Luc Carter is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Chapparal High School for AZPreps365.com

The Chaparral Firebirds boys basketball season got off to a hot start, securing a nail biting 62-58 victory over the Dobson Mustangs in the season opener. 

The Firebirds took on Dobson as part of the Phoenix Union Coyote Classic tournament played at a neutral site in Camelback High School on Monday afternoon. 

Chaparral started the game off by moving the ball well on offense, leading to some easy layups and drives resulting in free throws. They led the Mustangs 21-18 after the first quarter. 

The Firebirds carried that first-quarter momentum into the second quarter as senior guard Blake Stevens got into a rhythm, getting to the rim at will. He was the Firebirds' leading scorer in the contest with 18 points. 

“I found success taking the ball to the lane and looking for my shot. I never try to force anything and just take what the defense gives me and do my best to execute,” Stevens said after his high-scoring night. 

The Firebirds went on a run at the end of the second quarter, extending their lead to six for a 35-29 halftime score. 

Dobson was not going to quit, though, as the Mustangs came out firing in the third, finally finding their stroke beyond the three-point arc.

Dobson took the lead from Chaparral in the third quarter and it looked as if the Mustanges were going to go on a run, but Chaparral kept answering and only allowed Dobson to gain a 48-46 lead at the end of the third. 

Chaparral head coach Dan Peterson was proud of the way his squad fought hard and kept the game tight the entire way. 

“It was our first game and there are a lot of things to work out, but our guys just kept competing," Peterson said. "We didn't compound our mistakes and we got a lot of stops on defense.”

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair with both teams trading buckets. Ultimately, the Firebirds were able to take the lead down the stretch by being able to beat Dobson's 2-3 zone defense with some timely three-pointers and by controlling the offensive glass, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. 

Chaparral senior point guard Ben Rosenberg had six offensive rebounds in the game. This is impressive considering he is Chaparral's shortest starter at only 5-foot-11. 

“The fire I can bring for this team by doing the little things like getting offensive rebounds and kicking them out to shooters or finishing at the basket can help the team get wins like we did today,” Rosenbirg said. 

Chaparral would secure the victory by making clutch free throws down the stretch. Peterson was satisfied with his team's performance in the season-opening win. 

“We have some guys in leadership roles that are upperclassmen who understand what it takes to play at this level,” Peterson said. “They know how to play with emotion, but not play emotional. That's how you let things get away from you.” 

Chaparral’s next game will be on Monday, Nov. 27, against Sunrise Mountain.