Kobe Blackwell is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arcadia High School for AZPreps365.com

“Inconvenient.” That’s how  junior guard Brandon Austin described the new mask mandate by the AIA to' combat COVID-19.

The mask mandate was something that players were expecting after the AIA canceled winter sports and negotiations of bringing it back began.

Junior forward Tyler Rosenfeld said ''it was something we all expected as kind of a compromise. But it wasn’t much of a compromise as we just wanted to get out there.”

It was the desire to get back on the court that made the transition easier for the Titans.

“The boys pick me up as much as I pick them up,”  coach Stephen Danford said.

After missing a crucial summer and fall full of tournaments the Titans are grateful for the opportunity to be on the hardwood.

“Not having tournaments did have a toll at first playing together,” said Rosenfeld.

While it did take a toll on the team's chemistry on the court, it did not take long for the Titans to find rhythm.

“Now that we’ve gotten our games back, it has brought us even closer,” said Allen.

It is the attitude and passion that leaves the team in such high spirits.

Danford credits the maturity of his team.

“We're young in some areas so not playing in summer and fall did get us a little bit but the boys are positive about being there,” Dandord said.

These preseason tournaments are what help bring a basketball program together. 

Small things such as riding in separate busses to games can also be detrimental to the program.

Because of COVID-19 protocol, athletes from the freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams must ride in separate busses.

“I don’t like that we are three separate programs right now. That is frustrating, we have a family atmosphere around here,” said Danford.

Thee Titans as they are 5-3 midway through the season but currently they  are under a10- day quarantine until their next matchup against McClintock with a date yet to be determined.