Mariah Cox is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Centennial High School for AZPreps365.com

First-year coach David Grace and the Centennial Coyotes are ready for playoffs. 

After the Coyotes defeated the Central Bobcats last Thursday, they will be on the road to play the Basha Bears on Wednesday night in the AIA Open Division. 

Grace took over the team last June. Since then, Centennial has accomplished many firsts. The Coyotes not only have had a great regular season but Grace has been preparing them for competition since the summer.

In preseason the Coyotes did well in Section Seven and they had a good showing in the fall league when they played in the Border League in Las Vegas. The team has three athletes being recruited and one, Dallan Lilly, who has committed to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. 

Grace is a former Div. I coach who worked at Vanderbilt, California Berkeley, UCLA,  Oregon State, University of San Francisco and Sacramento State. When asked about his coaching style, from college to high school, he said, “I try to bring it all back down so they get that experience before they go up."

Grace uses college and NBA terminology, and he applies everything he has learned from other coaches. Not many athletes get this kind of experience in high school but Grace is trying to give his players a head start. He also has taken the team to Grand Canyon University, so players can get a tour and see what it is like to be a college athlete.

With the Coyotes' playoff game on the road, Grace said he expects the team to be challenged. 

 “We’ll have our hands full and we’ll have to travel over there as well, but, you know, we’ve been on the road most of the time anyways so that's not gonna bother us,'' he said. "I think we’ll have a great game plan … and we will be ready to go.”

The Coyotes also have support from their community. They have made an impact by hosting tip-off dinners, partnering with game-time sponsors (from which they raised around $42,000), free-throw shooting contests and chuck-a-duck.

Chuck-a-duck, a crowd favorite, takes place during halftime. A target is placed on the ground and fans toss rubber ducks to try and get the closest to the target. The closest to the target receives a gift. A local officer who has worked the Centennial High senior game said it is a fun way to get the crowd involved while also keeping people off the court. The program has received tremendous support from the community. 

The battle between Centennial and Basha in the AIA Open Division will take place at Basha High School in Chandler to move forward in the division.