Breaking News
Home / Sports News / Capital High girl’s basketball stays on top District 2-5A by edging past Albuquerque Academy, 47- 45, on the road Saturday night, while Santa Fe High loses 2-6A test to Albuquerque Manzano

Capital High girl’s basketball stays on top District 2-5A by edging past Albuquerque Academy, 47- 45, on the road Saturday night, while Santa Fe High loses 2-6A test to Albuquerque Manzano

Demonettes fall 51-47, 3A Pecos turns back 4A Taos, 60-40, in non district play, Monte del Sol tops Dulce in 2-3A

By Arnie Leshin
Arnie Leshin

Just follow the bouncing ball … Last year at this time, the Capital High girl’s basketball team had lost 45-18 at home to Albuquerque Academy. It was its ninth setback in a row, it’s overall flopped to 3-18, it was 0-3 in District 2-5A.

And down the stretch the Jaguars came, finishing 6-22 overall and 2-6 in district.

Now we flash ahead to the present. Now Capital has a new head coach in Darren Casados, a former athlete from the school, and Saturday night’s 47-45 win at Academy put its overall record at 11-10 and maintained its top spot in district at 0-3.

Quite a difference a year makes. In stepped Casados and he has brought an awaking, a new confidence, a rejuvenated squad with balance, teamwork, and a new look.

And if the district isn’t up to par with others in the state, so be it, the Jaguars will take if for what it is, for it’s been a decade since they appeared in state tournament, they just topped Espanola Valley for the first time in 11 years, and the next stop is against visiting Los Alamos Tuesday night.

The Hilltoppers would be the last stop the first time around in district, with Capital already defeating Albuquerque Del Norte, Espanola and Academy.
Then come the stretch run that looks much more promising than last year’s finish.

Now sitting on top, this renewed confidence was probably the key to nipping the Chargers in a 2-point tussle. It was tight throughout. It was 7-7 at the end of one quarter, Capital held a 25-19 halftime lead, Academy tied it 35-35 after three quarters, and that’s the way it went until the Jags nailed it down by outscoring the home team 12-10 in the final eight minutes.

No matter the records, it’s always tough to win on the road, but these Jaguars pulled it out and it resulted in a happy ride home.

The game-high came from the leading Capital scorer, as 5-foot-8 junior wing Kayannah Cole tossed in 15 points, and most important, there was 5-11 freshman Ethena Silva added a dozen.

The Chargers, who finished second in district last season, dropped to 4-17 overall and 1-3 in district.

Santa Fe High’s girls also traveled to Albuquerque Saturday night, but left Manzano with a 51-47 setback in District 2-6A play. It was the fourth-straight defeat for the Demonettes, all in the district, and dropped them to 9-11 overall.

A 5-9 ​freshman, Jenieve Black, and a 5-5 sophomore Mya Williams, led the way for the Monarchs with 14 and 13 points, respectively, as they rose to 5-13 overall, 1-3 in district, and stopped a four-game losing streak.

Santa Fe High will next play first place Albuquerque Eldorado at home Tuesday night. Eldorado became 13-5 overall and 4-0 in district after Saturday’s 58-49 triumph over Albuquerque La Cueva.

Also in 2-5A, Espanola took a 37-27 win at Los Alamos. The Sundevils are now 10-10 overall and 3-1 in district, while the Hilltoppers fell to 5-16 and 0-3.

In a non district contest at Pecos, the 4The Sundevils are now 10-10 overall and 3-1 in district, while the Hilltoppers fell to 5-16 and 0-3.

In a non district contest at Pecos, the 3A Panthers advanced to 16-3 with their 10th win in a row, by topping 4A Taos, 60-44,

Check Also

All in the world of sports

By Arnie Leshin  The world champion United States women’s soccer team wins on the field …