21-5): Winners of 12 of last 13; only loss in that span was to Santa Rita. Panthers are No. 3 in the state’s 4A-II.
6) Rincon/University (18-6): After ten game mid-season win spree, the Rangers have lost three of their last eight, but still remain ranked No.4 in the state’s 5A-II.
T7) Catalina Foothills (19-6), Pueblo (18-7): Foothills hasn’t lost since Jan. 13, and is ranked No.2 in the state’s 4A-I. Pueblo, winners of five of its last six, is ranked No.5 in the 4A-I. The Warriors are tied with Foothills for the 4A-I Sonoran regular-season lead.

Panthers turn back Eagles in overtime

By Casey Crowe
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.06.2009
Reputations are difficult to break. And Santa Rita coach Jim Ferguson said he believes owning the title of Southern Arizona's pre-eminent basketball powerhouse is haunting the latest version of his program. A heavy favorite to defend their 4A-II Gila Region crown and contend for the state championship, the Eagles were plagued by a nightmare of a Tuesday night from star point guard Terrell Stoglin. He was 6 for 22 from the field as Amphitheater won 59-58 in overtime. "That reputation we have as the best in the city, it's not true at this time," said Ferguson, whose team has traveled to Washington, D.C., and Torrey Pines, Calif., to compete against several of the top teams in the nation. "We come back to Tucson thinking that we've already played better teams than (Amphi) and that we can beat anyone back home. That's not the case. Amphi was a better basketball team than we were all night." With three seconds showing on the clock in the extra period and the Eagles leading 58-57, Santa Rita was whistled for a two-shot foul, sending Amphi swingman Chris Johnson to the free-throw stripe with a chance to win it. Johnson missed the front end. But a lane violation was whistled against Santa Rita's Dominique Kelley. A gift handed to him by the referees, Johnson made the next two, and Santa Rita's final possession was thrown away on the inbounds. Amphitheater gave the biggest win to coach Ben Hurley in his two years on the job. Amphi played rugged defense, face-guarding and physically pounding Stoglin with a rotation of fresh bodies while holding the area's elite recruit scoreless until 20 seconds remained in the second quarter. The teams traded leads for much of the first half before Santa Rita went on a 12-6 run over the final five minutes of the second quarter, capped by a two-handed jam from forward Andre Hatchett as time expired. That gave the Eagles a 28-20 lead. Amphi responded in the third quarter when guard Malcolm Millner, one of the players responsible for defending Stoglin, drilled a three-pointer while being fouled. He then converted the free throw to tie the game at 38 with 2:37 left in the period. "There is a belief in each other, belief in the system, that even when things aren't going our way, we can stay steady and come back," said Hurley. "Everyone played together, and there was more than one guy that stepped up when we needed." Hatchett, who kept the Eagles in the game with a 22-point, 16- rebound effort, quickly snatched the lead back from Amphi, slamming home points on the next two possessions of the third quarter, including a jam off an inbounds pass. "I hadn't been finishing well coming into tonight," said Hatchett. "But I was focused on that, making sure I took advantage of easy chances. And I was getting passes near the basket in good spots." Santa Rita owned the advantage for nearly the entire fourth quarter before Johnson grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back to even the score at 51 with just over a minute left. Stoglin had a chance to win the contest in regulation but was whistled for a travel with four seconds left on the clock.

Amphi's Volleyball Girls set High marks in the Classroom. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Players are true student-athletes Amphi volleyball team, which went 20-1, tops in the classroom, too

