Centennial
Hawks
Las Cruces,
N.M.
Year at
Holiday Tournament: 2nd (2013)
Record: 6-2
Coach: Steve
Heredia
Key Players:
Omar Baez (6-3, F, Sr.), Cesar Molina (5-11, PG, Jr.), James Mulheron (6-5, F,
Sr.), Vince Carrillo (6-3, F, Sr.)
Overview:
Centennial returns to the Holiday Tournament with many of its key pieces back
from a team that took fourth last season in Hobbs – losing close games to
eventual tourney champ Lawton, Okla., (54-50) in the semifinals and Cleveland
(60-56) in the third-place game. The Hawks have a pair of quality backcourt
players in Cesar Molina and Omar Baez and frontcourt players in James Mulheron
and Vince Carrillo. Centennial played Hobbs close in Las Cruces early in the
season, losing to the Eagles 66-60. The Hawks are ranked No. 4 in the state and
No. 1 in Class 5A according to MaxPreps.com.
Cibola
Cougars
Albuquerque,
N.M.
Year at
Holiday Tournament: 2nd (2009)
Record: 3-2
Coach: Ray
Rodriguez
Key Players:
Christian Cunningham (6-6, F, Sr.), Malik Liddell (6-1, G-F, Sr.)
Overview:
While Cibola sits at 3-2 on the season, the Cougars could very well be 5-0 if
not for losing their season opener at Albuquerque Eldorado 66-61 and falling in
a nail biter to La Cueva on the road, 50-49. Cibola is always dangerous with
Rodriguez at the helm and he has a difference maker down low in 6-foot-6 senior
Christian Cunningham and on the perimeter in 6-foot-2 Malik Liddell. The
Cougars last played at the Holiday Tournament in 2009, going 1-2 and taking
fifth. Cibola is ranked No. 7 in Class 6A and No. 14 overall.
