All season we watched the top high school programs in the state go at it almost every night, as programs from different divisions and locations around the state competed hard for an opportunity to win it all. While most teams in the state competed for a chance at a winning season, the elite programs in the state competed for this year's Open Division State Championship. After considering many different programs this high school season to win the Open Division State Championship, in the end, they were who we thought they were. Perry High School, the two-time defending state champions, would win their third consecutive state championship, with a big come-from-behind win over #1 ranked Millennium High School. With the game firmly in the grasp of Millennium at halftime, 6-foot-8 superstar junior Koa Peat would not be denied - leading his team to the big second half championship performance.
Millennium (25-6) came into the biggest game of the season Saturday evening confident and focused on winning the Open Division State Title, and they were definitely worthy. After having a terrific high school season this year, and winning every game that mattered this season, Millennium came into Saturday night's contest with two-time defending state champion Perry High School as a truly confident opponent, and with the fire-power on their roster to dethrone the State Champions.
Perry (25-6) still has the best player and prospect in the state, superstar 6-foot-8 junior Koa Peat. While Peat would not have anywhere near the dominant performance that he had in the semi-finals in his team's big win over rival Basha HS, he would still become the force down the stretch that would help his team overpower a Millennium team that would look to blow Perry off the basketball court in the game's first half, behind a terrific performance from Millennium's 6-foot-3 senior guard Sabien Cain (Cal-State Northridge signee). Cain would catch fire and as Arizona Preps' staff writer Paul Suber stated, "he was as hot as fish grease" in the game's first half. Cain would knock down a barrage of three-pointers in the game's first half, as he has all season in big games for his team and lead Millennium to a huge first half and a 41-32 halftime lead. Cain's scoring and three-pointer outburst in the game's first half would allow him to finish with a game-high 33 points, as Millennium would build a 16-point lead during the first half, 31-15 with 5:26 remaining in the second period. Cain would knock down an amazing (7) three-pointers in the game's first half.
Millennium would stop going to Cain's hot hand in the game's second half, and Perry would slowly climb back in the contest in the third period behind a strong Perry team effort, led by the strong play of Koa Peat. After baskets by Peat, then a basket from 6-foot-5 junior D'Andre Harrison and then another basket inside from 6-foot-3 senior guard/forward Don Tinsley, Perry would close the Millennium lead down to a mere 3 points, 41-38, with 5:47 left to play.
Then Koa Peat would catch fire after watching his teammates get off - closing out the third period with several big plays. A three-pointer from Koa Peat, and then another basket inside the paint from Peat would get Perry in a position to take the lead. With 1:06 left to play in the third period, 5-foot-10 senior sharp-shooting guard Barron Silsby would knock down a big three-pointer to give Perry their first lead of the contest with 1:06 left to play in the period, 46-45. Perry would take a 47-46 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth period, both teams would fight hard making for an excellent way to end the high school season, as the state's two top programs went at it consistently in the final period of the game - looking for the right to call themselves Open Division State Champions. The state's top prospects from both teams would compete hard in the final period, as it would be a true dog fight down to the final buzzer. After another three-pointer from Barron Silsby would give Perry a nice 55-51 lead with 6 minutes left to play, Sabien Cain would fire a three-pointer from 35-feet to pull Millennium back to within one, 57-56, of Perry. After another interior basket from Koa Peat, Millennium 6-foot-7 sophomore wing Cam Holmes would would then tie the game at 59 all, with a long three-pointer over the outstretched hands of Peat, with 3:15 left to play.
Perry and Millennium would both convert numerous key baskets in the final minutes of the game, before Barron Silsby would close out the victory for Perry with layup on the inbounds with :16 seconds left. Silsby would then knock down two free-throws late, to push Perry ahead 69-66, with 5.7 seconds left to play. Silsby's key baskets down the stretch would ultimately give Perry the state final win, 71-67.
Perry would win the Open Division State Championship with a big come-from-behind win that utilized a total team effort to overcome a very talented Millennium program. For Perry Head Coach Sam Duane Jr. and his coaching staff, this one had to be the sweetest, of their three consecutive state championships, as it took a total team effort and sacrifice down the stretch in this year's Open Division State Playoffs for Perry to win it all. I spoke about this fact since the pre-season, that if Perry was to win it all this season, then they would need strong contributions from Koa Peat's supporting cast. Koa Peat was, of course, dominant all season long, as he always is, but the performances this season from his teammates, ultimately made the difference in the end. A fitting end to an excellent high school season, one of the best ever, proving that teams still win championships.
Millennium had a tremendous season and no one can take anything away from their team or their terrific Head Coach Ty Amundsen and his coaching staff, as they are among the elite in the industry. Millennium had a tremendous season, and put themselves into position to win an Open Division State Championship all season - all the way down to the final buzzer this high school season. The were no losers on Saturday night, although for Millennium, it definitely felt that way for their team and large amount of fans in attendance. While the Millennium program failed to win this year's Open Division State Championship and has failed to win other state championship opportunities over the years, this program is consistently in a position to win a state championship every year, and they will be back again. If they can keep the core of their talented group together, the future of Arizona basketball will belong to Millennium.
