Ethan Cannon is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Basha High School for AZPreps365.com

CHANDLER – Basha High School’s Rocket League and Marvel Rivals teams are preparing for the AIA esports playoffs starting April 13. 

Basha’s Rocket League team is 9-1 and its only loss this season was against the defending state champions Valley Christian High School. Basha’s Marvel Rivals team is 8-2, according to PlayVs, and hasn’t lost a match since February.

“I definitely think we have a chance with both of these teams to get to at least the semifinals, if not the finals,” said Reilly Sehl, Basha’s esports head coach. “That’s what they’re aiming for, to get to that in-person environment and compete face-to-face, which is always a completely different and exciting atmosphere.”

Basha’s Rocket League team includes senior player Jorge Coracides, who is in his second year with the team. Coracides said he wants to win a state championship in his final season and he believes that the team is capable of doing so.

“We’ve only lost one game so far this season, so I think we definitely have what it takes to make a deep run,” Coracides said. “Even at the start of the season, I felt like this team could go far once we started clicking.”

Freshman player Walker Horn has been a significant contributor to Basha’s success this season, and like Coracides, he is focused on the playoffs. 

“We’ve been putting in more work and practicing together more instead of individually,” Horn said. “We’ve been focusing a lot on passing and playing as a full team before our scrimmages and matches, just to make sure we’re as coordinated as possible going into playoffs.”

Basha’s Marvel Rivals team is made up of many freshmen, but one of its best players and leaders, Charlie Sears, is graduating this year. 

“With our whole team most of us have four years to go with Basha, but since Charlie’s leaving it feels like this is the one year we have to prove ourselves to the world,” said Christopher Farmer, one of Basha’s Marvel Rivals players. “We’re doing everything we can to achieve that. It’s a make-or-break.”

This is the first season that the AIA has added Marvel Rivals as a competitive esports game. The team said that as the season has progressed, they have improved tremendously in communication.

“It’s our first year, but the season is going really well,” Sehl said. “We had players who started out more casual but had potential, and we were able to bring them up to a more competitive level. They’ve really grown into a team.”

The big goal for Basha’s Marvel Rivals team is winning a championship and making it to the National Championships. Basha’s players are also looking at the opportunity of winning a state championship as a chance to get attention from colleges. 

 “If we make it that far, we’re all probably going to get looked at, at least once or twice,” Farmer said. “So if we can make it there that would be great for me, because I’ve played Marvel Rivals since the release, and the fact that I’m able to put my time into gaming ever since I was a child into something that I can get a college degree out of, it’s really cool for me.”

A state championship would also mean a lot to Sehl after starting Basha’s esports program from the ground up.

“It would be huge,” Sehl said. “It’s not just a reward for the work these kids have put in this year, but for everything that’s gone into building this program over the past five years. It would mean everything to finally showcase that, especially in a sport where a lot of the work isn’t always seen.”