The 20th annual Southwest Rotary Classic basketball tournament will kick off Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 at three Yuma Union High School District sites with games continuing Dec. 6-7.
The 16-team tournament includes schools from Nevada, California and Arizona.
“The Rotary tournament is an opportunity to get all of the Yuma-area teams together,” Kofa head coach Jeff Frazine said, “and get a look at teams you will face again multiple times throughout the season.”
Tickets can be purchased at the gym locations with concessions and souvenirs also available. The “All Tournament Pass” costs $15 and gives fans access to games at all sites. Single-game tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for students with identification. Children 12 and under with an adult are free. Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) passes will be accepted.
“It’s an opportunity to play teams outside of our region in a highly competitive environment that will challenge our team for our [Arizona Interscholastic Association] power-point and region games that will be ahead of us after the SWRC,” Casa Grande head coach Robert Peterson said.
The tournament bracket is available on Cibola High School’s website (Cibola.yumaunion.org) as well as the tournament’s official Facebook page.
All teams play Thursday, Dec. 5 at one of the area schools. Winning teams will advance in the Championship Bracket, while losing teams will play in the Consolation Bracket. The championship game takes place on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2:30 p.m. in Cibola’s Raider Gym. Each participating school is guaranteed four games.
“We couldn’t do it without the help of the rotary club,” said Cibola head coach Ron Bratton, who has been involved in the tournament for 13 years. “They’ve raised funds to help offset hotel costs for teams to come from out of town. This is the only tournament that is hosted by our district that brings other schools from other places to Yuma. Usually, we have to commute to other places, so we take a lot of pride in this event.”
Shadow Ridge High School of Las Vegas returns this season seeking its second consecutive tournament title, while all five YUHSD schools are participating. The last YUHSD school to win the tournament was Yuma High in 2008. Four of the past six winners have hailed from Las Vegas.
FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE
At Cibola High School
5:30 p.m. Lake Havasu vs. Casa Grande
7:00 p.m. San Luis vs. Shadow Ridge (NV)
8:30 p.m. Cibola vs. Holtville
At Gila Ridge High School
5:30 p.m. Lincoln County vs. Yuma
7:00 p.m. Dobson vs. Yuma Catholic
8:30 p.m. Antelope Union vs. Gila Ridge
At Kofa High School
5:30 p.m. Shadow Ridge (AZ) vs. San Pasqual Valley
7:00 p.m. Pima vs. Kofa
PAST CHAMPIONS
2018 Shadow Ridge High School (Las Vegas)
2017 Desert Oasis High School (Las Vegas)
2016 Desert Oasis High School (Las Vegas)
2015 Mountain Pointe High School (Phoenix)
2014 Cienega High School (Vail)
2013 Centennial High School (Las Vegas)
2012 Vista Grande High School (Casa Grande)
2011 Basha High School (Chandler)
2010 Arbor View High School (Las Vegas)
2009 Centennial High School (Las Vegas)
2008 Yuma High School (Yuma)
2007 Kofa High School (Yuma)
2006 Canyon Springs High School (Las Vegas)
2005 Canyon Springs High School (Las Vegas)
2004 Palo Verde High School (Las Vegas)
2003 Palo Verde High School (Las Vegas)
2002 Palo Verde High School (Las Vegas)
2001 Scripps Ranch High School (San Diego)
2000 Cibola High School (Yuma)
PREVIEW
Antelope Union Rams
Head Coach: Doug Ragels
2018-19 Record: 3-12
Players to Watch:
Dylan Thomas, C; Will Whitley, F
Cibola Raiders
Head Coach: Ron Bratton
2018-19 Record: 16-11 (First place in 6A Southern Region)
Players to Watch:
Chris Fernandez, G; Eric Flores, F; Eric Ramirez, C; Jason Pacheco, F
Casa Grande Gauchos (Casa Grande, AZ)
Head Coach: Robert Peterson
2018-19 Record: 11-12
Players to Watch:
Mitchell Carlos, G; Tre Minous, G
Dobson Mustangs (Mesa, AZ)
Head Coach: Rick McConnell
2018-19 Record: 9-16
Players to Watch:
Quenten Phillips, F; Kevin Rodriguez, G; Juhlawnei Stone, F
Gila Ridge Hawks
Head Coach: Joe Daily
2018-19 Record: 12-16 (Third place in 4A Southwest Region)
Players to Watch:
Jamison Kay, G; Jordan Stevens, F; CJ Wiggins, G
Holtville Bulldogs
Head Coach: Tony Ramos
2018-19 Record: 15-14 (Lost in first round of CIF-SD Section playoffs)
Players to Watch:
Manuel Mares, G; Roman Ordonez, C
Kofa Kings
Head Coach: Jeff Frazine
2018-19 Record: 8-18 (Second place in 6A Southern Region)
Players to Watch:
Stone Braveheart, F; Joao DeSouza, G; Jacob Ramirez, G
Lake Havasu Knights
Head Coach: Ted Darnell
2018-19 Record: 9-15 (Lost in first round of 5A state playoffs)
Players to Watch:
Jayden Azar; Bradley Rogers; Andrew Ruiz-Ortega
Lincoln County Lynx (Panaca, NV)
Head Coach: Sean FitzSimons
2018-19 Record: 19-9 (Southern Region champs; NIAA state semifinalist)
Players to Watch:
Kobe Kelly, G; Mason Thornock, G; Cody Zile, F
Pima Roughriders
Head Coach: Cliff Thompson
2018-19 Record: 17-12 (Lost in 2A state semifinals)
Players to Watch:
Alec Judd, G; Tim Salyer, G; Drew Thompson, G
San Luis Sidewinders
Head Coach: Marcus Weeks
2018-19 Record: 3-20 (Third place in 6A Southern Region)
Players to Watch:
Josh Acosta, F; Fernando Avilez, G; Isaac Felix, F; Yonnuen Oropeza, F; Justin Quezada, G; Miguel Sandoval, F
San Pasqual Valley Warriors (Winterhaven, CA)
Head Coach: Willis Hawkins
2018-19 Record: 7-14
Players to Watch:
DeShane Taylor, G; Josh White, F
Shadow Ridge Mustangs (Las Vegas, NV)
Head Coach: Robert Nelson
2018-19 Record: 15-12 (Lost in first round of NIAA state playoffs)
Players to Watch:
Josiah Cruz, G
Shadow Ridge Stallions (Surprise, AZ)
Head Coach: Robert Bohon
2018-19 Record: 21-5 (Southwest Region Champs; Lost in second round of 6A state playoffs)
Players to Watch:
Donovan Johnson, G; JaQuan Moore, G; Glory Nwotite, F
Yuma Criminals
Head Coach: Curt Weber
2018-19 Record: 4-21 (Fifth place in 4A Southwest Region)
Players to Watch:
Alex Mosqueda, F; Nathan Villalobos, F
Yuma Catholic Shamrocks
Head Coach: Bret Felsenthal
2018-19 Record: 16-14 (Lost in first round of 3A state playoffs)
Players to Watch:
Carlos Delgado, G; Rakai Malone, G; Adrian Perez, F; Ben Stover, F
