With the Arizona Interscholastic Association giving the small schools (3A through 1A) a bigger basketball platform, it is creating a scenario where the defending 3A and 2A boys champions could meet for the title.

The 16-team Copper Division state tournament moves into the semifinals this week with three-time defending Chandler Valley Christian making it through on the upper bracket and No. 6-seed and defending 2A champion Gilbert San Tan Charter still alive in the bottom bracket.

No. 1 Valley Christian (24-3) vs. No. 5 Yuma Catholic (24-2), 3 p.m.

These teams met on Dec. 10 with Valley Christian prevailing 57-44. Yuma Catholic is good but not in the same league as Valley Christian, which could do well in the Open 32 for the big schools. With Colby Jessup having a monster first week of the Copper, scoring 34 points, nailing eight 3-pointers to blow out Coolidge in the first round, then dropping 20 points in a rout of North Valley Christian that saw the Trojans jump out to an 18-2 lead, this game could be decided by the third quarter.

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Valley Christian has so much length just in the backcourt with Jessup at 6-foot-3, Carson Grier at 6-8 and twin brother Kyle Grier at 6-5. That's a huge advantage in the Copper, where it's hard to find a post player who is 6-8. These three guys have been leading the Trojans all season. But they're getting big-time help from one of the best baseball players in Arizona in senior forward Caleb Danzeisen, who is 6-2.

Danzeisen is the X factor. In the North Valley Christian game, he made 4 of 5 3-pointers and finished with 18 points. He had three 3-pointers in the first quarter. If he gets going, Yuma Catholic will be hard-pressed to keep up. The Shamrocks have won 19 games in a row since losing to 6A Desert Vista 69-35 on Dec. 19.

They're coming off a 75-46 blowout win over ALA Ironwood, a game in which 6-5 Fernando Vazquez Lima had 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists. But Valley Christian has played a harder schedule and will find a third gear in the third quarter to wear them down.

No. 6 San Tan Charter (18-9) vs. No. 2 Gilbert Christian (20-7), 6 p.m.

Gilbert Christian could make it an all-3A state championship game with a win over San Tan Charter. This isn't a given San Tan Charter rolls into the final. This will be by far the Roadrunners' toughest small-schools opponent this year, since starting the season 4-9, building up to this by taking poundings against some of the biggest and best schools in the West.

They've won 14 games in a row by double-digit margins, not allowing more than 54 points to any opponent during that stretch.

They just took care of 3A Tucson Palo Verde Christian 67-53 with Peyton Lubash scoring 20 points and Jaelon Germany 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Jase Benjamin had 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.

San Tan Charter isn't very big, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for athleticism. Germany was a huge move-in from Texas, who stabilizes things on the court with his calmness and clutch play. Lubash, who helped the Roadrunners win their first AIA 2A title last year, knows how to turn it on when they need him most. He's fearless in the paint and can knock down big 3s.

Gilbert Christian lost to Valley Christian in last year's 3A final. The Knights play great defense, and their length can be a problem for STC, with 6-5 senior guard Jace Olson (21.9 points a game) capable of dominating. He had more than 20 points in each of the first two rounds. He is complemented by 6-3 guard Owen Fermoyle (11.2 points a game). Neither Olson nor Fermoyle can be left alone behind the arc. Olson has made 51 of 181 3-pointers, Fermoyle 27 of 85. Tyler Burr might be GC's best 3-point shooter. He has made 53-of-162 3-pointers.

"You have four great programs with the 2A and 3A defending champs and then us, and a very talented Yuma Catholic team," Gilbert Christian coach Jason Pasquariello said. "When we started the year, our goal was win the region and then go compete for the Copper championship.

"The road to that goes through San Tan and Valley. You have to beat one or in our case both of them to do it but we are looking forward to that challenge. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best and we get the opportunity to do just that. Looking forward to getting in some good practice and film sessions to get us ready for the Roadrunners."