Basha Girls Basketball Advances to Open Quarterfinals

Bears beat Gilbert 49-37 to set program record for most wins in a season

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Basha High School's girls basketball team continued its remarkable turnaround by defeating Gilbert 49-37 in the second round of the Open Division playoffs. The Bears, who won just 2 games four years ago, have now set a program record with 21 wins this season and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Why it matters

Basha's girls basketball team has gone from one of the worst seasons in school history to becoming a powerhouse, making the prestigious Open Division playoffs. This remarkable turnaround highlights the team's resilience and determination, as well as the growth of the program under coach Chiniqua Bright.

The details

Basha used a dominant second quarter to take control of the game, outscoring Gilbert 18-8 in the period. The Bears' length, with three starters 6 feet or taller, caused issues for Gilbert. Senior forward Grace Beckler led Basha with 15 points, while sophomore guard Amira Reynolds added 14 points. Junior guard Terrais-Joi Coleman also played a key role with 10 points and tenacious defense.

  • Basha beat Gilbert 49-37 on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • Basha set the program record for most wins in a season with 21.

The players

Grace Beckler

A senior forward for Basha High School who was a freshman on the team's 2-win season four years ago.

Amira Reynolds

A sophomore guard for Basha High School who scored 14 points in the win over Gilbert.

Terrais-Joi Coleman

A junior guard for Basha High School who scored 10 points and played tenacious defense.

Chiniqua Bright

The head coach of the Basha High School girls basketball team.

Savannah Bix

The head coach of the Gilbert High School girls basketball team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's crazy. We worked really hard for this. Going from winning two games to being in the Open — just making the Open was huge for us. It took a lot of work, a lot of resilience. Just pushing through those lows to finally reach those highs, it feels great.”

— Grace Beckler, Senior forward (azcentral.com)

“This shows determination. These girls were with it when we were winning two games. They came and battled every single night, practiced, bought into the things we asked them to. Really proud of them.”

— Chiniqua Bright, Head coach (azcentral.com)

“Coach (Savannah) Bix has a great program and I knew that after halftime, they were going to come out swinging.”

— Chiniqua Bright, Head coach (azcentral.com)

What’s next

Basha will face No. 2 Goodyear Millennium, the defending state champions, in the Open Division quarterfinals on February 26.

The takeaway

Basha's girls basketball team has undergone an incredible turnaround, going from a 2-win season just four years ago to setting a program record with 21 wins and advancing to the prestigious Open Division quarterfinals. This remarkable journey showcases the team's resilience, determination, and the successful coaching of Chiniqua Bright.