By Andrea Rivera Arizona DAily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.20.2008
Amphitheater High School's girls volleyball team may have come up short Monday in the state title game, but the team doesn't come up short in the classroom.
The team entered the title game undefeated but dropped the 4A-II state title game to Chandler Seton Catholic High School on Monday and finished 20-1.
Despite the loss, the team had an outstanding season and their success is a tribute to the talent of athletes Sam Reynolds, Taheerah Moten, Jessica Manley, Erin Bradley, Iyonna Zortman, Taylor Lane, Mariah Ridge, Rowan Bond and coaches Rachel Williams and Joel Kosanke.
These students are just as talented in the classroom: Several of the players on the Amphi roster boast cumulative GPAs of at least 4.0..
"I've known them — and it's a credit to their parents — always to be fantastic citizens," Amphi athletic director Armando Soto said. "Their hard work and their dedication to the sport overflows into their studies. It's hard work that they have learned through the athletic program and it helps them in the classroom."
Junior Iyonna Zortman, whose GPA is around a 4.4, credits volleyball with her hard-won success in the classroom. "In volleyball, you learn a lot of stuff that helps you in life," she said. "You learn the harder you work, the more you get out of it. It goes for school, too. If you work hard, you will get good grades."
Most of the students are taking challenging advanced placement courses, including Zortman, and had to find a balance between practice and games and classroom responsibilities.
Some also have commitments to National Honor Society and various other clubs on campus.
Amphi coach Rachel Williams, who played volleyball at the University of Arizona, took an interest in how her players performed in the classroom.
Throughout the season, she regularly met with each student to discuss their grades and any assignments they were working on.
Senior Sam Reynolds, who was named the Gila Region Player of the Year, admits to sometimes putting volleyball before studying, but said she does try to show as much dedication to her schoolwork as she does to the sport. "Volleyball is our passion," she said. "In the classroom, we are not always as passionate about work as we are about volleyball, but at the same time, we all know to be disciplined on the court we have to be disciplined in other areas of our life. And one of those areas is the classroom."
Still, Reynolds has a 4.3 GPA.
Reynolds has enjoyed her history class this semester because the recent presidential election has made the course more relevant.
Her teammate Taylor Lane is more of a numbers person.
Pre-calculus is the sophomore's favorite course.
"I really like math and the fact that you can only get one answer," she said. Lane doesn't believe school comes easy to her and said she always has to study to earn her good grades. "I'm not really, really bright," she said. "I just get my work done."
But Lane, who has a 4.25 GPA, and the other girls tend to discount their efforts in the classroom, Soto said. He said they might believe they aren't putting any effort into their schoolwork because it comes so easy to them. All eight members of the team attended Amphi elementary schools and all eight attended Amphitheater Middle School, where they played volleyball together.
"We are proud of the fact that these girls are a product of our school district," Soto said.

Amphi's Lady Panthers earned the runner-up trophy at the state championship this year. The school, students and staff couldn't be more proud of our volleyball players. They displayed excellence this season earning a 20-1 record, showed class in defeat, and reminded all of us of the fun high school athletics can be every time they danced and sang during their pregame routines. Congratulations on a spectacular season, and from the student body, The Pit, the staff, teachers and administration, thank you.

In search of elusive crown, Amphi loses lead, state title

By Brett Booen Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.18.2008 advertisement PHOENIX — In the first set of Monday's 4A-II state championship girls volleyball match, Amphitheater jumped out to a 20-7 lead, and it looked as though a title celebration was a mere formality for the Panthers.
However, top-seeded Amphi let No.2 Chandler Seton Catholic gain some momentum in the closing points of the first set, and the Sentinels used it to dispatch the Panthers in the next three sets for a 3-1 victory and the state title. Set scores in the match at Phoenix Brophy College Preparatory were 25-19, 18-25, 18-25, 23-25.
It was Amphi's first trip to the state finals since 1985, when it lost to Glendale Apollo. The Panthers were trying to win Southern Arizona's first big-school girls volleyball state title since Rincon/University won the 4A crown in 1993. The 15-year drought for local 4A and 5A schools will extend into next season because Amphi was the last Tucson-area team remaining in the state playoffs.
"We fought hard, and we really left our hearts on the court," Amphi coach Rachel Williams said. "It really could have gone either way."
Amphi jumped out to its impressive 20-7 lead and consistently had good looks in its offensive attack. The Panthers' passing was crisp, and kills were slammed down with the bravado befitting of a No. 1 seed.
But Seton's Haley Lawless, a thorn in Amphi's side throughout, rattled off a six-point rally and gave the Sentinels plenty of momentum entering the second set despite being behind in the match.
Lawless had a match-high 20 kills and was the go-to hitter for Seton when the match was on the line. "Seton Catholic came out kind of dead, but then they woke up, and my kids didn't answer the call," said Williams.
In the second set, the teams traded points until a 16-16 tie, when Amphi seemed to get rattled by the high-pressure situation. The Panthers launched a couple of serves out of bounds, and then Lawless emphatically slammed home a kill on the final point to end the set on a 9-2 run.
The match might have turned in Seton's favor a moment earlier. With Amphi leading 16-15, Panthers setter Sam Reynolds attempted a set at the net, but the Sentinels defense redirected the ball downward for a point and tied the game. "We kind of slowed down after the first game," said Reynolds, who recorded 42 assists. "We came out with so much energy, but I think we lost it in the second and third games and it really made a difference."
Trailing 12-10 in the third, the Panthers let a free ball from Seton fall untouched for a point, further shifting the momentum in the Sentinels' favor.
In the decisive fourth set, Lawless took over. The star outside hitter recorded five straight points, and Seton was poised to close out the match with a 20-15 lead.
But Amphi refused to roll over without one final rally.
Following a scoring run that was spurred by a Reynolds ace, the Panthers eventually tied the score at 23. The Sentinels immediately regrouped to regain the lead, and Amphi could not handle the serve on match point to end the contest. "It's a bummer we ended the season on a loss," said Reynolds, who was a steady force for the Panthers all year. "I love these girls so much, and it was honor to get to play with them."

