With the return of injured 6-foot-6 sophomore Fedonta White, Santa Fe High’s boys can expect another stellar season, and the Capital boys lose only one senior as they also look ahead

By Arnie Leshin 

Hearing the final buzzer going off, a dismayed Fednonta “JB” White no doubt had thoughts regarding next season. The 6-foot-6 sophomore was the force behind the Santa Fe High’s boy’s basketball team’s early 13-3 record until he was injured in the one-point non district loss at Clovis.

 

He went down and out late in the first quarter after battling for a rebound. At first it appeared to be a knee injury, but it was bad enough to end his season.

 

Now he’s still recovering from a dislocated right knee patella and became a cheerleader for the final 16 games of a magical season that saw the 5thseeded Demons surge into the state 5A finals before losing to 6th seeded, defending champion Albuquerque Atrisco Heritage Academy, 61-58, at UNM’s Dreamstyle Arena Saturday night.

 

It was the finale of the state tournament. In last year’s first round, Santa Fe High also lost to Atrisco by 3 points.

 

So next season should find it back contending for its first state title in 40 years. White and 6-2 junior Anthony Sisneros, whose season also ended when he injured his knee only two games after White went down, leaving 6-1 freshmen, Paul Lovato and Joseph Ramos, as the tallest Demons.

 

But Lovato, 6-foot junior Carlos Dassaro, 5-9 sophomore Cruz Martinez, 5-11 sophomore Cody Garcia,  5-9 junior Jordan Campos, and 5-11 sophomore Jaiden Block, were instrumental in combining with the seniors in the remarkable to the state finals.

 

Capital, too, should be better. The Jaguars went 22-10, lost in the quarters to Eldorado, but had only one senior in 5-8 Sigi Olivas. Expected back are the top two players, 6-2 junior Seth Arroyos, and 5-9 junior Antonio “TJ” Sanchez, both playing with injuries during the stretch run.

 

They also get back 6-1 sophomore Dominic Luna, a strong rebounder and shooter, 6-foot junior Elias Rodriguez, 6-2 junior Brandon Saiz, sophomore Luke Padilla, and juniors German Rojo, Erik Garcia, Chano Herrera, and Marcus Lucero.  

 

. . . The biggest surprise of the tournament was 7thseeded Albuquerque Valley under long-time coach Joe Coleman. It came in as the fourth-place finisher in district and was all even at 13-13 overall.

 

But the Vikings stunned the 4A field. After winning their opener, they eliminated 2nd seeded Albuquerque Hope Christian in the quarterfinals, 3rd seeded Silver in the semis, and then top-seeded Los Lunas for the championship. All three were out of their district, and prior to this they split four games against Hope, and were swept by Silver and Los Lunas.

 

Coleman has been head coach for quite some time, with the website only showing his 2013-14 state title with a 27-2 record. It also shows him with winning records in 11 of 13 seasons, and compiling a 100-78 record, with his century coming in this latest victory, with this team finishing at 17-13.

 

He loses four seniors, but returns his top-two players in co-captains Derek Chavez, a sophomore, and junior Seyi Oyeks.

 

For the surprise runner-up, that goes to the 2A girls Mescalero Apache coached by Elmer Chavez. No seniors, 8th seeded, and they stunned top-seeded Texico in the quarters before losing in overtime to 3rd seeded Pecos.

 

Other No. 1 seeds that fell were the St. Michael’s boys in 3A falling to district foe, Santa Fe Indian School, in the semifinals, Volcano Vista boys in 5A bowing in the semis to Santa Fe High, and the top-seeded Hobbs girls in 5A being defeated by 3rdseeded West Mesa. Plus the No.1 seed in girl’s 4A, Kirtland Central, lost to 2nd seeded Los Lunas in the finals, 49-43.

 

And in 1A, No, 1 seed Melrose won the boy’s title, but the girls fell to top-seeded Tatum.

 

The top-seeded Robertson girls defeated 2ndseeded, district rival Santa Fe Indian School, 62-46, in the 3A final, and the 4th seeded Braves boys lost to 3rd seeded Hot Springs, 56-54, by displaying a miserable effort from the foul line, and also missed a final-buzzer long-range shot that would have won it.

 

In 5A girls, 3rd seeded West Mesa avenged its only three losses, all to 2nd seeded Piedra Vista, by finally overturning PV in the semis, and then topping No. 1 seed Hobbs in the final.  

 

And Pecos High was the only one to celebrate twice, with the top-seeded boys winning their third state in a row, twice in 3A and now in 2A, by handily disposing of 2nd seeded Newcomb, 58-37, and the Panther girls won their first hoops title when a missed foul shot by Mescalero Apache in the final seconds of regulation sent the contest into overtime, and a 53-46 final.