Flowing Wells’ girls basketball team cheers during player introductions before their Feb. 1 home game against Rio Rico. The Caballeros are ranked No. 4 in Class 5A ahead of Saturday’s state playoff bracket reveal.

 Rebecca Sasnett photos, Arizona Daily Star

Flowing Wells High School’s girls basketball team is preparing for the Class 5A state playoffs with hopes of making it to the state championship game for the second year in a row.

The Caballeros are 26-1 heading into the playoffs. Brackets will be revealed at 8 a.m. Saturday, with games starting next week. Last year’s team advanced to the title game before falling to Goodyear Millennium.

The 23-point loss β€œdestroyed me,” said Leamsi AcuΓ±a, the Cabs’ junior point guard. β€œThe way we played that game, it still makes me mad.”

This year is different.

When the Cabs aren’t in practice or playing games, they hang out with each other. Even β€œrecovery days” are spent together in the training room with trainer Gabby Oman’s two 10-month-old golden receiver puppies, Remy and Scout.

Last year’s team relied on former Milinda Arguellez, who now plays for Texas A&M International University, for much of its scoring. This year’s team has more balance, coach Michael Perkins says.

β€œWe have the right kids in the right spot and in the right place to get back to that championship game,” he said.

And when they get there?

β€œWe can so win this all,” Flores said. β€œWe are gonna to win it all.”

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Contact Rebecca at

rsasnett12@tucson.com