The lights were bright and the atmosphere matched the moment as the AIA state championship brought together two of Arizona’s hottest basketball programs Central High School and Mountain Pointe High School. In front of a packed crowd, Central delivered a championship performance, defeating Mountain Pointe 62-53 to secure the 5A state championship.
Central controlled the tempo early, jumping out to a first-quarter lead behind strong defense and efficient scoring. The Bobcats carried momentum into halftime and then took complete control during the third quarter, outscoring Mountain Pointe 19-9 and building a lead that proved too much to overcome. Mountain Pointe made a late fourth-quarter push, but Central stayed composed down the stretch and closed out the victory.
Sophomore standout Grant Mattingly played a major role in the championship win, finishing with 12 points while helping lead the offense throughout the night.
Central’s balanced attack and defensive pressure were the difference, as the Bobcats continued the dominant season that saw them finish with a 31-3 record.
For Mountain Pointe, the Pride battled until the final buzzer and showed why they were one of the top teams in Arizona all season long. Jayvein Moody once again stepped up offensively for Mountain Pointe, while the team continued to fight despite trailing for most of the second half. 
Central’s championship run was fueled all season by stars John and Grant Mattingly, along with key contributors Dominic Rojas and John Fahrendorf. After reaching the title game for the second straight year, the Bobcats proved they were the best team in 5A basketball and officially cemented themselves as one of Arizona’s premier programs.