Mattingly brothers lead Central High School to 5A state championship

By Marshall Baker
Navajo Times

PHOENIX – Central High School, located in the heart of Phoenix, won its first-ever 5A Arizona state championship at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Mar. 7 led by standout Diné brothers John and Grant Mattingly.

Their 69-58 victory over Mountain Pointe High School capped off a strong 26-3 season for the Bobcats, with both brothers leading the way to the very end.

“It feels nice and I couldn’t have asked for a better team to win it with,” said Grant. “Without them, none of this would be possible, all the hard work and dedication we put into this season was to win that championship and we got it done.”

Grant, a freshman, and his older brother John, a junior, combined for 38 points in the title game, John with 21 and Grant with 17, with Grant scoring 15 points in the first half. The Bobcats got out to an early 33-14 lead after a 16-0 run spearheaded by the relentless attack of Central’s offense, but Mountain Pointe responded with a run of their own and cut their deficit to nine, with Central leading 35-26 going into the half.

It was a back-and-forth affair for much of the second half, but Central never let them get within striking distance. Although he had a tough shooting night, John was able to keep control of the game setting up teammates for open looks and pushing the tempo. Having played for Sunnyslope in last year’s Open Division state championship loss, John was more than prepared and didn’t let the moment get to him.

“I’ve been at this stage before so that’s where experience kicks in,” said John. “Mental toughness helps and focusing on the little things to keep my team in the game.”

Despite the inspired effort, Central was able to pull away in the fourth quarter after several crucial free throws by John, going 6-6 from the line in the final two minutes. As the final buzzer sounded, the brothers joined their teammates in celebration, bringing the Bobcats their first and only basketball state title.

“My initial thoughts were ‘finally’,” said John. “All the hard work me and my brothers did finally paid off.”

For John, achieving this with Grant by his side meant the world.

“It means everything to me,” he said. “I love my brother and would do anything for him. I’m so happy we were able to win a championship together.”

Bringing ‘Rez Ball’ to the city

John and Grant have roots in Castle Butte, Arizona, having moved to Phoenix when they were in elementary school. They’ve been playing together since third grade, traveling the country with their club squad against some of the nation’s top basketball teams. Grant has been playing up John’s age group his entire life, something that’s prepared him for the tough competition of today.

The brothers are known for their run-and-gun, ‘rez ball’ style of play – playing with pace, getting out in transition, and shooting the leather off the ball. This rendition of basketball is a staple within Indian Country, and the duo made an effort to bring that to the big city.

“We’ve been playing rez ball growing up, so we kind of just brought that over here,” said Grant. “It’s just easy and fun, honestly.”

Their style of play and love for the game can be attributed to their family, who have a decorated basketball background in their own right. Growing up, John and Grant would watch and train with their older brother and sister, Kraig and Kourtney Shirley. Both were standouts at Winslow High School, including their mother Jackie Shirley Mattingly, who won a state championship with Winslow in 1989.

“It’s rez ball at its finest,” said Shirley Mattingly. “They truly are from out on the rez.”

All throughout the season and playoffs, the brothers had a big following of family and supporters that came from out on the reservation. Despite being in an urban environment, they understood what it meant for everyone back home on the Navajo Nation.

“It’s so special being able to look at the stands and see shirts of us. So seeing all the Native people that come out to see us, we know we have a lot on our shoulders and I feel like we represent it well,” said John.

Prior to this season, John had spent his first two years at Sunnyslope High School, where he averaged 14.3 points during his freshman campaign that ended in a state championship loss to powerhouse Perry High School. He followed that up with another stellar sophomore season last year, averaging 17.2 points per game. With his younger brother Grant coming into high school, John was determined to play with him on the same team.

“They’re always about brotherhood,” said Shirley Mattingly. “Regardless of where his brother chose to go, that’s the direction he was going to go because he always wanted to play with his younger brother.”

Fast forward to today, where the duo are now two of the most premier players in the state with a championship banner to go along with it. John finished the season averaging 24.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals a game, a top 10 scorer in the state and one of the best players in the Arizona 2026 class. John currently holds offers from Nevada, NAU, and Cal-State Sacramento.

Grant finished his first high school season averaging 14.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, finishing top 10 in Arizona for assists per game and also garnering Division 1 college interest. Grant notably started the season without his brother, leading the Bobcats to wins as John sat out half the season due to AIA transfer rules.

With the offseason now kicking off, the grind continues for the brothers as they travel during the summer along the Under Armour basketball circuit. Now with a state championship under their belt, the only thing on their mind is winning another. Luckily, both are slated to return to Central next year with the hopes of having another special season right by each other’s side.

“It’s definitely one of the best things in my life, and I always try to enjoy every moment with him, because you just got to enjoy every second,” said John. Grant echoed that same message, expressing that, “to play with my brother is a dream come true, especially winning a state championship with him, it means a lot.” As for next season and beyond, “Me and him have more to accomplish,” said Grant.

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