The varsity boys basketball team at Imagine Prep Surprise won its second straight Canyon Athletic Association Division III boys basketball state title Feb. 19 at Arizona State University’s Desert Financial Arena.

The Storm, coached by Al Luna, beat the Learning Foundation & Performing Arts Wolves 50-45.

Luna said he remembers having meetings with the team back in May to prepare for the summer and fall tournaments and the regular season.

“It’s the greatest feeling to be there three years in a row and win two of them back to back,” Luna said. “We played a lot of basketball this season and worked in the gym and it paid off. Everyone bought in and was dedicated, coming to practices and watching film and playing as hard as they could each game. I’m super proud of these guys.”

Luna shared that the team talked a lot about the goals and what it was going to take to repeat as state champions.

Leading the Storm were seniors Brady Heuseveldt and Hayden Kelton as well as junior Jaylen Cassidy.

Heuseveldt went five for five shooting, scoring 10 points and adding 10 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in the championship games.

“Playing basketball here has meant a lot,” Heuseveldt said. “I’ve been able to meet a lot of good people and mentors. A lot of good coaches we’ve had, especially Luna.”

Heuseveldt said that over the last four years he has grown not only physically in basketball but mentally and in all aspects of life.

“Mentally I’ve learned a lot of things especially to improve my basketball game, not only that, but my real life aspects and key things to take away from basketball that were taught throughout these four years,” Heuseveldt said.

Kelton led the team in scoring, adding 16 points, one rebound and one steal.

Luna said they will be losing some key players to graduation at the end of this year in Heuseveldt, Kelton, Landon Cleveland, Amere Legall, Ben Wood and Michael Quinonez, who was a four-year varsity player.

“Seniors Hayden Kelton and Brady Heuseveldt were a huge contribution for us,” Luna said. “They were part of the starting five this season and will graduate this year. I’m sad to lose them all but very excited for them as they will continue to further their academic and basketball careers and I am excited to see Brady and Hayden play in college next season.”

Heuseveldt said winning this season meant a little more than last year.

“To win back to back especially this year because a lot of people thought we wouldn’t do as well this year, especially with the challenges we faced in the regular season,” Heuseveldt said. “To win this year meant a lot.”

Cassidy was named player of the game. He scored eight points, had four rebounds and led all players with eight assists and six steals.

“Being a player of the game, especially in the championship, will set a tone for me next season,” Cassidy said. “Going into the championship game knowing I had to slow the game down a bit; it built my confidence, but also my coaches confidence in me, and now we have enough push to get a three-peat.”

Cassidy said making it to the state championship game and losing his freshman year brought a lot of motivation and encouragement to the team.

“It not only means a lot to me, but my coaches as well, since my freshman year we lost, and we had a lot of seniors that left,” Cassidy said. “We had seven seniors leave that year, so our team was young and we brought in a lot of new players and to win last year and this year, it makes a lot of people look at our school. We are put on the map, to make a three-peat next year would make a dynasty and would mean Imagine Prep is nothing to mess with.”

Luna shared there are still many key players that will be returning to the team next year, including current juniors Cassidy, Quassan Cunningham, Richard Rodriguez and Najib Zion and sophomores Mack Oliver and Dallas White.

Luna said a few other younger players that are already in the gym and developing, literally that next day after the championship.

Luna said he hopes the players return next year with the same mindset and are ready to work to take another shot at returning back to state.

“If I can reflect on a few things from this group this year that stood out, they never panicked and they played with a purpose and they played for each other,” Luna said. “They put their teammates above themselves and I’m glad I could be a part of that.”