Andres Armenta is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mesa High School for AZPreps365.com

Mesa boys varsity basketball has a chance to solidify an Open Division playoff berth in a Monday night matchup against Desert Mountain. The same team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. 

For Mesa, however, this game could not have come at a better time.

Currently unbeaten in their last nine, marked most recently in a senior night blowout win versus Skyline, the Jackrabbits have found their stride. Much of their recent success, after overcoming mid-season adversities, has been due to one particular side of the ball, says head coach Scott Stansberry.

“What I’m impressed most with the team and the boys is the way we have been playing defensively,” Stansberry said. “That’s what we have always done at Mesa is hang our hat on defense.”

Mesa has held its opponents to an average of 37 points in its last nine games.

The Jackrabbits will look to make it 10 straight to close out the year sitting on a 21-5 overall record, marking their third straight 20-plus win season. Their recent success has led to a perfect 10-0 record in regional play, putting them top of the 6A East Valley region after finishing second last year. 

“It makes us feel great. It’s definitely a confidence booster just building chemistry the more we go on and keep getting better,” said starting senior Daniel Arnett.

But one non-conference matchup remains on the schedule, a rematch of Mesa’s 2023 Open State Championship first-round loss. 

Mesa fell 76-60 to Desert Mountain. 

As it stands, Mesa sits in the final spot of Open Division contention while Desert Mountain is only two places off the top, according to AZPreps. Open Division, a format newly installed in Arizona boys basketball last year, accumulates the top eight teams in 6A, 5A, 4A as well as eight additional at-large teams in a 32-team bracket.

Current senior Conway Cummard had 15 points that night going 7-12 from the field while hauling in six boards. 

“We’ve talked about it a little but not much … now it's time to lock in. We just want to get back at them for knocking us out of Open last year,” said Cummard.

Last year’s 13th seed Desert Mountain played spoiler off the back of 63 combined points from Kaden and Kalek House– sons of former NBA champion and all-time Sun Devil point leader Eddie House. Kaden led all Arizona freshmen in scoring last year with 25.9 ppg and 9.0 rpg while Kalek averaged 16.3 ppg and 5.6 rpg.

The sophomore twins hold multiple D1 offers, Kaden more notably gaining 4-star recognition per 24/7Sports and an offer from his father’s alma mater. The Wolves are ranked No.4 in Arizona, per MaxPreps, and lead their section with an overall 19-5 record (7-1 section).

Mesa’s playoff loss was the program’s sixth consecutive first-round exit since winning it all in 2016. On the other hand, the No.13 Wolves would go on to take down No.4 Highland, before falling short to No.5 Ironwood in the quarter-finals. 

Now– a year and three days removed– the two sides meet again with playoff implications and bragging rights up for grabs. 

“It’s definitely been the back of our heads for sure … I think we’re all going to be locked in and give it our best shot,” said Arnett.