Marshall Baker is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Basha High School for AZPreps 365.

Basha is currently in the semifinals of the Open Division playoffs, awaiting opponent Sunnyslope High School for a Saturday night showdown.

The Bears current success so far can be seen as ahead of schedule, as their team only has three seniors. Part of that success can be attributed to their two freshman standouts, Mason Magee and Elijah Summers-Livingston.

The duo has a history together, having played together for years now in the AAU circuit. Since they were so familiar with each other and some of the players already at Basha, they seen it as the place they wanted to call home.

“We played on the same AAU team, we kind of didn’t know where we were going to go at first, so once I figured out he was coming, we both took a tour, we got familiar, we did the summer program and went off from there,” said Magee.

Head coach Mike Grothaus was impressed early on with the duo and knew right away he had something special.

“They’re ultra-talented for guys that young, you can easily see that, they’re outstanding kids, very coachable, they’ve been fun to work with,” said Grothuas.

For Magee, he’s played above his age and stepped into a role that not many young players can easily do – be the lead guard for a very successful team. Ever since the injury to team captain Izaih Johnson, Magee has excelled at being a floor general and running the offense efficiently. Magee understands very well how important he is in making everyone around him better.

“As a point guard, one of the main jobs is to get your other teammates involved and stuff like that, so I think I’ve just kind of embraced that as the season went on,” said Magee.

Grothaus also commends Magee for taking on this role, knowing how tall of a task it can be for such a young player.

“Since he did step into the lead guard position, he’s doing a great job of running our team, and growing and developing, and really learning what the position entails, and he’s leading the guys,” said Grothaus.

On the opposite side of the ball is where Summers-Livingston makes most of his impact, being the defensive anchor and primary rim protector for the Bears. Summers-Livingston takes pride in his role, knowing his teammates are relying on him to erase shots at the rim and make it difficult for anyone who enters the paint.

“Defense carries me through the game, so I try to hold myself to a great standard,” said Summers Livingston. “I know all my other teammates, they rely on me, when something happens, I’m there to clean it up.”

Grothaus praises Summers-Livingston for doing all the dirty work and is excited for his growth as a player, such as expanding his offensive game in years to come.

“He gives us rim protection, great length, if he’s not blocking shots he’s altering shots at the rim, great rebounder, when his offensive game will catch up and grow and develop, his potential is limitless,” said Grothaus.

The duo already has their team in the semifinals of the Open Division playoffs, but they want more than that in their coming years at Basha.

“That ring, that’s our real goal, we need that, whether it comes this year, or next year, or the year after that,” said Magee.

With how much they’ve impacted winning basketball this early, it is no surprise to see the two set the bar that high. Their run continues Saturday night, Feb. 25, at Apollo High School against the No. 10 team in the state.