Winter sports in Cibola County are in full stride, and the second half of the season is shaping up to be the most important stretch yet.
The Grants Pirates and Laguna-Acoma Hawks have already put together early highlights on the hardwood, powerlifting is gearing up for a busy slate of meets at the GHS Old Gym, and the road to state is coming into view.
This guide offers a look at how the 2025-26 Season is going and what’s ahead as we rally behind our Pirates and Hawks.
Pirates Rolling, Hawks Building
The Grants Pirates Basketball Team have opened the winter strong at 5–2 overall and are riding a three-game win streak, outscoring opponents 448– 377 so far.
Grants has shown it can score in bunches, shown by an early-season win over Laguna-Acoma and a steady stretch of December victories heading into the new year.
The Laguna-Acoma Hawks are still searching for consistency, but they’ve shown they can compete and finish games — including a notable win over Jemez Valley in mid-December. With a full slate of January and February games ahead, the Hawks have time to sharpen, settle into roles, and make noise once district matchups arrive.
Both teams have key dates coming up immediately after the holiday break, including tournament play and a heavy run of road games before schedules turn back toward home gyms. District games begin later in January for both programs, when every possession starts to carry a little extra weight.
Lady Basketball Programs in the Mix
The girls basketball season has been equally encouraging across the county.
The Lady Pirates are 6–4 overall, coming off a recent win and posting 519 points scored through their first ten games. Grants has already picked up big results in December — including wins over Laguna-Acoma, Aztec, and Zuni — and now turns toward a January schedule that includes both non-district matchups and the start of district play.
The Lady Hawks have been one of the early success stories of the winter. Laguna-Acoma is 6–3 overall with 376 points scored and 311 allowed, and the Hawks have stacked quality wins in December while building momentum going into January’s home-heavy stretch. With district games approaching, the Hawks are in position to make the second half of the season count.
Powerlifting is Back (and it starts soon)
Cibola’s powerlifting season is also gearing up quickly.
The season begins Jan. 5, with mandatory practice, followed by an NMAA rules and parent meeting on Jan. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the GHS Old Gym. Practice will be a requirement.