A perfect pair.

This second consecutive 5A-I softball championship won by Chandler Basha on Friday was tougher than last year's. A season of enormous expectations, and a tremendous championship exhibition by Mesa Red Mountain will lead to that.

SLIDESHOW: Basha wins 5A-I softball state championship

It took extra innings, but after four months and nine innings, all that tension and nervousness was released in a sea of celebration following Basha's 5-2 victory in 9 innings over Red Mountain at Rose Mofford Softball Complex in Phoenix.

Forget the final margin, it's OK to call this one a classic.

You name it, this night had it. Sizzling defense by both teams, two "aces" who wedged themselves perfectly into that label, another cardiac comeback by the Lions, controversial rulings, a game-winning run Lions senior captain Kayla Ensminger never saw coming, a coach getting ejected and two extra innings.

"It was just an amazing game," Basha junior catcher Desiree Mejia said. "Everyone was on their toes moving around with nerves all night. (Red Mountain) really put up a great fight. It was a pitcher's duel all the way. It really, really was."

Finally, the breaks and crack of the bats went Basha's way in the ninth, as a couple of miscues and couple of crushed balls to the fence led to four runs. Mejia's two-run single proved to be the game-winner, and Theresa Asta followed with a two-run double.

As it had done most of the season - including the seventh inning to stay alive - Red Mountain tried another rally in the bottom of the ninth, but Katlyn Hammond squeezed the game's final out of the season and the Bears' mugging was on.

"In the end the kids pulled it out and that's all you can ask," Basha coach Scott Hoffmeyer said.

Both teams left chances and robbed one another with tremendous infield defense early, but Basha caught the first break in the fifth. A passed ball led to a Red Mountain error, and the Bears took a 1-0 lead.

With Arizona State-bound Sam Parlich on the mound, the Bears looked confident, but the Lions lived up to their reputation in the bottom of the seventh.

Haley Culley reached on a fielder's choice, and, with two outs, the senior Ensminger (5-for-5, 2 RBIs) ripped a double off Parlich into the left-center field gap. Culley scored and Ensminger slid into third, but when Basha's throw into the infield got away and rolled through the infield, Lions coach Rich Hamilton waved Ensminger home with what would have been the championship-winning run.

She never saw the ball roll away, however, and wisely stayed at third with her helmet buried in her hands.

The Lions couldn't get her home.

"I'm proud of my kids for not packing it in, not since Day One," Hamilton said. "Not this group of kids, I'll tell you that much."

Hoffmeyer was tossed in the top of the eighth when the home-plate umpire initially ruled Asta had been hit by a pitch when her bunt attempt with two strikes went foul (a strikeout), but after meeting with the other umpires they reversed the call and ruled her out.

Instead of the bases loaded and nobody out, Basha had second and third with one out, but Mel Willadsen shut the door on the Bears.

"I made myself a distraction which was a mistake," Hoffmeyer said.

"Just another hump we needed to climb over," Mejia added.

An inning later, the Bears did that and much more.

"It's a thrill," Mejia said. "I hope we do this again next year. It's a joy."