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The Bobcats didn’t exactly make the statement they wanted to, but now they get an even bigger chance to prove their case.

Ninth-seeded Cienega pulled away down the stretch to beat No. 24 Marana 48-40 and advance to the second round of the girls Division II state tournament.

The Bobcats (20-2 overall) travel to play at eighth-seeded defending state champion Maricopa on Friday night.

A win there would send them on to the quarterfinal round for the third straight year.

Cienega finished as the Division II state runner-up in 2014 and suffered its only loss of the season in the state semifinals a year ago. The Bobcats had earned first-round byes in each of the last two seasons but just missed out on one this winter.

“This year, coming in, I already had a chip on my shoulder because nobody thinks Cienega has anybody still,� said senior guard Sabrina Hartzell. “Tonight I was a little disappointed. I just think Friday we’re going to pick it up — we’re going to make our mark and prove exactly why we should have been higher in our seeding.�

For a while, it didn’t look like Cienega was going to have that chance.

The Bobcats led the rest of the way after Hartzell drained a go-ahead three-pointer with 5:23 left in the first, but Marana (13-15 overall) remained close and had plenty of chances in the second half to regain the lead.

“I’m happy with the way we played,� Marana coach Camron Dozier said. “We just missed some shots that we normally make, and that was the difference tonight.�

Sophomore guard Wednesday Reedy came up with a couple baskets late in the third to give Cienega some breathing room heading into the final quarter, but the Tigers stayed within striking distance, trying to avenge two regular-season losses against the Bobcats.

“We were forcing a lot of passes and going in when we shouldn’t have,� said Reedy, who scored nine points. “Just not being smart with the ball.�

Junior guard-forward Senida Sotelo helped Cienega pull away down the stretch, hitting a basket and three of four free throws in the fourth quarter.

Sotelo finished with a game-high 14 points while Marana junior Mele Hala’ufia scored 13.

Cienega takes an eight-game winning streak into Friday’s game at Maricopa, which is coming off a 49-39 loss to Mesa in its section tournament.

Cienega first-year coach Deia Mack believes her squad can dethrone the defending champ as long as they play “team ball.�

“I wasn’t ready for this season to be over,� Mack said. “I want to still prove that we can go further, and I think we can give Maricopa a run for their money on Friday.