Built for December: Basha’s Playmakers Took Over Open Title Game

This Open Championship didn't feel like one of those games where you're waiting around to see who steps up — Basha made it clear from the start that they brought more than enough dudes ready for the moment.   They came out loose, confident, and playing like a team that knew exactly what wins in December: physicality, poise, and guys who don't shy away when the lights get bright. From the opening drive, their playmakers settled in and started stacking the kind of plays that tilt a title game early. And as it rolled on, you could see who the real difference-makers were. Here are some of the guys who stood out most on their way to a state championship.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Basha's Secondary (The Entire Unit)</h3>   Basha's secondary deserves its own spotlight for the way they absolutely smothered one of the most explosive passing attacks in Arizona. [player_tooltip player_id='992763' first='Mason' last='Lewis'] set the tone with his physicality and range, but he wasn't out there alone — [player_tooltip player_id='1369435' first='Kaden' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='933244' first='Kaedyn' last='Smith'], Xavier Rivera-Rogers, [player_tooltip player_id='884156' first='Geremiah' last='Grimes'], and Tre Kennard all played high-level and in sync defense all game long. Together, they turned a usually high-flying offense into a frustrated, one-dimensional group. It wasn't one guy making the difference — it was six dudes playing connected, trusting each other, and shutting the door every time Chandler thought they saw a window.    [player_tooltip player_id='883266' first='Noah' last='Roberts'] got involved early, and you could feel the difference right away. He was that steady heartbeat in the backfield — stacking tough carries, catching the easy stuff, and giving Basha a reliable outlet any time things tightened up. He didn't need a big, highlight-reel touchdown to make his impact felt; every touch he got seemed to help settle the offense, keep Rogers in rhythm, and force Chandler to play honest. It was mature, physical, and exactly what you expect from a back you can build a game plan around, even when he's not the one finishing drives.     [player_tooltip player_id='930188' first='Jake' last='Rogers'] played this one with a calmness that didn't look anything like a kid making just his fifth start. Early on he kept everything simple, taking the easy throws, checking it down when he needed to, and keeping the offense on schedule instead of trying to force something that wasn't there. His legs popped early too — that opening touchdown run was all instinct and feel, seeing daylight and taking it without hesitation. Even the one risky ball he let fly came from confidence, not panic, and the rest of the night he just looked steady. For a former backup thrown into the biggest stage Arizona high school football offers, this was as composed and grown-up a performance as you could ask for.     [player_tooltip player_id='1177611' first='Kash' last='Brock'] was the guy who cracked the whole thing open for Basha, and he did it in multiple ways. Early on, when they were leaning on the run and the underneath game, he was the one stretching Chandler's coverage and forcing them to back off. That first big one he caught to set up the field goal was a clean, sharp route finished with real speed and a full-extension diving grab that showed exactly why he's such a playmaker. And that other chunk gain in the second half wasn't even a shot play at all; it was an underneath route he turned into something huge by bouncing off a defender, staying on his feet, and ripping upfield like the moment wasn't too big for him. For a near thousand-yard receiver averaging over 17 a catch, this game looked like everything he's been all season — explosive, tough after the catch, and hands you can trust.     [player_tooltip player_id='992795' first='Joshua' last='Gaines'] was the guy Basha leaned on when they needed the dirty work handled. While Roberts got his touches and Lewis handled the gadget stuff, Gaines was the hammer between the tackles – the back they trusted on the short-yard and gotta-have-it downs. He churned out tough yards when Chandler knew exactly what was coming, falling forward, squeezing through small creases, and taking the air out of the game in the second half. In a championship setting, that reliability is gold, and his workload in this one shows exactly how much the staff trusted him.     [player_tooltip player_id='401160' first='Eli' last='Cramer-Cronin'] was everything you want from the guy in the middle of a championship defense — always around the ball, always finishing plays, always doing the thankless stuff that keeps everything glued together. Chandler never really got comfortable running inside, and a lot of that was because he was beating them to spots, scraping across the formation, and cleaning up anything that leaked through. He handled the dirty work without hesitation, letting the edge guys pin their ears back and the secondary stay aggressive. After a season where he stacked up triple-digit tackles and lived in opponents' backfields, this game felt like a fitting close to the year.     It felt like [player_tooltip player_id='992763' first='Mason' last='Lewis'] was in the middle of everything Basha did defensively, and that's not an exaggeration. He played fast and fearless, shooting downhill to blow up runs, ripping the ball out, and cleaning up tackles in space when Chandler tried to stretch things horizontally. Then, just when Chandler thought they had him figured out, Basha turned around and used him on offense — dialing up those jet touches that he turned into touchdowns with ease. It was one of those nights where you noticed him every other snap, not because he was trying to do too much, but because he was just that active and dialed in. He walked away as both the Defensive MVP and Fiesta Bowl Player of the Game.     [player_tooltip player_id='1369395' first='Dante' last='Bruley'] showed up exactly how you want your top pass rusher to show up in a state title game — fast, disruptive, and making Chandler miserable from the opening snap. He camped out in their backfield all night, stacking up two sacks and three TFLs, and kept forcing the quarterback into rushed decisions. Those "here he comes again" moments weren't flukes; they were just who he's been all year. Chandler had to account for him on every obvious passing down, and even then, it still didn't matter. For a guy who spent the season putting his name on the map, this one felt like a final stamp.

This Open Championship didn't feel like one of those games where you're waiting around to see who steps up — Basha made it clear from the start that they brought more than enough dudes ready for the moment.