SANTA ROSA — Only two teams are in the way of Santa Rosa’s Dream Season — winning it all.
“Don’t hate we’re going to state,” Juan Cipriano, the Santa Rosa Warriors varsity basketball coach, said at a pep rally last night.
“What I’m asking from you (varsity team) is to knock another door down and win the whole thing.”
This is the program’s second trip to the state tournament since 2009.
Their first hurdle will be a matchup with the number one-ranked team — Dallas Madison.
Tip off is tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Tickets went on sale at the high school early yesterday and 400 tickets for the semi-final game sold out in less than an hour.
“It feels good knowing the fans are behind us,” said Monico Prado, a senior on the varsity team. “I don’t think anyone can beat our fan base.”
The Santa Rosa Warriors are the district, bi-district, area, regional quarter final and regional champions. Their record on the season is 34-3.
Last night’s pep rally at the high school gym didn’t disappoint. Family, friends and fans of the team made their presence known, chanting the Warrior song and waving their arms like an ax to show their support.
Many fans stood at the rally because the gym was full to capacity.
“First things first. I want to thank everyone here for all your support. We have something special here. But the people I want to thank the most are the guys sitting right here,” Cipriano said.
He said the players have never quit and they have played hard every single night.
Warrior Nation was alive and loud as the fans hoped to put a little more fire into their high-octane basketball team as they travel to the state final four competition in Division 3A.
The whole town has been looking to the varsity team to bring home the state championship.
“This is a great opportunity for our kids and Santa Rosa,” said Raul Garza, Santa Rosa school board president. “They are representing the Valley in basketball.
“This is our second trip to the tournament so we will be successful. Regardless if we lose, our kids are still number one.”
