Centennial boys basketball defeats Las Cruces, wins district title

The Hawks took down the Bulldawgs in a winner-take-all game for the District 3-5A title, giving CHS the boys and girls championships.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Centennial High School's boys basketball team defeated Las Cruces High School 65-53 on Friday, February 20, 2026 to capture the outright District 3-5A championship. This is the Hawks' first district title under second-year coach Vincent Carillo and their first since the 2015-16 season. The win means Centennial has won the District 3-5A championship in both boys and girls basketball this season.

Why it matters

Winning the district title is a significant accomplishment for the Centennial boys basketball team, as it secures them the top seed in the upcoming district tournament. The Hawks have now avenged an earlier loss to Las Cruces and have positioned themselves well for a strong postseason run.

The details

Centennial took control of the game early, allowing Las Cruces to score only 5 points in the first quarter. The Hawks led 30-24 at halftime and then outscored the Bulldawgs 15-11 in the third quarter and 20-18 in the fourth to seal the victory. Three Centennial players scored in double figures, led by Kouliebchen Tou's 28 points.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 20, 2026.
  • Centennial has now won 4 of its last 5 games and has lost only 2 games so far in 2026.

The players

Vincent Carillo

The second-year head coach of the Centennial High School boys basketball team.

Kouliebchen Tou

The leading scorer for Centennial, pouring in 28 points in the district title game.

Anthony Eres

A Centennial player who scored 15 points, including three 3-pointers.

Tracen Huntsman

A Centennial player who scored 10 points and hit two 3-pointers.

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What they’re saying

“Winning the district title is a significant accomplishment for the Centennial boys basketball team, as it secures them the top seed in the upcoming district tournament.”

— Nick Coppola, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The Hawks will now enter the District 3-5A tournament as the top seed, looking to continue their successful season and make a deep playoff run.

The takeaway

Centennial High School has proven itself to be a basketball powerhouse this season, capturing district titles in both boys and girls basketball. The boys team's ability to bounce back from an earlier loss to Las Cruces and clinch the district championship shows their resilience and determination to succeed.