Marlee Smith is an ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Phoenix Country Day for AZPreps365. 

The Saturday morning light gleamed into the windows of Phoenix Country Day’s Najafi Gym. Sneakers squeaked as the Eagles ran drills. Playoffs have finally arrived. 

“There needs to be a sense of urgency. We need to play with attitude,” said coach Shane Lewis. “If we lose, we go home.”

PCDS (12-5) sits at the ninth seed in the 2A conference, forcing a play-in game against Sedona Red Rock on Wednesday at home.

“Earlier on in the year, we just went in with the mentality that ‘We’re not gonna walk out without a win,’” said junior Ben Brodsky. “We just have to get back into that mindset.”

Last year’s team also had to play-in. The 2018-2019 12th seeded Eagles won their play in-game but lost in the first round to Morenci Jr./Sr., 69-38.  

“We had seven seniors last year,” said senior Daniel Gomez. “We’re higher-seeded with a younger team.” 

The looming end of the season and his fourth playoffs weighs heavily on Gomez’s mind.

“I’m not losing my last home game. That’s all I’m going to say,” Gomez said to his team after practice.

Gomez and Lewis agree: they’re not nervous. “Nope,” they said, both shaking their heads. 

“You can go and do whatever you want to next week,” said Lewis. “But think of the team first for one more weekend.”