Grant Greabell is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Horizon Honors for AZPreps365.com.

After a two-year postseason drought, Horizon Honors tips off Friday for a chance at a 2A state title.

The Eagles won four out of their last six games after a 1-8 start to their season. That was good enough to land the 18th seed in the 2A conference play-in bracket.

They will face the 15th ranked St. Augustine Wolves who went 11-6 and are led by senior Thomas Reyna who is averaging 26.9 points. 

“He can play, that kid can get downhill quickly, he can really play. He’s definitely the one that we are going to have to pay attention to and not sleep on because he can go,” said coach Chris Henderson.

Horizon comes into the game following a win Tuesday against Sequoia Charter that solidified its postseason spot. Five different players hit a three in the game for the Eagles.

“When we get everyone involved it’s a lot easier. That’s our biggest thing, we need to get everyone involved,” said Henderson.

The young Eagles only have one player on their team with postseason experience in senior captain Ben Brady.

Henderson is not worried about his team’s lack of experience, though. He said that with the season Horizon has had, it has been all for the past few weeks.

“Our playoffs started a couple games ago for sure. We really didn’t have much wiggle room left,” said coach Chris Henderson.

Horizon is led by freshman Kaden Garber who averages 19.9 points and junior Michael Keelen who averages 12.6 points.

The dynamic backcourt will be the key to this game while facing a St. Augustine team which plays a 1-2-2 and 3-2 trapping defense. St. Augustine likes to play fast and force turnovers, so Horizon’s backcourt will have to control the tempo of the game .

“The number one thing that we have to do is dictate our speed and not theirs. The biggest thing we have to do is sprint both ways,” said Henderson. “Sprinting back on defense is going to be a must especially with their stud transitioning so well. Sprinting back on defense is not an option.”

At the end of the day, Henderson believes playoff basketball is pretty simple. It’s not about how talented any individual player is, or which team had a better year.

To Henderson every team is 0-0 now. It is going to come down to who has more heart and which team wants it more.

“It’s a playoff game you have to dive on the ground for every loose ball. You have to sell yourself out on defense for 32 minutes,” said Henderson. “You have to do everything right; you can’t take a play off. You have to win the competitive edge.”

It is a new season for the Eagles as they look to survive and advance. If they win Friday, they will be reseeded and be placed in the 16 team 2A state tournament bracket.