The Panthers rode their senior leader, who scored 14 of their final 16 points, past Teagan Swint and Newton North to capture their first state crown.

Franklin graduated eight seniors after it lost last year's state title game. Caden Sullivan made sure the 2025 edition turned out differently.

During the final minutes of the fourth quarter, every player on the court seemed to fall away besides Franklin’s Caden Sullivan and Newton North’s Teagan Swint. Both players are good friends off the court and are arguably two of the best players in the MIAA this year,