Sunnyslope Wins Open Division State Boys Basketball Championship

Sunnyslope rallies past St. Mary's in final quarter to capture first state title

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Sunnyslope High School's boys basketball team won the Open Division state championship, holding St. Mary's to just one field goal in the final quarter to secure the victory and their first state title in the top division.

Why it matters

The Open Division is the highest level of high school basketball competition in Arizona, featuring the state's top teams. Sunnyslope's championship win is a significant achievement for the school and community, as they were able to defeat a perennial powerhouse program in St. Mary's.

The details

Sunnyslope trailed St. Mary's for much of the game, but a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter allowed them to rally and pull away for the victory. The win marks Sunnyslope's first state championship in the Open Division, the top tier of high school basketball in Arizona.

  • The championship game was played on March 8, 2026.

The players

Sunnyslope High School

A public high school located in Phoenix, Arizona that competes in the state's Open Division, the top level of high school basketball.

St. Mary's High School

A private Catholic high school in Phoenix, Arizona that is a perennial powerhouse in the state's Open Division basketball competition.

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The takeaway

Sunnyslope's championship victory demonstrates the program's ability to compete with and defeat the state's top high school basketball teams, solidifying their status as an elite program in Arizona.