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Demonettes take 42-19 setback at home, while Santa Fe Indian School stayed in first place in District 5-4A by rolling over Albuquerque Bosque School, 64-46
By Arnie Leshin
While the Capital High girls continued their express run in District 2-5A, Santa Fe High continued to stumble in 2-6A Tuesday night.
Now at 12-10 overall, and most important, holding down first place in district at 4-0, the 52-36 win over visiting Los Alamos was also the fourth straight for new head coach Darren Casados’ team.
The Jaguars have now knocked off the other four district foes and have clinched a tie for the top spot with four regular-season games to play and a huge chance to nail down the district tournament and host the championship game.
Winning district will gain them an automatic berth in the state tournament, something unfamiliar to the program.
The Jags got off to a impressive start by taking a 18-4 lead after one quarter and on top 27-20 lead at halftime. But they opened up a 37-26 advantage after three quarters and coasted from there by outscoring the Hilltoppers, 15-10, over the final eight minutes.
Now Capital faces the same four district teams down the stretch, with Albuquerque Del Norte (9-11, 2-2) visiting Tuesday night.
But Santa Fe High hasn’t been as fortunate. After wins over St. Michael’s and Capital to cap a four-game win streak, it has lost its first four district games, with four more remaining. The 42-19 setback at home against Albuquerque Eldorado dropped the Demonettes to 8-12 overall and winless in five district start.
On Saturday night, Santa Fe High is home to Albuquerque Sandia, which won a 53-51 squeaker over Albuquerque Manzano Tuesday night. The Matadors are 7-12 overall and 3-2 in district.
Also in 2-5A, Espanola Valley turned back Del Norte, 42-37, on the road.
And in 2-6A, it was Clovis gaining a 46-38 victory at Albuquerque La Cueva, and in 1-6A, Rio Rancho High claimed a 49-39 triumph at Rio Rancho Cleveland.
In 5-4A, Santa Fe Indian School remained in first place by winning 64-46 at Albuquerque Bosque School. The Braves are 5-0 in district and 16-4 overall, while Bosque fell to 3-14 overall and 0-5 in district. Also in 5-4A, Sandia Prep (4-14) overwhelmed East Mountain, 60-29, and in the 2-3A opener, Monte del Sol edged winless Santa Fe Prep, 29-22.
In other games, Moriarty rolled over Ruidoso, 58-28, on the road in 4-4A, and Los Lunas defeated Valencia, 71-50, in non district play.
In 2-2A, the top team, Mescalero Apache, coached by Elmer Chavez, had an easy time turning back Cloudcroft, 66-46. In a non district contest, it was Escalante over Taos, 36-30,
