Cameron Palmer is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Betty H. Fairfax High School for AZPreps365.com

Fairfax’s girls basketball team has continued to be a dominant force in the 5A conference and has achieved that feat by having strong team chemistry from coaches and players.

The Stampede have a record of 17-1 and are ranked third in conference standings under the leadership of head coach John Trujillo and assistant coach Carlos Robinson. After finishing last season with an impressive record of 13-2, the team has come back this season with a high level of motivation and drive to get the state championship that they have desired since last year.

“That’s been the goal that we have had all season long,'' Trujillo said. "We haven't shied away from it, we have beaten all the top teams in our division, in 5A, throughout the summer or in the fall or in preseason tournaments. That’s the goal right now is to keep the girls locked in and to win a state championship.”

But the progress the Stampede have made started early in their freshman years. With all the players being in their second year with this program, the team has shown immediate growth from Year 1 to Year 2 by building upon their camaraderie within the team setting. Robinson could see the difference between the team from a year ago and now.

“This season in particular would have been Year 2 of the program,'' Robinson said. "Last year I think the girls were younger, most of them were freshmen, so they had to learn that chemistry together and kind of mature as the year went on. I think this season coming in they had been through the process last year, they matured a little more, meshed well together, the chemistry was there, just the work ethic got better.”

The growth seen within this team from the maturation process to the overall chemistry of the group has been noticed by the coaches alike, but the way that these players have bought into the schemes is what has turned the Stampede into a well-balanced team.

“I think one thing is that we try to teach our girls to play for each other,'' Robinson said. "We know that they’re all very highly skilled, just playing for each other and keeping up with each other. It starts with the practices, just kind of buying into what the coach is telling them and they have been willing to learn. As far as the schemes, the plays; they have learned them, they ran them and just perfected them."

Mackenzie Buckner, the Stampede’s leading scorer at 16.2 points per game, credits that preparation and work ethic from the coaching staff has played into how this season has transpired. And while their season has been impressive, Buckner strives to achieve that one goal --  the state championship.

“Winning state, I just want to win state,” said Buckner.