Arizona
Sooners shock No. 24 Arizona, move to Battle 4 Atlantis championship game
In game one of three, the Sooners took down Providence with a 79-77 win. Kobe Elvis led the way for Oklahoma in that victory with a game-high 26 points. The win over the Friars was massive, as the Sooners needed it to secure a matchup against Arizona, which would significantly improve their strength of schedule.
In order to upset Arizona, the Sooners were going to need two players to step up and score. Yesterday, it was Elvis and Jeremiah Fears. In this game, it was the two players who were talked about as the dynamic duo all offseason: Fears and Jalon Moore. The two combined for 50 points.
Fears had 26 points, five assists, five rebounds, and just three turnovers (after having eight against Providence). He shot 7-17 from the field, 4-7 from three-point range, and 8-8 from the free throw line while playing 33 minutes. He hit multiple big shots and was the go-to guy for Oklahoma.
The Sooners were able to pull off the upset over No. 24 Arizona, with an 82-77 win, moving them to the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game against the Louisville Cardinals, who beat the No. 14 Indiana Hoosiers on Wednesday and West Virginia today. For more on Oklahoma’s win over the Wildcats, take a look at some stats and notes:
– The Sooners led by as many as 13 points, but the Wildcats came storming back, cutting the deficit to five with 1:44 remaining. After a defensive stop, Oklahoma missed a three-pointer from Glenn Taylor, but Luke Northweather grabbed the rebound. Instead of being patient, the Sooners rushed, leading to a missed shot, an Oklahoma foul, and two made Arizona free throws, narrowing the margin to three points with 55 seconds remaining.
Fears missed a two-point attempt on the next possession, giving Arizona another opportunity. Caleb Love missed a three-pointer, and after Arizona grabbed the rebound and drove inside, Northweather came up with a crucial block. The Wildcats recovered the ball but missed another three-pointer. Fears grabbed the rebound and sank two free throws to clinch the victory.
– Sam Godwin started but played just 10 minutes, finishing with zero points on no field goal attempts. He struggled with foul trouble, ending the game with four fouls. With Godwin sidelined, Northweather stepped up again.
Northweather contributed 10 points and seven rebounds on 3-5 shooting from the field, including 2-4 from three-point range. He logged 21 minutes. After redshirting his first year, experiencing fluctuating minutes last season, and limited opportunities through the first four games of this season, Northweather has risen to the occasion when his team needed him most.
– It was a quiet night for Kobe Elvis, who scored just two points on 1-4 shooting from the field, though he added four assists. Brycen Goodine also struggled, going 0-5 from three-point range.
– After using 11 players in the opener, Oklahoma trimmed the rotation to nine players in this game. Neither Dayton Forsythe nor Jacolb Fredson-Cole logged any minutes. Off the bench, Northweather played 21 minutes, Taylor had 27, Goodine played 12, and Mohamed Wague saw just six minutes.
– Jalon Moore bounced back after a quiet game yesterday with a standout performance, recording 24 points and seven rebounds. He shot 7-15 from the field, 2-3 from three-point range, and 8-9 from the free-throw line.
– The Sooners were once again without Jadon Jones, who is dealing with a back injury.
– Oklahoma will now play its third game in three days in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game against the Louisville Cardinals. Louisville defeated No. 14 Indiana on Wednesday and West Virginia earlier today to secure their spot in the title game.
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Arizona
Arizona’s mountain rollercoasters are open for season. How to ride
Arizona’s natural wonders: See the state’s most iconic sites
Arizona’s diverse geography has created some incredible features. Take a look at the best, including Sedona’s red rocks and the Grand Canyon, of course.
The Republic
Despite its desert reputation, Arizona has several exciting roller coaster attractions that make it a fun destination for thrill seekers. One of the best-known rides is the Desert Storm coaster at Castles N’ Coasters in Phoenix.
Arizona is also home to two popular mountain coasters located in the cooler mountain regions of the state.
Mountain coasters are gravity-powered rides built along hillsides or mountains. Riders sit in individual carts attached to a track and control their own speed using hand brakes. Unlike traditional roller coasters, mountain coasters often wind through forests and natural scenery, creating a mix of adventure ride and scenic experiences.
And Arizona is lucky enough to have two mountain coasters. Here’s how to visit.
What roller coaster is in the mountains in Arizona?
There are two mountain coasters in Arizona: the Canyon Coaster Adventure Park in Williams and the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster at Sunrise ski resort.
