No. 5 Liberty overcame a late comeback from No. 7 Perry to secure a dramatic 69–65 overtime victory and capture the 6A boys basketball state championship Saturday afternoon at Arizona Memorial Veterans Colliseum. The championship victory marked the Lions’ second title in the last two of three seasons.
The Lions built an early double-digit lead, watched it disappear in the fourth quarter, and then relied on strong defense in overtime to seal the title.
Liberty set the tone immediately in the opening quarter with hot shooting from beyond the arc. The Lions knocked down six three-pointers in the first eight minutes, quickly creating separation from the defending champions. Freshman Trevin Davis connected on two of those shots as Liberty jumped out to a 23–8 lead by the end of the first quarter.
(Perry’s Vik Babic passes the ball to another Perry teammate. Photo credit: Caleb Williams/480 Sports Media)
Despite the early deficit, Perry refused to let the game get out of reach. The Pumas responded with a strong second-quarter effort, tightening their defense and attacking the basket on offense. Perry outscored Liberty 20–12 in the quarter, trimming the Lions’ lead to eight points and entering halftime trailing 36–28.
Liberty regained momentum in the third quarter behind Davis, who continued his strong performance by scoring nine of the team’s 16 points in the period. The freshman guard added two more three-pointers while helping Liberty maintain control of the game. By the end of the third quarter, the Lions held a 52–41 advantage and appeared to be in position to close out the victory.
Perry, however, had other plans.
The Pumas mounted a determined comeback in the fourth quarter, gradually chipping away at the deficit with timely shooting and defensive stops. Perry’s offense found rhythm as the minutes ticked down, eventually erasing the double-digit margin and tying the game at 63 in the final seconds.
(Perry’s JJ Howard is dribbling with the ball on the court. Photo credit: Caleb Williams/480 Sports Media)
With the championship hanging in the balance, Perry junior guard LJ Diamond attempted a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer. The ball hit the rim and bounced away, sending the game into overtime and setting up one final five-minute battle for the state title.
In overtime, Liberty’s defense rose to the occasion. The Lions limited Perry to just two points in the extra period while executing key offensive possessions to regain control. With the Pumas unable to generate consistent scoring opportunities, Liberty closed the game with composure and sealed the 69–65 championship victory.
Davis, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, delivered an impressive all-around performance with 23 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. His early shooting helped establish Liberty’s offensive rhythm, and his leadership down the stretch proved crucial.
Junior guard Nicholas Topolosek and senior guard TJ Harris each added 15 points, providing balanced scoring that helped Liberty withstand Perry’s late rally.
(Liberty’s Milton Phinnessee III looks to make a field goal attempt in front of Perry’s Dane Montague. Photo credit: Caleb Williams/480 Sports Media)
Liberty head coach Mark Wood said the team remained focused despite nearly losing a 16-point lead.
“We just stayed the course,” Wood said. “We are a team, not individuals, and we knew we would fight together until the end.”
Davis said the Lions’ determination helped them overcome the ups and downs of the game.
“Although we had our ups and downs, we kept our heads up and continued to fight,” Davis said. “That helped us pull through and win it.”
Wood also credited the players for the program’s success and leadership throughout the season.
“This is a player-led program,” Wood said. “I’m very thankful for them. I’ll reflect more on it later.”
For Perry, junior guard LJ Diamond led the Pumas with 22 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Sophomore guard Vik Babic matched him with 22 points, including four three-pointers. Junior guard JJ Howard contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and three three-pointers in the effort.
Despite the loss, Perry completed another competitive season. The defeat ended the Pumas’ remarkable four-year reign as 6A/Open State champions.
Perry finished the season with a 12–11 record after competing in the Open State tournament earlier in the postseason before returning to the 6A Conference tournament as the No. 7 seed.
While the Pumas fell short of another title, their late comeback in the championship game nearly extended their championship streak. Instead, the night belonged to Liberty, which held firm in overtime to bring home the 6A championship trophy.