Coach Jed Dunn congratulated Jaret Allen with a forearm tap to his chest after the game.

It was well-deserved. Allen’s three pointer with about 12 seconds left in overtime helped KO a worthy opponent and send Deer Valley to the 5A Conference state championship game.

Paradise Valley didn’t get a shot off in the final seconds, sealing Deer Valley’s 65-63 victory Tuesday at Wells Fargo Arena.

“He (Allen) has been shooting it well in practice,” Dunn said. “I can’t describe what happened. It’s been a long time. I’ve never been (to a final).”

Dunn is in his 10th season at Deer Valley and 16th as a varsity head coach.

Paradise Valley (22-7), seeded 12th, wasn’t a Cinderella team, not with eight seniors, including talented guard Tashon Brown, who led all scorers with 24 points.

To prove how evenly matched the teams were, the lead changed 14 times in the game. Guards Jordan Morris and Nathan Perry converted a combined 7 of 8 three pointers for Paradise Valley. Deer Valley also put forth an outstanding performance thanks in part to center Bryce Davis and guards Keyvaughn Williams and Ari Danzy, who eached scored in double figures.

In the championship game, Deer Valley (26-2), the No. 2 seed, and No. 1 Sunnylope, the defending champ, will face off for the third time this season.

The teams split their regular season meetings.

Chaparral upends region rival for the 3rd time

The Chaparral girls also advanced to their respective 5A championship game but did so only after holding off region rival Arcadia at Wells Fargo Arena.

Arcadia’s offensive rebounding allowed it to stay in front for most of the first half, as it received contributions from different players. Arcadia's four senior captains, Taylor House (10 rebounds), Dylan Watkiss, Cassidy Campbell and Bryce Nixon (17 points), each scored in double figures.  

But Chaparral made its shots when it counted the most to win 58-54 and defeat Arcadia (26-4) for the third time this season.

"We talk a lot about sharing moments and opportunities with the people you love,” said Chaparral’s 33-year-old coach Brain Porth, who’s in his seventh season as the team’s head coach.

Guard Anna Ostlie had her moment or two in the game.

Her basket with 2:44 remaining in the third quarter gave Chaparral its first lead, 40-38, since Chaparral was ahead 8-7.

With 2:14 left in the game, Nixon hit a three to tie the game at 51-51, but Ostlie (18 points) immediately answered with a three of her own.

Freshman Jess Finney chipped in 14 points for Chaparral, whose leader, senior Maddie Vick (19 points), also had a big game.

The game marked the end of Nixon’s stellar career and four fellow seniors. Those seniors won 97 varsity games at Arcadia.

Chaparral (25-5) is the the No. 1 seed, but it will be the underdog when it faces the 5A defending champ, No. 2 seed Mesquite, in the final.

(A couple of Chaparral's players and head coach Brian Porth are interviewed after Tuesday's state semifinal victory. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.com)