Just One More! will play in the state championship this Monday night.

Amphi one win from a dream finish

Panthers cruise into first state final since 1985

Amphi one win from a dream finish Panthers cruise into first state final since 1985 By Casey Crowe Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.16.2008
CHANDLER — A new frontier awaits the Amphitheater girls volleyball program Monday: the state championship. Propelled by 31 assists from standout setter Sam Reynolds, and a point-saving 21 digs from Jessica Manley, Amphi swept Scottsdale Notre Dame (25-18, 25-15, 25-15) out of the 4A-II state tournament in the semifinals at Hamilton High School on Saturday morning.
The top-seeded Panthers will make their first appearance in a volleyball state title match since 1985. They will play No. 2 Chandler Seton Catholic, which knocked Amphi out in last years' semifinals, at Phoenix Brophy on Monday at 6 p.m. The game will be televised live on Cox Channel 7.
"Now we are where we've been trying to get for a long time," said middle blocker Erin Bradley, who totaled a match-high 10 kills. "That's keeping us grounded. We want to finish it."
Amphi advanced to the finale in style, never being seriously challenged by Notre Dame. "What we tried to do was pick them apart everywhere," said Amphi coach Rachel Williams. "If it wasn't their passing we were picking on, we were going after their blockers. If it wasn't their blockers, we were picking on the rest of the defense. Attacking those different things kept them off guard."
After routing Notre Dame in the opening set, the Panthers picked up the onslaught in the second. With a firm 21-15 lead, Bradley iced the set with aces on two of the last three points.
The final set was all Amphi: The Panthers burst to an early 6-2 lead when outside hitter Taheerah Moten followed a precisely placed kill by lacing an ace off the forearms of a Saints player who was trying to protect her face. The Panthers finished the match with an 11-4 run.
"Every night we've been coming out and attacking, because we know all it takes is one bad night to end the dream," said Moten. "We need to do that for one more night."

Jessica Manley passes to Sam Reynolds while Taheerah Moten watches.... intensely

Amphi on their way

By Brett Booen Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.14.2008
Top seed Amphitheater continued its charge toward the state title with a 3-1 win over Phoenix Greenway (25-23, 20-25, 25-23, 25-21).
The matches were closer than most for Amphi. Coach Rachel Williams said the Panthers went into the game pumped up about the state setting.
"It's exciting, it's wild, it's fun. They came in excited and we needed to settle down and play Amphi volleyball," she said. The Panthers are hungry for their chance to play Scottsdale Notre Dame in the semifinals on Saturday, Williams said.

Q Jefferson at senior night for Amphi Football.

