How sweet it is to go out on top. After winning the division-II state title two years ago (2014 state title pose pictured), Shadow Mountain (27-5) would return back to form this year, after just missing the state final game last season. Last season, Shadow Mountain would play much of the season without the services of their star point guard, 6-foot senior point guard Michael Bibby Jr. Bibby would suffer several injuries over the past two years, since Shadow Mountain's last state champhionship. This season, Bibby would return to form as well - leading his team to another state championship victory.
To win it all, Shadow Mountain would face a very successful Agua Fria High School team that won 28 games this high school season. Led by first-year head coach and former professional player Randy Lavender, Agua Fria (28-3) had defeated everyone they were supposed to beat this high school season. The team was on a superb roll all season long, defeating much of the state's top competition - until they faced Shadow Mountain. Shadow Mountain would prove to be simply too much for Agaua Fria in the state final - winning the contest by a large margin, 86-55 and bringing home the Division-II state championship.
Agua Fria would hang in there early. After a three-pointer from 6-foot-7 junior forward Bryce Fowler with 3:08 left to play in the first period, Agua Fria would be down 9-7. But that would be it for Agua Fria, as Shadow Mountain would jump out to a 19-11 first quarter lead, behind the strong play of freshman guard Jaelen House. A House dish to teammate, 6-foot-4 junior Darion Spottsville for a three-point play, then a House three-pointer would give Shadow the first quarter lead.
Agua Fria would hang in there in the second quarter. Shadow Mountain would outscore Agua Fria 22 to 18 in the period - taking a 41-29 lead into halftime. Bryce Fowler would earn 3 fouls in the first half - making it difficult for him heading into the second half.
From there, Shadow Mountain would fire up the engines in the second half, and outscore Agua Fria 45 to 26 in the second half - blowing the game wide open, and, ultimately, blowing out Agua Fria's chances of a state title.
