Jorge Montiel is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chaparral High School for AZPreps365.com

The Chaparral men’s basketball team prides itself on being a tightly knit unit. 

The team does not know how to quit or walk away from a challenge. 

The Firebirds have gone from being a team that was counted out, overlooked and underrated to a team that is showing that they belong on the big stage.

A good example of this was their most recent game against Buena High School in the first round of the playoffs.

 Buena was 16-9 coming into the matchup. 

Chaparral came into the game 12-11. 

Chaparral arguably has played in a tougher conference throughout the year, but regardless they were considered the underdogs. 

This is nothing new to the team, because of their record, they’ve had to deal with this label all season. 

“People look down on us just because of our record not being as good as everyone else. But anything can happen in the playoffs and we are ready to work,” said Connor Honig. 

Honig, a senior on the team, believes in the team because they work together as a unit. 

Honig admittedly stated that is not the way they always played. 

“Sometimes we play the individual game thinking we can take people on one on one but then once we realize swinging the ball quickly and hitting the open man, you get open shots and you start getting up in the game. It works for us so that's what we do,” said Honig.  

This play style has been a defining attribute for the Firebirds especially in these last couple of games. 

It has not only become a play style but it has become an identity of the team according to Head Coach Daniel Paterson. 

“Each team has their own identity, this team plays together, they have not been trying to do much on their own. They trust each other,” said Peterson. 

The Firebirds indeed trust each other and it is that trust that is advancing them further into the playoffs. 

While Chaparral High has been putting on quite a show the team does have a long way to go if they want to win it all. 

The Firebirds have a singular focus and it is not people’s opinions or perceptions of them. 

Chaparral has put the entire playoff field on notice and are showing why they should not be overlooked.  

 Team Captain Nick Corbo said, “ A lot of teams see us as a bunch of kids from Scottsdale that don’t really play hard. But like Coach said, we are going to be tough out. Teams are not ready for our defensive activity.” 

Corbo is right about that because in their past two games the Firebirds have kept their opponents to less than 40 points.   

If they consistently do this in the playoffs, they will be a force to be reckoned with. 

Everyone likes an underdog story but the Firebirds may be ditching that label soon as they seem to play best when it matters most. 

This team plays with heart and with trust and they are not to be forgotten about.