Record-tying win puts Amphi in playoffs

By Brett Booen ARIZONA DAILY STAR Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.08.2008
A blowout over visiting Douglas on Friday night meant two things: Amphitheater is playoff-bound for the first time in three years, and legendary coach Vern Friedli tied the state record for career victories. Friedli, in his 32nd year at Amphi, recorded win No. 309, moving him into a tie for first place with Gilbert's Jesse Parker.
With the 48-6 win, Amphi (6-4, 4-2 4A-II Gila Region) likely will be the eighth seed in next week's state playoffs. If so, the Panthers would host a first-round game. Official pairings are released today by the Arizona Interscholastic Association.
Friday's victory was a prototypical win for Amphi and a display of what Friedli has done at the high school level for more than 30 years. Chris Johnson carried 10 times for 125 yards and had three rushing touchdowns for Amphi, which rushed for 283 yards as a team and passed for only 7. Johnson set the pace on Senior Night with three first-quarter touchdowns — the third of which came on an electrifying punt return. Johnson received a punt with 4:11 on the clock and weaved his way through the Bulldogs coverage and stiff-armed the last defender en route to a 52-yard score. "I was scoping out the field before I even caught the ball," Johnson said. "Then when I ran, I didn't let the first person take me down. "Matter of fact, I didn't let anyone take me down," he said.
The Bulldogs (2-8, 1-5) had five turnovers, and two came when quarterback Carlos Teran threw interceptions deep inside Amphi territory. With a little over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter, Amphi's Oscar Leon jumped a Douglas crossing route and took an interception 78 yards for a score and a 33-0 lead. Leon was just one of the many seniors who made big plays for the Panthers.
Senior linebacker Ron Huff also had an interception — this one in the Panthers' end zone to stop what had been a promising, 11-play drive for Douglas. But it was Johnson who summed up what the night meant to the seniors. "This feels real good," he said. "We've been thinking about this since we were sophomores. It feels good to be a part of a team that put (Friedli) at 309. "Now we just have to add to that next week."

Senior "T" jumps approximately 16 feet in the air and hits the ball so hard it goes flat, the gym shakes and multiple reports of dizziness were reported shortly after. Amphi Was awarded the point after a long delay to fortify the gym, and earned a victory over Catalina.

Amphi rushes for 430 yards in win

Panthers' duo combines for 404 on ground By Jared D. Hill SPECIAL TO THE ARIZONA DAILY STAR Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.01.2008 Playing its final road game of the regular season, Amphitheater relied on its dominant ground game in a 42-28 victory over Sahuarita on Friday. The Panthers, led by senior running back Chris Johnson, kept the Mustangs defense on the field for a majority of the game and won a 4A Gila Region contest.
Amphi attempted four passes. "Feels like we ran the same play all game," Amphi coach Vern Friedli said. Amphi rushed for 430 yards, and senior Chris Johnson accounted for 249 and two touchdowns. Senior Damian Henry added 155 yards and a touchdown.
"We have a great (offensive) line and great (running) backs, and tonight, we came out full speed," Johnson said. Johnson's ability to break tackles and get into the open field caused problems for the Mustangs' defense. "When I'm running like that, it feels like I'm playing Madden (video game)," said Johnson. "I can't be stopped." But the Mustangs managed to keep the score close throughout the second half, getting within six or seven points on two occasions. But they failed to stop the Panthers on defense. "We need to play better defense and improve on our kicking game," Friedli said about his team, which takes on Douglas next week.
Sahuarita senior running back Allonte Singfield's 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown brought the Mustangs within seven with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter. Singfield came into Friday's matchup averaging more than 191 yards per game. But he was held to 95 yards on 18 carries against the Panthers. Amphi junior quarterback Zach Roth's 15-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Q Jefferson ended the Mustangs' hopes of a comeback.

Seniors T, Manley and Sam along with other teammates celebrate a point versus Catalina.

