PHOENIX — In a building nicknamed the “Madhouse on McDowell,” it felt like the entire town of Pima was in attendance Saturday morning to support the Roughriders.
Behind 16 points from Keegan Corona and a defense that defined its season, Pima captured its 12th state championship with a 40-29 victory over North Valley Christian in the 2A Boys State Final, closing the career of longtime head coach Cliff Thompson.
The top-seeded Roughriders did what they have done all year. They defended.
Pima outscored North Valley Christian in all four quarters, building a 12-6 lead after one and holding the Lions to just three points in the second quarter to take a 16-9 halftime advantage. The Roughriders pushed the lead to 30-20 after three quarters and never allowed North Valley Christian to seriously threaten in the fourth.
“We did it with defense,” Thompson said. “We might not have been the most talented offensive team, but these kids showed up for it every night.”
North Valley Christian shot just 7 of 36 from the field and never found rhythm against Pima’s pressure and physical half court defense. The Roughriders controlled the glass with a 36-31 rebounding edge.
Corona led all scorers with 16 points. Zathan Ruffin paced North Valley Christian with 13.
The championship marks Pima’s second title in three seasons after winning in 2023 and its 12th overall. Before this recent run, the program’s previous championship came in 1984.
For Thompson, the victory closes a 21-year career that ends with a 475-173 record, ranking 17th all time in Arizona history. Fittingly, his final win reflected the identity he built over two decades, a program rooted in defense.
