Cibola dominates San Luis on senior night, keeps playoff hopes alive

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) -  On a night filled with energy, emotion, and a packed Raider Gym, Cibola delivered exactly what it needed a statement win.

The Raiders entered Senior Night knowing the situation was clear: win out and get some help to keep their postseason hopes alive. Meanwhile, San Luis 7-14 and out of playoff contention came in looking to play spoiler.

The atmosphere reflected the moment. A loud home crowd packed the stands, ESPN press row was set up courtside, and the band added to the playoff-like feel as Cibola fed off the energy from the opening tip.

The Raiders wasted no time setting the tone.

Leading 21-9 in the first quarter, Cibola turned defense into offense when a steal found its way into the hands of Roman Gonzales. Gonzales went coast-to-coast for the layup, stretching the lead to 14 and igniting the crowd.

He stayed aggressive minutes later. Justin Barraza sparked a fast break and found Gonzales cutting in from the wing for another lay-in, pushing the score to 27-9 at the end of the first quarter.

San Luis showed fight in the second quarter.

Julian Felix knocked down a three from the right wing to cut the deficit to 12 early in the period. A few possessions later, Salvador Rodriguez used a pump fake in the corner to create space, drove strong to the basket, and finished to trim the lead to 10.

But that would be as close as the Sidewinders would get.

Cibola took control in the second half, overwhelming San Luis on both ends of the floor and pulling away for a dominant 67-33 victory.

Isaac Navarro led the Raiders with 16 points, while Rodriguez added 13 in the win.

With the victory, Cibola improves to 16-7 overall and remains undefeated in 6A Desert Southwest Region play. Now, the Raiders must continue to win — and hope for results elsewhere to fall their way in the AIA rankings.

After the game, head coach Jason Harmony reflected on his senior group and what they’ve meant to the program.

“I think there’s four guys that have been here three or four years, and they’ve really built this program from where it was,” Harmony said. “The atmosphere tonight — that’s because of these kids. The band, the crowd — you can’t ask for much more. There’s nothing better than high school basketball when everybody’s here. It was a lot of fun tonight.”

Harmony also acknowledged the urgency surrounding his team’s playoff position.

“We’ve got to win out. We’ve got to take care of business — and not just win, but have convincing wins,” he said. “After that, it’s kind of up in the air. But if we sneak in and have to travel somewhere, we’re going to play our butts off.”

For Harmony, what separates this group is their bond.

“From day one, we’ve really grown together. They say ‘family’ all the time — and it feels like a family. It feels like a bunch of brothers. It’s just really fun to watch when they’re playing that hard.”

Cibola handled its business on Senior Night.

Now, the Raiders turn their focus to the final stretch still fighting, still believing, and still keeping their postseason dreams alive.