EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated from a previous version.

PRESCOTT VALLEY — David El, Jackson Dickinson and Ben Head each scored in double figures and No. 1-seeded The Gregory School claimed their first state championship since 2019 with a 55-52 win over North Valley Christian on Saturday night.

It is the 19th straight victory for the Hawks (28-3, 5-0 1A Tucson Northwest), which had an Elite 8 exit against El Capitan a season ago, but used a 11-6 rally over the final 4:35 to beat the defending state champs.

“It was a heck of a game. I never knew we would get back in control, we were down most of it. But what I was pretty sure of was, if we were within striking distance by the end of the game, we would pull it out,” Hawks head coach Craig Everson said, adding that his club made a habit of closing games out late all season.

“We’ve been doing it with a nine, 10, 11-man rotation, and because of that we wear teams down. Any of our close games have been pulled out in the end because of the full team and everyone contributing out of it,” Everson said.

The Gregory School boys basketball team poses for a photo after claiming the 1A state championship in a 55-52 win over North Valley Christian on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Prescott Valley. (Brian M. Bergner Jr./AzPreps365)

Capping that late 11-6 run was Dickinson’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 50 seconds to play, giving his club the lead for good in a state championship game that saw both teams answer blows like a heavy-weight title fight.

With 1.4 ticks left, Carter Reynolds missed a pair of free throws and Lions forward Noah Tabak quickly called a timeout off the rebound.

But after the break, Bobby Rodriguez’ half-court heave with 0.8 seconds left fell short and The Gregory School celebrated their victory.

Standout Razin Smith, who averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game as a freshman this season, fouled out late in the fourth quarter with eight points, but said this title is only the beginning for his club.

“We state champs, baby,” Smith screamed, adding that they might win three more.

“He’s a special player,” Everson said. “He’s so mature for just turning 15. He has a high basketball IQ and most importantly, he wants to win so badly. He told me before the season, ‘We’re going to do this.’”

And so they did, ending the Lions’ hopes for a back-to-back title and third in the past four years.

Rodriguez led the Lions (22-10, 9-0 1A Central) with 19 points while senior Zac Rueles had 10 in the loss.

North Valley Christian led 26-24 at halftime, and again after the third quarter, 44-42, but managed only two buckets and were just 3 of 7 from the free-throw line in the final period.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.