Central High School etched their name in history by winning the 5A State Championship with a 69-58 victory over Mountain Pointe High School on Friday evening. The triumph marked a significant milestone for the Phoenix Union High School District - breaking a long championship drought since South Mountain High School's title in 2006.
Despite early-season adversity, including key transfers 6-foot-1 star junior guard John Mattingly, 6-foot-6 senior Anthony Maciel and Dominic Rojas missing the first (9) games of the season, due to transfer rules, Central powered through the season with resilience. The Bobcats finished with an impressive 28-3 record, including an 11-1 mark in the 5A Metro Region. They won 18 of their final 19 games, cementing themselves as one of the premier programs in the state.
Without several of their best players this season, the team was still able to dominate much of their competition behind the strong play of 6-foot-1 freshman guard Grant Mattingly. Mattingly immediately went to work in his brother and teammate's absence, and more than held it down for his program. Mattingly is one of the top freshman in the state, and he was tremendous all high school season. As the leader as a mere incoming freshman starter, something I have rarely seen throughout my scouting career, Mattingly became the focal point of the offense from day one, and he more than held his own - leading his team to an impressive 10-1 record to start the season. Mattingly averaged impressive numbers on the season.
Stud junior standout John Mattingly played a crucial role in the championship victory, leading the team with 24 points. His younger brother, stud freshman Grant Mattingly, showcased his poise on the big stage, contributing 12 points and 6 assists. Dominic Rojas provided invaluable leadership and defensive intensity, rounding out a core that has transformed Central into a powerhouse.
Central High School, for the most part, blew past their competition this season, and they did it without having a lot of their star power for the first (9) games of the season, as stud 6-foot junior guard John Mattingly, 5-foot-9 junior Dominic Rojas and 6-foot-6 senior Anthony Maciel each missed the first (9) games of the season due to the AIA transfer rule.
The addition of John Mattingly his backcourt mates, Dom Rojas and Grant Mattingly, simply took the Central program to another level. What also makes Central such a tough team to beat, is that Coach Darren Bustos and his staff have developed a serious basketball culture where everyone on the team contributes. The Central team has numerous players currently that were close to averaging double-figures in scoring on this year's team.
This team simply played the game to win and is not worried about statistics. This Central team and program are different than most teams they face, and they play the game in the manner it was meant to be played. While not a big team in size, they make up for it with tenacity and a high level of competitiveness. They simply play the game to win, and make winning plays as a team.
This championship not only represents a return to glory for Central, but also signals a new era of dominance for the program. With a foundation built on discipline and high basketball IQ performance, Central High School has set a new standard - inspiring future generations of players and reigniting the basketball culture in Phoenix Union.
