Trent Lavender, Jake Lifgren and Abe Rangel started playing together as freshmen in 2018-19 and cracked the Centennial varsity starting lineup that season.
The three guards figured by the time they matured physically and learned the game, they could lead the Coyotes to their first state basketball title. That game came true March 1, as Centennial beat Gilbert 46-39 for the 5A championship in the trio’s final game in the red and blue.
But none of them, nor their families, could have imagined the twisting and at times painful journey this power trio and the program would take on the way to that trophy.
