2025-26 Team Preview: Cibola Cougars

2025-26 CIBOLA COUGARS REVIEW   OVERVIEW   After years of struggle, Cibola finally turned things around last season by going 18-11 and reaching the Class 5A playoffs. The 18 wins by the Cougars were the most since 2016-17.   “Our message to our players has been fairly simple – just continue to get better and continue to build brick by brick,” Cibola head coach Gabriel Martinez told Prep Hoops New Mexico. “We can't get complacent and feel like we've accomplished something. We have a bigger end goal we're trying to get to.”   Cibola returns four starters from a season ago. But the Cougars will have only one senior on the 2025-26 roster. None of the players in Martinez's tentative eight-man rotation is a senior.   “If you get into my eight-man rotation, you're going to be a big part of what we do,” Martinez said. “We're excited for this season and the next season after that. We're going to be more experienced, faster and a little different in our style of basketball.”       PLAYERS TO WATCH   [player_tooltip player_id='2026077' first='Elijah' last='Martinez'] (Jr., 5-11, G): One of the top players in the Albuquerque Metro Region. Averaged 23.5 points, 4 assists and 2 rebounds per game last season. Three-time First-Team all-district player. All-State honors. With two prep seasons remaining, Martinez has already scored over 1,200 points. Son of the head coach. “Elijah had a very, very good year as a sophomore,” Gabriel Martinez said. “Last year his game really developed in terms of finishing around the basket. He was able to stack up some accolades and awards. But what's most important to him is trying to win a state championship. That's his main priority.”   [player_tooltip player_id='2318841' first='Noah' last='Crichlow'] (Jr., 6-0, G): Great speed. “Noah is lightning fast,” Martinez said. “There are few people in the state who are as fast as him. He blows by people. He finishes around the rim very well. He's great at creating for other guys. He can catch and shoot.”      Chris Williams (Jr., 6-0, G): Able to score at all three levels. Good driver to the rim. Excellent mid-range jumper. Solid 3-point shooter. Also one of the best defenders on the team.   [player_tooltip player_id='2318844' first='Isaac' last='Behrens'] (Jr., 6-4, F): Brings good height to the floor for the Cougars with his 6-foot-4 frame. “Isaac is not a traditional big man,” Martinez said. “He's athletic and brings physicality. He can hold down the paint for us. He can shoot and dribble. He can play inside out.”          NAMES TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='2887526' first='Jonah' last='Foster'] (So.,6-0, SG): Excellent athlete. Can score points in bunches. Also an excellent defender. Should be one of the first players off the bench. “Jonah is going to be a big part of what we're doing this year,” Martinez said.   [player_tooltip player_id='2215046' first='Elijah' last='Cordova'] (Jr., 5-8, PG): Played mainly JV in 2024-25. He'll be part of Cibola's 8-man rotation favored by Martinez. Described as a knockdown shooter. Tenacious defender. Hustler. Team player.   KEY NEWCOMERS   Olon Williams (8th, 6-0, CG): One of the state's top prospects in the 2030 class. Expected to be a major contributor to the Cougars as an 8th-grader. In fact, he's slated to be the fifth starter. Younger brother of Chris Williams. One of the top performers at the Back to School Jam in August. Excellent at attacking defenders off the dribble and creating space. Making the jump from middle school hoops to varsity.   Cameron Martindell (So., 6-3, F): Transfer from Hope Christian. Will bring some length to the front line. High basketball IQ. He learns quickly. Plug and play type player. Plays physical. Inside out player. He can play guard or forward, even the post.           FINAL THOUGHTS   Cibola opens the 2025-26 season at Sandia on Nov. 25 before hosting Manzano and West Mesa in the first week of December. The Cougars compete in District 5A-1 with Cleveland, Farmington, Piedra Vista, Rio Rancho and Volcano Vista.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sophomore highlights 23.5PPG, 4APG, 2RPG 3x 1st team all-district NM all-state team ABQ all-metro team 3x academic all-district (4.0 GPA) 1200+ career points Terry Darnell classic tournament MVP <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AGTG?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGTG</a> ✝️ <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoops_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepHoops_NM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coach_bmase?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_bmase</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AbcSpotlightNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AbcSpotlightNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/eb_ericb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eb_ericb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SebastianNoel47?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SebastianNoel47</a>… <a href="https://t.co/pEdgnf3ttv">pic.twitter.com/pEdgnf3ttv</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='2026077' first='Elijah' last='Martinez'] (@ElijahMtz2027) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElijahMtz2027/status/1908956198805860429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2025</a></blockquote>

2025-26 CIBOLA COUGARS REVIEW