With only three of six Mesa schools making the playoffs in football this season and all of them eliminated in the first round, basketball could not arrive fast enough.
Last year East Valley schools raised one championship trophy in boys basketball. Tucson managed one. They\\\'re back at it beginning Monday as invitationals for the most part and a smattering of power-point games kick off the 2010-2011 season.
Here\\\'s a look at some teams and players to watch from the East Valley and southern Arizona for the coming campaign: