On the night of January 21, 2026, the Sunnyslope Vikings hosted the Millennium Tigers in what quickly became one of the most anticipated regular season games in Arizona high school basketball history. The matchup drew massive crowds to Sunnyslope High School, where fans lined up hours before tip off for the chance to see two of the state’s top teams square off in Game 1 of their AIA league rivalry.
A Matchup Worth the Hype
Both programs entered the game highly ranked, Sunnyslope perched at No. 1 in Arizona and No. 4 nationally, while Millennium checked in at No. 2 in the state and No. 6 nationally, each boasting impressive overall records and elite talent on both rosters.
From the opening tip, Millennium jumped out aggressively, using an early 11-0 run and outstanding play from sophomore five star guard Adan Diggs to take control. Diggs scored nine points in the first quarter as the Tigers built a 19-7 lead, putting pressure on host Sunnyslope.
Sunnyslope’s Comeback Spark
But the Vikings were far from intimidated. In the second quarter, senior leaders Rider Portela and Jaylin Ideran, along with junior guard Delton Prescott, ignited a spirited comeback. Their scoring surge helped cut Millennium’s advantage to four points by halftime, turning momentum toward Sunnyslope as the crowd grew louder with every possession.
The turning point came in the second half when Sunnyslope’s 5 star center Darius Wabbington , a 6‘10 force on both ends, buried a stunning 3 pointer to put the Vikings ahead for the first time at 33-31. Sunnyslope led 50-47 going into the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
A Nail Biter to the Finish
Millennium’s senior guard Cameron Holmes, a University of Arizona commit, provided a late spark with timely buckets, keeping the Tigers within striking distance. The fourth quarter was a seesaw battle, with the two teams exchanging leads and neither giving an inch.
With the score tied 57-57 and under 15 seconds remaining, Sunnyslope trusted the ball in the hands of Portela, who was fouled and coolly sank both free throws to give his team a 59-57 lead. After Millennium’s final shot rimmed out, Sunnyslope sealed the game with a couple more free throws, escaping with a 61-57 victory in one of the most thrilling games of the season.
