ROTARY CLASSIC
last year’s championship game, Desert Oasis (Nev.) and Palo Verde (Nev.). Desert Oasis, as a tournament newcomer, took home the title, while Palo Verde — a three-time champ of this tournament — settled for runner-up.
Also back is last year’s thirdplace finisher in Copper Canyon, which lost only by three to Desert Oasis in the semifinals and was the 2015 tournament’s runner-up.
Those three teams could all make the semifinals again with the way the bracket is set up.
The local team best positioned to make a possible run, it would seem, is Cibola, which has been known to do just that in recent years. The Raiders most recently made the semis four straight years from 2012-15, and in 2014 they memorably knocked off Palo Verde at the buzzer to become the first local team in six years to reach the championship game.
But that’s the past, and this Cibola team — which is coming off a season-opening loss to Westwood — figures to be tested in the quarterfinals, should it take care of Holtville in tonight’s first round, by 6A Southern region foe Tucson High.
Though the Badgers went just 6-12 in AIA play a year ago, Raiders coach Ron Bratton pointed out that they’re much better than that would suggest. They played a difficult schedule, and their one game against a Yuma school they beat Kofa by 47 points.
Tucson-Cibola is only a potential matchup, of course. The Badgers, a four-time Southwest Rotary Classic runner-up, open against San Luis today at 5:30 p.m. at Cibola, while the Raiders host Holtville at 8:30 p.m.
Asked what he’s hoping to get out of this tournament, Bratton said: “Production out of everybody that’s on our team. It doesn’t have to be scoring; like not turning the ball over, executing a play, setting a screen. In practice I’m actually happy with how we play, but then we get into a game we freak out, get a little nervous and off-kilter. It’ll be nice just to get in some game situations.”
Gila Ridge’s quadrant might be the toughest, but tough opponents is the appeal for coach Joe Daily and his Hawks (1-0 AIA).
“Honestly, I’m just excited,” Daily said of the tournament. “I’m hoping we get some tough teams to play us to give us a good challenge, to see our weaknesses and know what we need to work on. And more to get our kids experience. We lack experience right now, so hopefully some high-caliber teams will help.”
The Hawks open with tournament newcomer Bonanza (Nev.) at home at 7 p.m., then will play either the winner or loser of Copper Canyon vs. Mountain View Christian (Nev.) on Friday, depending on if they lose or win themselves.
“I want our kids to come in with no fear,” Daily said. “We’ve got a lot of young teams and a lot of inexperienced kids with nothing to lose. I want them to compete. We need that mindset that we can compete with anybody.”
Bonanza comes from the same league as Desert Oasis; the two have played five times the previous two years, with Desert Oasis winning four of those meetings.
Kofa gets its home court tonight at 7 p.m., but draws Desert Oasis. Kofa’s only game this year so far was a 74-66 loss to Yuma High.
The game right below that in the opening round is Yuma Catholic vs. Youngker, with the winners and losers of those pairs meeting Friday. The Shamrocks are yet to play in the 2017-18 season.
At the bottom of the bracket, Yuma High plays Palo Verde at home at 6 p.m. The Criminals (2-1 AIA) beat Kofa in the season-opener Nov. 21, then lost to Calexico (Calif.) and beat San Pasqual in consecutive days at the beginning of this week.
Above that game is Lake Havasu vs. Dobson at 7 p.m.