The boys basketball 4A state championship game between top-seeded Deer Valley and No. 2 Arcadia was a slow burn characterized by stiff defense turned ablaze down the stretch as the Titans egded the Skyhawks 57-51 on Thursday, March 5, at Arizona Memorial Coliseum.
Arcadia claimed the program's first-ever state title with freshman Jacobi Thompson earning game MVP honors. For Deer Valley, it was its fourth straight title game appearance, and it finished as runners-up in three out of the last four.
"A couple of possessions here and there and it's a different ballgame," Deer Valley coach Jed Dunn said.
