SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
It’s not the same old tussles these rivals provided when they hooked up in the same basketball district, and Saturday night Capital proved it once again upon Espanola Valley’s second visit to Edward A. Ortiz Memorial gymnasium this season.
Yes, they used to bring big crowds, have up and down the court thrillers, a little pushing, a lot of shoving, stellar plays, heroic plays that decided games, and twice the Sundevils came away with state 4A championships back in the controversial days of then-head coach Richard Martinez.
My oh my, times have changed. Back on Dec. 13 in the semifinals of the annual Al Armandariz played at 5A Capital, it was a mercy-rule rout, 67-18, with Espanola scoring only four first-half points and its traveling fans stunned. This time it was a non district visit and the final score of 71-35 at least had the 4A Sundevils tossing in six points in the opening quarter.
At that time, the Jaguars, now 13-2, were only ahead 14-6, but a 24-11 run in the second quarter upped the margin to 38-17 at intermission, when some of the Espanola fans might have had thoughts of an early exit. If not then, it might be sooner than later as Capital just turned it up by outscoring the Sundevils,18-12, in the third quarter and 33-18 over the final eight minutes, holding the visitors to just six points in that span.
Jags’ talented 6-foot-3 senior wing Antonio “TJ” Sanchez paved the way with 22 points, one more then he scored in the first meeting, with 14 this time coming in the first half.
Capital is back on its court Monday night, with Pojoaque Valley providing the opposition in the Jaguars’ final regular-season contest before District 5 rolls in. Espanola, now in 2-4A, is also home to the Elks on Thursday night.
For a look at Capital and Santa Fe High School’s District 5, it just could be a two-team race to a high seed in the state tournament. The Jags lost only to undefeated Rio Rancho Cleveland and split home and away games with their cross-town rival Demons, who are 12-3 overall.
But the four Albuquerque schools in the district don’t look like much of a challenge, with Albuquerque High at 5-9, same as Manzano, Rio Grande is at 3-9, and Sandia at 3-11. But there are times when teams who struggle while heading into district play, rejuvenate, come together to play better ball. Then again, others just fail to turn things around, and right now it’s Capital and Santa Fe High on top of the heap there.
At Pecos Saturday night in game two of the doubleheader, the 3-time state champions provided a rude welcome for Tucumcari in handily romping, 79-38, in the non district game. Now 16-1 this season, the Panthers are also 99-8 over the last three and one-half years, and might have a tough time winning No. 100 when 5A Clovis pays a visit Friday night. The Wildcats are 13-5, have just come off an impressive 10-point win over highly ranked Albuquerque Volcano Vista, and in their other visit here lost by 11 at Santa Fe High.
On Feb. 11, it’s another non district test when currently undefeated Magdalena, visits Pecos to play a game previously postponed following a snow storm around the state last Thursday. But to head coach Ira Harge, Jr., it’s first things first. Prior to this season, Harge’s team totaled an 83-7 record in the three-straight years it won state 3A and 2A titles.
In other games, Magdalena ran its record to 15-0 by dominating Fort Sumner for the second time, 62-31; At Taos, it was Tiger time in routing Cobre, 76-43; At Miyamura, Los Alamos returned with a 58-52 win; Raton hit the road for Clayton and carried off a 61-43 triumph; Santa Fe Indian School won a close one, 51-48, versus visiting Ruidoso; Robertson won at Pojoaque, 79-57, and Monte del Sol hosted Newcomb and was overwhelmed, 67-25.
. . . In girl’s games, Pecos won game one of the doubleheader at home by topping Tucumcari, 67-45, in non district play. Gallup made a visit to Espanola and came away with a 73-57 non district win; Clayton went up to Raton and brought back a 60-18 non district victory, and Albuquerque Hope Christian had a close call at West Las Vegas before prevailing 73-66 in non district play.
Pecos’ girls and boys are favored to claim the 7-2A titles, with the other three schools being Texico, Clayton and Santa Rosa.
Among the girls, in District 5-5A, Albuquerque’s Sandia is rated as the front runner in the field, with the only other present winning record that of 8-7 by Santa Fe High. In District 2-3A, Robertson’s defending state champions are having a dismal campaign, and right now there’s Santa Fe Indian School and West Las Vegas being one-two.InDistrict 2-4A, Pojoaque Valley might be the one to beat.
As for the boys, St. Michael’s was on-top 2-3A all of last season, but is now 8-7 and can expect challenges from Robertson, even Indian School and West Las Vegas, while Raton sports an improved lineup. The boy’s 2-4A is weak, as evidenced by Pojoaque and Espanola and Los Alamos.
