It became something of a running joke around Mesa Red Mountain: Here comes another tie.

The Mountain Lions girls soccer team is 5-3-6, but the latter number could have been even higher - one tie had to be broken and a couple other matches went to double overtime.

Most teams average 2 to 4 ties per season. At one point, Red Mountain was 5-0-6, though it has lost three consecutive matches heading into Wednesday's matchup with Phoenix Alhambra.

"It started to become an ongoing joke," Red Mountain coach Andy Barber said.

The Mountain Lions haven't scored more than two goals this season, and got off to a sluggish start earlier in the season, which Barber said accounted for a tie or two more than they should have.

They played three consecutive (four overall) ties in the Diablo Classic in December, then went to double overtime in consecutive matches against Tucson Sahuaro and Chandler Basha, which they ultimately won.

Before the new year, the Mountain Lions went 1-2-1 in the Dobson Holiday Classic.

"The Dobson tournament has been a pretty good measure of how we tend to do throughout the season, and we've done well the past couple years," Barber said. "Hopefully, we've turned that corner."

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Region showdown: The 4A East Sky goes full tilt this week, with most of the teams playing at least two region games. The best matchup will be on Wednesday, when No. 5 Phoenix Arcadia and Gilbert Perry face off. Both teams were undefeated in region play heading into Tuesday's action, and the winner should be the biggest challenger to No. 1 Seton for East Sky supremacy.

FOOTBALL

Top players: Chandler Hamilton quarterback Zak Hambsch and Mesa Mountain View defensive back Alex Salas have been nominated for the annual Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year.

Hambsch piloted Hamilton to the 5A Division I state title and was named the Fiesta Region's offensive player of the year. Hambsch accounted for 2,800 yards rushing and passing.

Salas was a first-team, all-East Valley Region selection for the Toros and a two-year starter in their secondary.

He had 47 tackles, three interceptions and two sacks this past season.