Flagstaff dominates Eastmark to win second 4A title in 3 years

By Mason Byers

Staff Writer

The Flagstaff Eagles claimed the AIA 4A girls basketball championship once again.

The Eagles took on the Eastmark Firebirds Thursday night for the right to be called champions. They ended up taking down the Firebirds, 44-30, in a game where they did not let up all 32 minutes.

From the beginning to the end, the game was dominated by the forces of the Eagle's elite defense, something they have prided themselves on all season.

Behind the 3-point line was also their bread and butter. They got things rolling in the first quarter with three 3-pointers made - two of which were by freshman Sunshine Begoody - to give Flagstaff a 15-3 lead after one.

Begoody, who had 13 points and three made 3-pointers, knew what role she had to play in the championship game.

“In my mind, it was kind of just catching and shooting because if I thought about stuff, I don't think it would fall,” Begoody said. “So it was just all in one motion.”

The defense continued to prove to be huge for the Eagles. In the second quarter they only allowed two more points, making it only an astounding five points allowed in the first half.

Flagstaff head coach Tyrone Johnson knew his team had to play Eastmark differently on the defensive side of the ball after they got beat at home by the Firebirds earlier in the season.

“We played them at the beginning of the year and they were able to beat us at home but we wanted to make sure that we made everything difficult,” Johnson said. “We pressured the ball and didn't allow them to get easy passes and get into their sets, we felt that was to our advantage.”

In the second half, Eastmark found some rhythm on offense. However, it was too little too late as Flagstaff kept pressuring the rim and continuing to outscore Eastmark.

A majority of that fell on the shoulders of Flagstaff senior Teagan Martin. Martin, who was a part of the 2023 championship team, knew what it took to win it all. She finished her stellar high school career with 13 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and another championship win.

Tears and emotion flooded her face when she was at the free throw line with 10 seconds left in the game knowing she had once again won it all.

“I've had the loss. I've had the win. We've been through so much with me and my coaches and some of these girls I just grew up with playing,” Martin said. “Being able to share this moment with them is huge.”

It only was two years ago the last time the Eagles won the 4A championship, proving they are still an elite program. This also marks the third overall state championship won by the Flagstaff Eagles girls' basketball team.

Johnson cemented another great season in the history books for Flagstaff, and when people may have doubted if they can go back to the promise land, his team and himself never stopped believing in themselves.

“I'm happy for the kids and we finished the task,” Johnson said. “Throughout all the unbelief we believed.”