Payne Moses is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Gilbert Christian High School for AZPreps365.com.

GILBERT – A rematch of the 2024 3A state title game was a one-sided affair in favor of No. 1 Valley Christian on Saturday night, as the Trojans handed No. 2 Gilbert Christian its first loss of the season, 76-52. 

What was a tight 12-7 contest changed in a hurry with Valley Christian closing the half on a 30-10 scoring run. The box score did not leave any doubt that rebounding was the difference, with the Trojans outpacing the Knights, 43-21. 

Valley Christian senior Carson Grier was virtually unstoppable in the paint, cashing in on 11 of 17 shots and adding two three-balls for a season-high 29 points. He also had eight rebounds and five assists. 

“I obviously look to drive to the rim, just stay strong in the lane,” Grier said. “Especially when I start driving, (I can) start to kick it to other guys, get them going, too.”

And he certainly did let his guys cook, as junior Colby Jessup registered 20 points with three three-pointers and Carson’s brother, Kyle, added 13 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. The Trojans (13-1, 6-0) still have not dropped a game to an Arizona-based opponent with its lone blemish being a 63-62 loss to Colorado’s Fossil Ridge. 

The loss was the ninth straight in this series for Gilbert Christian (12-1, 7-0), which last defeated Valley Christian in the 2021 state quarterfinals. 

Senior Tyler Burr did his best to keep the Knights in striking distance, nailing three of his four three-pointers in the third quarter to look up and find a 25-point hole was just 15. 

The Knights scored their second-fewest points in a game this season (48 in a win over regional foe Benjamin Franklin on Jan. 7) and it was not for lack of open opportunities.

“Sometimes shots don’t fall. It’s one of those unexplainable things,” second-year Gilbert Christian coach Jason Pasquariello said. 

Pasquariello added that his team may need to be more “frugal” with their shot selection but he does not want their identity to change leading up to a likely postseason run. Pasquariello said he recognized but did not properly adapt to how two of his guards, Jace Olson (eight points, two assists) and Logan Lucero (seven points, seven rebounds), were being defended.

Gilbert Christian’s unusual poor shooting night – 19 of 55 (34.5%) – did not get any boost from second chance points with only five offensive rebounds, tied for its fewest all year. 

Burr, like he did after a 1-for-6 start from range, said they just need to “flush” the outcome.

“Tomorrow, we got to move on, prepare for Benjamin Franklin. That’s a big game coming up on Monday,” Burr said.

The Gilbert Christian-Valley Christian rivalry, which began taking shape across all sports in 2008, may seem dull as far as boys basketball is concerned but the packed gym screamed otherwise. Everyone that witnessed the Knights’ girls basketball team come back to beat the Trojans 44-42 prior to the boys' tipoff stayed glued to their seats for the sequel.

Trojan coach Greg Haagsma, who has 650-plus wins and nearly 27 seasons to his credit, acknowledged the aura that surrounds this matchup.

“The reality is (the players) go and hug each other after the game, but during the game, we all want to win extremely bad … So, that’s what makes it special,” Haagsma said.

Beyond just hugging it out, four of the involved players will be roommates this coming fall at Wheaton College, a NCAA Division III school in Illinois. Gilbert Christian’s Burr and Olson will be playing baseball and basketball, respectively, while Valley Christian’s Carson and Kyle Grier will be playing basketball and possibly some baseball.

Burr said he is excited to continue growing up with his teammate, Olson, and the Grier brothers, who he has played club ball with.

Gilbert Christian (12-1, 7-0) will host Benjamin Franklin (12-1, 6-1) on Monday at 7 p.m. Valley Christian (13-1, 6-0) will host Coolidge (10-3, 4-1) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.