In an unprecedented victory – victories, really – the Fountain Hills High School girls basketball team was crowned state champions in celebratory fashion Saturday evening in Glendale.

This comes on the heels of the girls soccer team bringing home a state championship to FHHS just a few weeks ago this winter sports season – the first for each sport in the school’s history.

For the basketball players, the Lady Falcons overcame tough odds as they were seeded seventh for the post-season tournament. Earning a first-round bye, the girls beat two perennially-tough teams from northeastern Arizona (Many Farms and last year’s state champs Winslow) before downing Estrella Foothills in the semi-finals.

That set up Saturday’s tense contest against Valley Christian, which had previously beaten the Falcons twice this season and were enjoying a tremendous 33-0 win streak. Valley Christian managed to score only 36 points against the Falcons – some 28 points below their season average per game.

A shout out is also due to the FHHS Vex Robotics Club, which won its own state championship as well this past weekend.

Out of the nine tournaments these students have taken part in this season, the group won top honors at six – not to mention a large number of awards for design, driving, programming and overall performance.

“The Third Wave” is indeed a force to be reckoned with as the team prepares to compete in the World Vex Championship later this year.

These championships reflect on the high caliber of students we have enrolled at FHHS and their commitment to excellence both in the classroom and off-site, whether it be on the hardwood or at the world of computers and robots.

Congratulations to all students, coaches, advisors, teachers and parents who played a part in these tremendous victories.