The Division-III #2 seed Gilbert Christian High School has been a consistent addition to the state finals since the school's origination during the 2009-2010 high school season. That season Gilbert Christian won the state championship after finishing 32-0. Since that season, Gilbert Christian has been unstoppable - winning 84 games and only losing 8 total games over the last 3 seasons. They have also won 2 out of the last 3 state championships.
This season has been no different, as the team has compiled a record of 30-3; their only three losses on the season coming at the hands of top-rated Division-I teams - Corona, Pinnacle and Brophy Prep.
So when defending Division-III state champion Gilbert Christian faced #9 seed Valley Christian on Saturday evening at Jobing.com Arena in the Division-III state championship game, it seemed just a matter of time before they would win their third state championship and repeat as champions.
Gilbert Christian would jump out to a quick 4-0 lead in the game behind two quick baskets by 6-foot-3 junior guard Roberto Reyes and 6-foot-6 junior forward Sam Jones.
Valley Christian would tie the game at 4 all after two baskets inside by 6-foot-5 junior TJ Widner.
After another basket by Reyes, 6-foot-5 senior guard Dylan Bliss would connect on three-consecutive three-pointers to put his team ahead 15-6 with :53.8 seconds left to play. Gilbert Christian would take a 15-8 lead after the first quarter.
Valley Christian would climb back in the game after an 18-foot jumper from 6-foot-5 senior forward Aaron Mouer, making the score 17-13, still in Gilbert Christian's favor.
Gilbert Christian would remain tough though, and after a fourth three-pointer from Dylan Bliss with just over minutes remaining in the first half, Gilbert Christian would take a comfortable 26-17 lead - capping off a 7-0 run.
Gilbert Christian would take a 32-25 lead into halftime, behind a game-high 14 points from Bliss.
In the third period, Valley Christian's leading scorer, 6-foot-4 junior forward Brandon Haagsma, would get it going. The son of veteran and successful head coach Greg Haagsma, Brandon had struggled to get going offensively in the game. Haagsma would hit a three-pointer early in the third period, but would continue to struggle in the game to really get anything going.
Gilbert Christian would hold on to their lead throughout the third period, and would take their biggest lead of the game after a driving layup and a miss from Roberto Reyes, and then a follow up layup from 6-foot-3 junior forward Seth Deltenre - putting Gilbert Christian ahead 42-31 with just over 2 minutes left to play in the third period. With just seconds left to play in the third period, 6-foot-2 freshman guard Cameron Satterwhite would hit a three-pointer from the corner to build an even bigger lead - 51-35 after three quarters.
In the fourth period, Gilbert Christian would maintain their big lead throughout the quarter - cruising to another 60-48 Division-III state championship victory - their second consecutive state title and third in four seasons of operation. An amazing accomplishment by this program and head coach Jerome Joseph and his staff.
Next year, Gilbert Christian will move up to the Division-II Class.
