The Gregory School is the 1A state champions once again, defending last year’s title with a 67-57 victory over top-seeded Seligman on Friday at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum at Phoenix
Craig Everson, The Gregory School’s coach for the last eight seasons, has led the Hawks to repeat state titles twice now in his career.
The Gregory School won consecutive titles in 2017-18 (Everson’s first season) and 2018-19.
The school also won back-to-back titles in 2007-08 and 2008-09 when it was known as St. Gregory. Paul Baranowski was the head coach at the time.
The Hawks defeated North Valley Christian 55-52 in the championship game last season at Prescott Valley.
In Friday’s win over Seligman (24-8), the sixth-seeded Hawks (21-10) were led by Jackson Dickinson’s 22 points, which included six made 3-pointers.
Devin Dawson and Ben Head each finished with 12 points. Dawson had a game-high 14 rebounds.
“They took turns,” Everson told Jose Garcia of AZPreps365.com about his team’s balance. “They were selfless. We also had a freshman, Chase Butler, who became our best on-ball defender and brought a level of toughness that we really needed.”
The Hawks finished the season on an eight-game winning streak.
On Jan. 8, they were 8-7 after a 1-4 stretch.
They lost their lone senior on the team — forward Justus Turner — to a season-ending injury. Turner was averaging 10.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.
“To be honest, we had a lot of fight and a lot of people grew up,” Dickinson told Garcia.
The Gregory School practiced at McKale Center on Thursday ahead of its trip to Phoenix for the 1A championship game.
Working at McKale to prepare for the VMC tomorrow! #hawkson3! pic.twitter.com/q3f9Caia5Y
— Gregory School Bball (@TGSHawksHoops) February 28, 2025
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