Shawn DePaz is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Gilbert High School for AZPreps365.com

The Gilbert Tigers boys basketball team moved to 9-2 with their 62-53 win over the Corona del Sol Aztecs on Monday night. Gilbert coach Jay Caserio didn't hesitate to provide a reason why his team has had so much success this season.

“Our captains,” he said.

Those captains are junior Nikko Pentelute and seniors Karter Doucette and Tampa Scott. Each brings his own unique leadership style.

“Nikko is a leader who kinda tries to tell everyone positively what to do and Tampa does it by example and Karter is the guy that says ‘no that’s not the way we do things here,’” Caserio said.

On Monday night, their contributions to the game were just as unique.

Pentelute could be seen directing his teammates all night and led both teams in scoring with 17 points, the most important of them coming with three minutes remaining in the game. After Corona del Sol received a technical foul, Pentelute hit two big free throws that helped shift the momentum permanently in the Tigers’ favor.

Scott spoke highly of his co-captain.

“Nikko means a lot," he said. "He steps up in a major role for us as far as vocally on the court, how he performs offensively. He hits shots and makes good decisions with the basketball.”

As for Scott, his contribution came largely on defense, and was capped by a big block in the paint with only eight seconds remaining, securing the game for the Tigers. The block was followed by a loud roar from Scott in celebration.

Both the tough defense and visible emotion have become the cornerstones of Scott’s leadership style.

“Tampa is awesome,” said Pentelute, returning the praise to Scott. “When he steps it up on defense, our team just explodes.

“We feed off of Tampa’s emotion, 100%,” Caserio said. “His motor and emotion and his ability to defend.”

Doucette saw limited minutes in the game, but Caserio said he is still a valuable leader to the team, even when he is not on the court.

“[Doucette has] been on with us since his sophomore year, when we won a state championship two years ago,” Caserio said. “When you have guys that have been around successful years and can finish every one of my sentences for me, it takes a lot of heat off the coaches.”

Ultimately, the team’s leadership dynamic did not come about by accident. Having a team with three strong leaders is exactly the way Caserio and the Gilbert coaching staff wanted it. 

“Any type of team that is a player-led team is better than a coach-led team.”