Amphi earns region crown

Panthers remain perfect against So. Arizona foes

Amphitheater just completed the Southern Arizona regular-season sweep. After beating Catalina in four games (25-20, 25-19, 21-25, 25-16) at home Thursday night — the fourth time Amphi has topped the Trojans this year — the Panthers claimed the 4A-II Gila Region title, and also remained unbeaten against local competition. "This is a game we pointed to since before the year started. And when it finally got here, the girls just kind of exploded tonight," said Amphi coach Rachel Williams. "They played really, really well."
Amphi is 12-0 in the Gila and 26-0 against teams from Southern Arizona. The opener belonged to Amphi from the outset as the Panthers burst to an early 7-1 lead on back-to-back-to-back aces from senior outside hitter Taheerah "T" Moten, and didn't relinquish the advantage before a packed crowd. It was more of the same in Game 2 as the Panthers' serve was lethal. Leading 21-15 in the second game, Amphi's Iyonna Zortman laced two consecutive aces — part of 18 on the night — to ice it.
Catalina, whose only four losses all season were to Amphi, responded in the third. Trailing 15-11, the Trojans, behind two of Lauren Jamison's team-high eight kills, reeled off an 8-3 run to retake the lead, which they held onto and forced a fourth game.
Williams was carded twice in the third set for arguing close calls, turning the volume up a notch from the crowd — replete with the pep band and a rock band courtside. "You can feel the crowd here," said Moten. "We love that. That's an unbelievable lift." Game 4 was all Amphi as Moten did her damage from closer to the net. She came through with four of her game-high 11 kills in the deciding set as Amphi opened a 19-9 lead, which Catalina couldn't cut to less than six. "We're going to see them again in regionals, and we're going to have to take it again," said Moten. "It doesn't get harder each time. It gets more fun."
Amphitheater owned the No. 1 slot in the 4A-II state power points coming into the night and is likely to keep that position. Catalina, which went 15-2 in the regular season, was fourth in power points entering the night. "Their ball control was just better than ours," said Catalina coach Heather Moore-Martin. "(Williams) does a real nice job with that team, as far as just trying to control it. And tonight, that hurt us."

Amphi FFA returned from National competition with multiple awards.

Amphi Boys Golf Defeats Desert View on Thursday the 23rd at the Haven golf course in Green Valley. Tim Hanna and Joe Maestas, both seniors, point towards victory... or perhaps, just where their ball might be. Check out the photo's from their round (and maybe our new mascot?) on the "students" page.

AMPHITHEATER 55, RIO RICO 6

At Amphitheater, the Panthers needed an injection of confidence in the aftermath of back-to-back close losses to the 4A-II Gila Region's two best teams. Confidence arrived from Rio Rico (0-9, 0-5) as the Panthers' offense piled up 401 rushing yards and the Amphi defense did not allow a first down until the fourth quarter.
Amphi (4-4, 2-2), which fell to Santa Rita and Palo Verde earlier in the month, led 42-0 at the half.
Highlight reel: Less than two minutes in, Amphi's Chris Johnson took a sweep 54 yards for a 7-0 lead.
Players of the game: Amphi's offensive line, led by Maambo Mumbuluma, paved the path to touchdowns for five Panthers rushers.
He said it: "After those losses, we needed to get the monkey off our back, and we did that." — Johnson

The Amphi Lady's Volleyball team have some thinking that they are the best in the state.

Amphi stands alone Panthers hand Catalina first loss of season

Arizona Daily Star Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.08.2008

The term playoff atmosphere did not do justice to the regular-season volleyball match between the city's two unbeaten teams, Catalina and Amphitheater.
The Trojans and Panthers entered the 4A-II matchup with perfect 10-0 records, and the winner Tuesday would claim sole possession of first place in the Gila Region. Amphi emerged with an impressive 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18) win.
"I love our team's willingness to fight without (me) having to pound it into their heads," said Amphitheater coach Rachel Williams. The Panthers (6-0 in region) were able to hold Catalina's star outside hitter Lauren Jamison in check throughout the match. Jamison, who has 116 kills, registered eight on the night.
Offensively, Amphi's serving attack exploited Catalina's defense, and at times, the Trojans looked unorganized. "We had a hard time dealing with their serving runs," said Catalina coach Heather Moore-Martin. "We didn't do the best job controlling the ball, either."
The Trojans (5-1 in region) might have been swept had it not been for Rachael DeYoung in Game 2. The senior killed a long rally to tie the game at 23, then served out the remaining points to tie the match.
For the Panthers, junior Erin Bradley led the charge with a match-high 14 kills, and Sam Reynolds recorded 34 assists. "Considering all of the challenges we went through in the past week, I think our team played really well," said Reynolds. Amphi was forced to play without senior libero Jessica Manley because of injury. Williams filled the spot with senior Taheerah Moten. Moten played well in Manley's absence. Moten's biggest play came in the fourth and deciding game. During a long rally, she caught the Trojans out of position and extended Amphi's lead to five with a second-touch bump into open space. Junior Iyonna Zortman eventually finished off Catalina with a kill down the line in Game 4. "When we play them at home, it's going to be pretty intense," said Reynolds. "The energy is going to be awesome."

Ben Silvertooth Celebrating after Amphi beats previously undefeated Sabino.

