St. Mary’s High School (18-12) secured the 4A State Championship in thrilling fashion, edging out defending champion Deer Valley High School (25-6) with a 57-55 overtime battle that showcased resilience, determination, and clutch performances.
From the opening tip, St. Mary’s set the tone with a defensive presence and strong transition play. Star 6-foot-11 junior Cam Williams ignited the offense with a fast-break dunk following a steal, giving St. Mary’s an early edge. The team extended its lead to 11-3 before Deer Valley responded with a full-court press, cutting the gap to 13-9 by the end of the first quarter.
The second period saw a pivotal moment when 6-foot-7 senior Caspian Jones powered through contact for a left-handed three-point play with 5:54 left, shifting momentum back in St. Mary’s favor. However, Deer Valley fought back, tying the game at 16 with 4:57 remaining in the half. 6-foot-3 junior Carter Gutenberger then scored on a contested drive, giving Deer Valley its first lead. But Williams had the answer, drilling a corner three-pointer with 34 seconds left, sending St. Mary’s into halftime with a 25-23 advantage.
The intensity ramped up in the third quarter as both teams traded blows, but St. Mary's would get some nice breathing room after a transition layup from 6-foot-1 junior guard Brody Postorino, who would give St. Mary's a nice 35-27 lead with 4:27 left to play in the period. St. Mary’s would take a 43-35 lead into the final period.
With 5:44 left in the fourth quarter, Deer Valley’s talented junior guard Sergio Gonzalez, who was alomost unstoppable in the game, delivered a key three-pointer after a steal, tying the game at 42. Moments later, Gutenberger gave Deer Valley a 47-46 lead with 2:45 remaining, but St. Mary’s responded with clutch plays down the stretch, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on key possessions.
As regulation wound down, Cam Williams converted a three-point play with 26.1 seconds left to tie the game at 49, sending the championship into overtime.
In the extra period, Williams again stepped up, securing a crucial rebound and finishing through contact for another three-point play. With under 10 seconds remaining, junior guard Brody Pastorino was fouled and calmly knocked down both free throws, sealing the 57-55 victory and securing St. Mary’s championship triumph.
This win marked a defining moment in St. Mary’s basketball history, highlighting their resilience and ability to execute under pressure. The team’s collective effort, led by the strong play of Cam Williams, who finished with a game-high 30 points in victory, capped off a championship run that will be remembered for years to come for the St. Mary's program.
