Marion Williams is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Eastmark High School for AZPreps365.com

The Eastmark Firebirds launched their 2025 season with an emphatic 77-31 victory over the Rio Rico Hawks on Friday night, setting the tone for what first-year head coach Glen Ellis called "a new era of toughness and chemistry" for the boys varsity program.

From the opening tip, Eastmark's pressure defense set the tone for the game. 

The Firebirds forced multiple early turnovers and held Rio Rico to just 18 first-half points. Though the team struggled from beyond the arc — hitting only two of its first 18 three-point attempts — it responded in the second half with aggressive drives and smart ball movement.

"We settled a lot for threes in the first half," Ellis said. "That's something we talked about at halftime — attacking the rim, trying to get to the foul line, and sharing the ball a little bit more. Once we started doing that, everything opened up."

It was a statement win for Ellis, who took over the Firebirds' varsity program this season. He said the transition has been smooth thanks to the commitment of his players and support from the community.

"The community has really embraced me," Ellis said before tipoff. "The players have been bought in since April. Toughness was something we wanted to improve, and they've really done a great job of building that."

The Firebirds' energy was fueled by senior point guard Dylan Gesner, who led the team with 18 points and six assists, pushing the pace and controlling the floor. His ability to read the game and set up teammates was pivotal to Eastmark's second-half surge.

"The game just slows down when you're on the court most of the time," Gessner said. "I've got teammates like Jay [Paulo] and all of them helping me out there. I know they're reliable and they're gonna be there when I need them, so it makes it easy. On defense, we just put pressure — and it works."

Jayson Paulo, a returning forward already signed to a junior college baseball program, showcased his versatility on the court with strong defense and rebounding, anchoring the Firebirds inside.

"I take pride in just not letting them score," Paulo said. "We wanted to keep them to a low number, keep that pressure up, and not let off the pedal."

Ellis cited the team's defensive discipline as a central component of the victory, especially when early foul trouble could have changed the game's momentum. "We harp on that every day in practice," he said. "We've got a lot of defensive toughness drills — working on help side, moving our feet, staying on our feet, not using our hands. At halftime, we just focused on getting back to our technique."

Beyond tactics, the Firebirds' cohesion stood out — something both Gessner and Paulo attributed to the offseason work.

"This summer was great for us," Gesner said. "Fall ball was a little rough, but it brought us together. We faced adversity, fought through it, and came out stronger."

With the win, Eastmark sets an early standard for the season — one built on the foundations Ellis has emphasized since day one: toughness, leadership, and teamwork.

"We've come a long way since April," Ellis said. "The goal is to keep getting better every game."