Pinnacle players hoist the school's first boys basketball trophy after win over Mtn Pointe (Azpreps365 photo)

Pinnacle's bid for its first boys hoops championship? Well, you could say the third time's a charm. Or you might suggest making a lot of 3s was a big help.

Either way is correct. The No. 2 Pioneers helped themselves with mostly spot up threes in the first half Wednesday night to open up a huge lead at halftime and went on to knock off No. 5 Mountain Pointe, 76-60 to win the 6A boys basketball title at Wells Fargo Arena.

The title was the first for Pinnacle (23-7) after two previous trips to the final, all under Charlie Wilde.  All the players were toddlers at best when Pinnacle began its program in 2001 so they grew into the program as the years passed. Mountain Pointe finished 26-4 in its first title game appearance and in the first season for head coach Duane Eason.

Pinnacle found all sorts of ways to get good three-point shots in the first half and did they make the most of it. Either by beating Mountain Pointe's press, good ball movement or drives to the basket that drew defense and opened up the perimeter, the Pioneers were gluttons from behind the arc.

Pinnacle sank 8 of 12 treys with five different players knocking them down in the first 16 minutes. Sophomore standout Nico Mannion and junior Spencer Rattler connected for two as did reserve Alex Fisher. Jordan Mains and Trent Brown netted one apiece. Conversely, Mountain Pointe sank just 1 of 10 3-point shots in the first half 

"We were going to attack and if that opened things up then we were going to shoot threes, we have all year," Wilde said. ... "I'm just happy for these kids. They've worked their tails off the last four months. These kids either grew up here or when they moved here they came to camps in middle school."

Mannion led the way with 21 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.  He made 8 of 15 shots. Rattler checked in with 18 points, Jordan Mains produced 13 points and 11 rebounds and Trent Brown, who missed half the season due to a back injury, chipped in with 10 points and five assists.

The lone senior in Pinnacle's starting lineup  -- Mason Johnson -- did his share adding eight points and eight rebounds. 

Guards Khalid Price and Amarion Cash tried to rally Mountain Pointe in the second half. They combined for 18 second-half points and led the Pride in scoring with 18 and 13 points, respectively. Along with Deandre Henry, they reduced a 16-point lead in the third quarter to nine (45-36) a the 3:18 mark of the quarter. The lead bumped back upto double digits less than a minute later and never fell below that margin again. Mannion's 30-foot 3 with 4:20 left in the game likely was the death-knell for the Pride as it brought the lead to 14.