Amphi 7, Sabino 6

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.04.2008

The Panthers' defense held Sabino (4-1) to two field goals, making it the Sabercats' lowest scoring game since 2002. Amphi's upset win broke Sabino's 16-game regular-season win streak.

Penalties and two interceptions limited the Sabercats offense. Amphi (3-2) made critical stops late in the fourth quarter to maintain its lead. Damian Henry had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter for Amphi.

• Highlight reel: The Panthers sacked QB Rhett Taylor to hold Sabino to a field goal late in the first half.
• Players of the game: Amphi's defense made two goal-line stands in the game and held Sabino under 200 total yards of offense.
• He said it: "No doubt what happened tonight: Amphi football is back." — Amphi

Lady's Golf and Softball Coach Damon Lovato with golfer Vanessa King at a volleyball match Thursday, October 2nd.

Softball coach urged players to enter sport most had never tried

By Andrea Rivera Arizona Daily Star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.25.2008 Forget that the Amphitheater High School girls golf team has three sets of clubs for five girls. Put aside the fact that only one member of the six-person golf team had held a golf club before the season started. And who cares that until yesterday the team had yet to play a match while other area high schools already had competed in a handful of matches? Amphi's season has more to do with the re-emergence of a golf program — one that folded in 2000 — than on equipment, experience or competitions. The team was scheduled to compete in its first match in eight years Wednesday.

But there would be no golf program at the high school if it weren't for Amphi softball coach Damon Lovato, who recruited softball players to join the team. "I said, 'If any of you guys aren't playing volleyball then I think you should come out and play golf.' I think they all thought I was joking," he said. Previous attempts had been made in the last eight years to field a team but there was never enough interest from girls and no coach willing to step up. Amphi athletic director Armando Soto asked Lovato to start the program up again.

Junior Jessica Peters is the only member of the team with any golf experience. Her teammates — Vanessa King, Yosleysy "Yoyo" Cuevas, Catie Hartwig, Karla Torres and Maritza Vargas — are used to softball diamonds, not greens. Their softball skills were an early hindrance for some of the new golfers. "When you're a softball player, you always want to swing but you got to keep (the club) down," 15-year-old Cuevas said. "It felt weird at first, but I got used to it." Cuevas and her teammates each own a yellow T-shirt with the motto, "We're the best. We just haven't played yet," handwritten across the front.

Practices are held Mondays through Fridays at The Practice Tee, which is in Marana, and up until their first match, most of the girls had only walked a golf course once or twice. It was only last week that Lovato finally was able to secure a home course for the team, which will play at El Rio Golf Course on Tucson's West Side.

"It's been a huge learning experience," Lovato said. "It's starting from scratch." Dan Davis, who retired from Amphi but is required to volunteer in the district as part of his early-retirement package, attends practice a couple times a week to assist the girls with their techniques. Davis' expertise is invaluable considering Lovato hadn't played golf since he was a child and he's had some medical problems. Lovato had a stroke — his second — in March during a softball game and needed physical therapy on his left hand. "My hand wants to invert," Lovato said as he described what it's like when he grips a club. Lovato has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — a disease of the heart muscle — and is at risk for strokes. His health is fine now, he said.

In addition to his coaching duties, Lovato is a behavior intervention monitor at Amphi, 125 W. Yavapai Road. "I care a lot about the kids at Amphi," he said. "A lot of them aren't given opportunities." Cuevas, who's a sophomore, decided to play golf because it was a sport she hadn't tried. "I just wanted to try something new, and all the girls on the team are my friends," she said. "I thought it would be something fun. I knew I would have a good time coming out here." Progress has been slow but Cuevas said she is getting better. Peters, who has about two years of golf experience and owns her own clubs, contends that the team has improved. "I think we've come far," the 17-year-old said. "They've never played before and they are actually really good." Hartwig, 16, has come a long way since the first day she swung a club. "When you work at it, it's easier to know where to hold (the club) so you swing better," she said.

The team's expectations for the season don't include winning regional or state titles. They just want to start a new tradition at Amphi. "I just want to show girls that it's OK to play golf," 16-year-old Vanessa King said. "I think if they actually try it, they will think it's fun."

• Contact reporter Andrea Rivera at 806-7737 or arivera@azstarnet.com