Arizona basketball season concludes with 5A championships

The basketball season has concluded with the 5A championships games and many of the early season favorites ended up with the state title every wants.

But there was also one surprising winner, proving again that once that tournament field is announced all it takes is an opportunity.

MaxPreps Arizona boys basketball playoff brackets
MaxPreps Arizona girls basketball playoff brackets

Here is a recap of the championship games:

CLASS 5A, DIVISION I BOYS
Gary Ernst knows how to get most out his players and once again it led to a Mountain View (Mesa) state title.

The Toros dominated the postseason, winning by an average of 25 points, and finished it off with a 50-29 win over Phoenix Brophy.

Typical of Mountain View's style of play, no player scored more than 12 points as the Toros spread it around – 15 assists on 21 baskets made - and played suffocating defense. Camyn Boone led the way with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Mark Mazzucco had 11 points as the Toros shot 55.3 percent to win their fourth state title since 2005 and first since 2007.

The Toros (27-3) went on a 13-0 run to break open a 10-all tie and never relinquished it.

Brophy (21-8) was a mess offensively a day after scoring 96 points in the semifinals against Mesa. The Broncos made just 5 of 21 shots in the first half and managed just 13 first-half points including just three in the second quarter.

"This team over the last couple of weeks, defensively on the boards, and we shot a phenomenal percentage, it just really came together," Ernst said.

CLASS 5A DIVISION I GIRLS
St. Mary's (Phoenix) finally came through in the big game as it won the state title with a 73-60 win over Chandler after finishing as runners-up the previous two seasons.

"Third time is the charm," Knights coach Curtis Ekmark said. "We were either going to win or lose in double overtime."

St. Mary's (28-2) scored nine points, mostly off Chandler (25-6) turnovers, in the final 40 seconds of the first half to crack open a close game and lead 44-35 at halftime, and then started the third quarter with a 6-0 run to take firm control.

Knights freshman Courtney Ekmark led all scorers with 22 points and Shilpa Tummala added 18 points before leaving with a shoulder injury.

Je Zhe' Newton led Chandler, which has made it to at least the semifinals five of the last six seasons, with 21 points and six rebounds.

CLASS 5A DIVISION II BOYS
Fairfax (Laveen) won its first state title with its first senior class in knocking off Chaparral (Scottsdale), 65-60 in double overtime.

Senior guard Pierre Newton finished with 26 points, including a twisting layup to tie the game at the end of regulation. Jovan Wright added 15 points, including four 3-pointers.

Farifax (23-7) started the year 5-5, but turned the corner and handed Chaparral (20-10) its second straight loss in the title game.

Chaparral's Zeke Chapman finished with 24 points, but was denied on several game-winning shots.

CLASS 5A DIVISION II GIRLS
Tolleson kept its torment of Pinnacle (Phoenix) going, winning for the third straight season against Pinnacle.

Tolleson (27-5) won handily 65-47 for its fourth title in five seasons. Pinnacle (24-8) lost in the title game, going back to its days in 4A I.

Talia White had 17 points for Tolleson, which made 18 of 25 free throws in the second half, and Bri White had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Pinnacle was led by Arizona recruit Aley Rohde's 13 points and 12 rebounds and Sydney Wiese had 17 points.
Pinnacle pulled with 35-31 in the third quarter on a 6-0 run, but Tolleson answered with a couple of 3-pointers and led by double digits most of the game thereafter.

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothill News staff writer, is a 15-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.