At the Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, the Scorpions played well enough to win, but in the end, they just got beat, losing to the No. 1-seeded Thatcher High School, 3-2.

When asked if he thought the Scorpions would make it this far, longtime Sedona Red Rock High School Head Coach John Parks answered yes.

“We thought this team would be good. Midway through the year this team came together so we thought at that time we had a legitimate chance to go all the way,” Parks said.

“All the final four teams this past weekend could have won the title. It’s the most competitive final four in my 18 years of coaching.”

Sedona, which made its second final four appearance in the last three seasons Saturday, Nov. 5, made the top-seeded Eagles work for the win in front of a below-average size state crowd.

The Scorpions, who came in to the playoffs ranked No. 5, beat Miami High School in the first round of the Division IV state playoffs Thursday, Nov. 3, 3-0.

Sedona went on to beat No. 4 Horizon Honors High School on Friday, Nov. 4, 3-1, to set up its final four date with Thatcher on Saturday.

Under longtime Head Coach John Parks, the Scorpions took game one Saturday against Thatcher, 25-20, but lost game two by the same score, 25-20.

Tied 1-1 in the best-of-five series for a chance to play a state championship later in the day, Sedona and Thatcher went point for point until the Eagles came out on top, 25-23.

Thatcher’s 2-1 lead was no big deal to the Scorpions, who easily took game four, 25-14, making it 2-2 heading in to the final game.

In game five, Sedona fell behind 7-2 before fans had a chance to sit down from cheering their team on the previous game, but the Scorpions stormed back to tie it 11-11. In the end, however, Thatcher would come out on top, 15-13.

With the loss, Sedona wraps up the 2011 season with a 16-4 [18-4-1, tournament play] overall record.

It is the second consecutive year the Scorpions have won at least 30 matches, winning 34 this fall by combining regular season play and tournaments. Sedona won 30 in 2010.

In the Division IV finale, No. 3- seeded Northwest Christian High School defeated Thatcher in five games, 3-2, to win its second straight state title.

Northwest Christian won the 2A conference state championship in 2010 under Head Coach Beth Lemke. Lemke took the Crusaders to the top once again Saturday for her second career title as coach.