Canyon Coaster Adventure Park in Williams AZ
Canyon Coaster Adventure Park features the Canyon Coaster, which spans 1 mile with a scenic mountain backdrop. It has a peak height of 35 feet and is integrated into the natural curves of the landscape. The 13-acre park also offers tubing across 400 feet of track in summer and snow-covered slopes in winter, facilitated by two conveyor lifts. There’s also a restaurant and bar.
Where: 700 E. Route 66, Williams, Arizona.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7p.m. Fridays-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday year-round.
Admission: The Canyon Coaster costs $20 per person per ride. Riders must be over 4 feet, 5 inches tall. Children who are at least 3 years old and 38-54 inches tall ride for $10 with a driver who is 18 or older. Visit the website for other attractions and pricing.
Details: 928-707-7729, canyoncoasteradventurepark.com.
Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster at Sunrise ski resort
Spanning over half a mile with 3,287 feet of track, the coaster’s carts can reach up to 25 mph. Hand brakes let you choose a mellow or zippy ride. Sunrise Park has skiing and other snow activities in winter, plus mountain biking, scenic chair lift rides and more in summer. Dining options include a restaurant and pub.
Where: Sunrise Park Resort, 200 State Route 273, on the Fort Apache Reservation near Greer.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, closed Monday-Thursday. Open every day starting June 2026.
Admission: $19 per ride or buy two rides for $38 and get a third ride free. Tickets are available in person. See the Sunrise Park website for other seasonal activities and prices.
Details: 928-735-7669, sunrise.ski/apache-coaster.
Got a story you want to share? Reach out at Tiffany.Acosta@gannett.com. Follow @tiffsario on Instagram.
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Arizona
Arizona Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #42: 5/13 @ Rangers
Last night was the seventh consecutive game where the Diamondbacks were held to six hits or fewer. That ties a franchise record, last done in April 2022, and previously in August 2011. The team’s .477 OPS over that time is actually lower than either streak, though due to the efforts of the pitching staff, Arizona are actually 3-4 during the current run. They went 2-5 in 2022, and 1-6 in 2011. There hasn’t been a longer streak in the majors since the Angels went nine in April last year. In the National League, the Pirates went eight in June 2023. And in case you are wondering, the last team to reach a double-digit streak of games with 6 or fewer hits each time? The 1968 Astros reached 11, the year before the mound was lowered.
Let’s hope the D-backs render that moot and the offense comes to life a bit. The three runs added in garbage time last night, because one of the Rangers’ relievers couldn’t find the strike-zone, certainly padded Arizona’s resume. But they were more because of walks than hits. I’ve no doubt the team will hit better. They have batted .152 over the past week. It’s the second lowest in franchise history for a seven-game span. The only worse was April 7-15, 2022 when Arizona hit a remarkable .135, going 28-for-208 in that span. They actually scored three more runs than the current streak, mostly because they had twice as many home-runs (6-3).
Arizona
Arizona Democrats debate for state’s top education job
Superintendent Tom Horne speaks at 2026 State of Education address
Arizona Superintendent Tom Horne spoke about controversial topics like DEI and ESAs at the State of Education address to the Legislature on Jan. 20, 2026.
Provided by Arizona Legislature
Democrats Brett Newby and Teresa Leyba Ruiz are set to make the argument to voters that they’re the best candidates to serve as Arizona’s top education official for the next four years.
The Arizona Republic will be streaming the Democratic debate for the Superintendent of Public Instruction race in partnership with the Arizona Media Association. The debate starts at 6 p.m. on May 13.
The office is currently held by Tom Horne, who will on May 14 face off in an Arizona Media Association debate against fellow Republican candidate Kimberly Yee, who currently serves as state treasurer.
Newby has worked as a behavioral analyst and professor, according to his campaign. He received a master’s degree in special education. His campaign has hinged on issues like downsizing the state’s controversial Empowerment Scholarship Program, retaining teachers and hiring more school counselors.
Ruiz attended Roosevelt Elementary School District and Phoenix Union High School District as a child before earning her Ph.D. from Arizona State University. She worked as a teacher at the middle and high school level before becoming president of Glendale Community College.
Like Newby, her campaign has also focused on the ESA program. She has also focused on advocating for more funding for public schools and supporting both rural and urban school districts. Ruiz has also spoken publicly about the teacher retention crisis as part of her campaign.
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