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Tonight: Santa Fe High Demon girls and boys basketball

Streaking Santa Fe High girls open District 2-6A basketball play Tuesday night at home against Albuquerque Sandia and the Demon boys also on a run as they hit the road to face the Matadors

Demonettes have won four-straight, Demons three in a row, while both Sandia teams are on a losing skein

By Arnie Leshin
Arnie Leshin

The girls and boys basketball teams from Santa Fe High eagerly open District 2-6A play Tuesday night.

In the recent years since being aligned into 6A, it has been a tough go for both the Demonettes and Demons, except that opening night against Albuquerque Sandia Prep could tell a different story. Not to say that the school from the City Different is making huge strides toward the top of the standings, but at least this could be a positive start.

The girls, now under new head coach Cindy Roybal, stay home and will take a 9-7 record and four-straight wins against the Matadors, who will arrive at 4-10, and with four losses in a row.

The boys hit the road, and they, too, are traveling well as Sandia, at 8-8 and losers of three in a row, greet head coach Zack Cole and a Santa Fe High team that has reeled off three-straight victories and is all even at 8-8. The Matadors are also at 8-8, but are going in an opposite direction with five consecutive setbacks.

So this is no doubt an opening night that can provide confidence in a district that also includes Albuquerque schools Eldorado, La Cueva, and Manzano.

Of the boys, only Eldorado, at 11-2, is playing like a contender, while La Cueva is 9-5 and Manzano 8-6.

As for the girls, it could be a tight district with Eldorado now at 9-7, La Cueva at 7-7, and Manzano (4-10) and Sandia.

While the Demonettes last year lost twice to Sandia (82-56, 68-58), the Demons handled themselves well versus the Matadors. They met three times, with Santa Fe High winning the road test, 50-49, the home game, 53-50, and then losing 47-42 in the district tournament. Next came a loss to Eldorado in the state tournament’s opening round that ended the season.

But at least it wasn’t a long ride, for the girls had to settle for the state tournament’s 16th and final seed, took to the road and were routed by top-seeded Hobbs.

St. Michael’s boys also begin district play when it heads for Las Vegas Robertson Tuesday night in 2-4A. Neither team is exactly knocking the covers off the ball, with the Horsemen at 6-11 and losers of eight of their last night, and the Cardinals at 5-11. But after playing most of its games against 5A and 6A schools, it could be smoother sailings for first-year head coach David Rodriguez.

Also in District 2, Pojoaque’s boys are at 8-9 and travel to Taos (9-9) in another opener. In a 3A non district contest, winless Desert Academy (0-12) plays at Santa Fe Prep, which is all even at 6-6.

Also in 3A, boys, Pecos’ defending state champions have a tough non district meeting at 3A Estancia, which is 11-1 and which recently had its 11-game win streak snapped. The Panthers are 13-2 and have won 10-straight, so this figures to be a quality match-up.

As for the girls, Santa Fe Indian School will host Albuquerque Sandia Prep in 5-4A play, with the Braves at 11-4 and the Sun Devils at 3-12. Indian School is the only school in this district with a winning record, and ranks as the team to beat.

In 2-5A, it’s the district opener for Albuquerque Del Norte (7-9) at Los Alamos (5-13), and Albuquerque Academy (3-14) at Espanola Valley (6-9). In a non district 4A game, Albuquerque Hope Christian (9-7) plays at West Las Vegas (9-9).

In 5-4A, in another non district 3A contest, the Pecos girls are 10-3, have won five in a row, and play at Estancia (2-10) in a doubleheader that starts with the girls at 5:30 p.m., and with the boy’s game following.

In weekend games, Capital’s recent good play was dismantled when it was routed 54-15 in a non district contest against visiting Robertson. This was never close as the Cardinals (14-3) ran up a 19-4 lead after one quarter and led 41-4 at halftime.

Both schools now turn to district play, with Robertson playing at St. Michael’s (8-9) Wednesday, and the Jaguars (8-10) heading for Albuquerque Del Norte (7-9) on Thursday.

The Pojoaque Valley girls continue to impress, advancing their overall record to 14-1 by routing Thoreau, 68-38, in non district play on the road. Thoreau dropped to 3-12.

In boy’s play, Taos rolled over West Las Vegas, 65-48, to put both teams at 9-9 overall. The Tigers mixed in defensive pressure and gained a quick 12-0 lead in this third place game of the Albuquerque Hope Christian tournament between 2-4A rivals.

In the Lion Classic at Santa Rosa, Monte del Sol took seventh place by turning back Raton, 75-70. The Dragons were up 38-22 at the half and 50-39 after three quarters. Led by Santi Archuleta’s 27 points that put four players in double figures, it put them at 10-6.

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