It’s the summer, but something special is already brewing at Cienega.

Just ask Bobcats star guard Jackson Moore. 

“Yes. Yes. I can feel it,” he said immediately after a wire-to-wire victory that clinched Cienega's first Section 7 bracket title.

Cienega proved it was a step ahead after defeating Nevada’s Democracy Prep 86-73 at Arizona Athletic Grounds. Moore led the way Sunday, scoring 20 of his game-high 27 points in the first half of the OrthoArizona Bracket finale.  

“I feel it’s my duty to set the tone for everybody else,” said Moore, who made four three pointers in the first 16 minutes. 

The 5-11 guard embraced the big moment, converting some tough shots—mostly with a man on. Helping Moore control the tempo was his very confident backcourt mate, Kris Del Rio. 

When Cienega needed points in the paint, it went to the mobile Chase Briggs, who scored nine of his 11 points in the second half. Cienega also dresses a lefty with a deft touch, junior Bobby Baltierrez (19 points). 

The Bobcats have won at least 20 games in three of the last four seasons and have lost just two region games during that stretch. With the firepower in the lineup that helped it win its four Section 7 games, Cienega is expecting more success when school resumes.

“We talked about things that can travel on the road in order to come up to Phoenix and win a state title,” Cienega coach Stephen Keck said. “Defense, rebounding, hustle, energy, communication, all of those things we can control.

“That’s our ID. We are just going to keep getting better. This is only just the start for these guys.” 

Before Moore and crew really started to take over in the first half, when it led by as much as 17 points twice, Democracy Prep’s Jayden Howard scored his team’s first 11 points, finishing with 14 in the first half.

But Cienega’s defense kept the athletic Howard scoreless in the second half. Like his team, Keck didn’t seem to slow down, motivating his squad every chance he got during the game.      

“I work so hard for those guys because they work so hard for me,” said Keck, who graduated from Cienega in 2009. "I’m so proud of their efforts and buy in.”

Cienega made sure to have a good time during its successful trip to Section 7.  (Aly Schmitt photo/AZpreps365)