Sara Perey attends Gilbert Christian High School and is a member of the AIA’s student SID program.

The Gilbert Christian High School Varsity Men's Basketball team is currently ranked 7th in the 3A Metro rankings with an overall record of 6-2 under head coach Kurt Keener. 

The team has many strengths, noted #12, Michael Gross, “[The] team is the best 3pt shooting team in GCS history, [and] we’ve got shooters across the board.” The teammates “always lift each other up during hard times and have a lot of scoring threats when [they] are playing unselfishly,” adds #13, Weston Anderson. While, #1, Jace Olson also added that “[they] are quick and speedy and [they] are scrappy.” “Nearly all of [the] guys are over 6 feet which makes [them] tough to match up with,” said Coach Pasquariello. 

Along with strengths, however, come some weaknesses, but the GCHS Varsity Men’s Basketball team is always looking to correct their faults.“[They] are a young team and with that comes a slight lack of knowledge of a higher level of basketball,” stated #13, Anderson. “[The team is] young and not very experienced. With only two seniors on the team and limited varsity experience for most of our guys we have had to learn a lot and will continue to grow as individuals and as a team as the year continues, ” said Coach Pasquariello. When asked what weaknesses the team may have this year, #12, Gross quoted the wise yet fictional character, Michael Scott, played by Steve Carrell, saying, “‘Why don't I tell you what my greatest weaknesses are? I work too hard, I care too much, and sometimes I can be too invested in my job.’ Now replace ‘I’ with this team, and that's a good summary.”

The varsity men’s basketball team has a wide variety of incredible coaches. “Coach Keener has the energy of a young man, always keeping us engaged. Coach Pasquierello has the agility of a young man, challenging even the quickest of players. Coach Heyn has the strength of a man in his prime, contesting even the dunk attempts of his son, Caden Heyn Jr.” #12, Gross commented. These coaches “hold [the team] to a high standard and want them] to become the best collective team we can be,” said #13, Anderson. Not only are they great with basketball, but “they are [also] good spiritual leaders,” said #1, Olson, “they also have extremely high b-ball IQ.” 

There was one new addition to the basketball team this year, team manager Caleb Panepinto, although most know him as “Danger.” “Our team manager, Danger, is the best dressed man in the state of Arizona. He has challenged Keener’s throne, and brings swagger to any court he dares to set foot upon,” #12, Gross strongly stated. “Danger is the single greatest manager of all time.  He is a dude who is devoted to this winning program and to his craft.” #1, Olson added. 

This team not only knows how to play basketball, but they know how to have fun with it and make it a true team sport. They are an “awesome group of young men!” added Coach Pasquariello. “This team is a special band of brothers seeking to have fun, ultimately. [They] put the “bros” before all, and pick another up if another stumbles,” said, #12, Gross. Anderson, #13, adds, “We encourage each other to push through difficulties and never look down on a teammate.” “We get really hyped during games, especially when we take charges and we get dunks.” added #1, Olson. When asked what helps the team strive to do better, besides winning, Gross, #12, responds, “Grant Woods is not allowed to eat dinner unless he scores 20 points, as per the Woods' household. I think it is a beautiful example of the way this team stays hungry, per se.”