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Home / Sports News / Capital boys win, Santa Fe High loses, in tight District 5-5A stretch run with three games remaining for the six schools, with the Jaguars at Sandia, and Demons at Manzano Thursday

Capital boys win, Santa Fe High loses, in tight District 5-5A stretch run with three games remaining for the six schools, with the Jaguars at Sandia, and Demons at Manzano Thursday

By Arnie Leshin 
Arnie Leshin

Although not as crowded as the recent 6-way tie among the six boys schools in District 5-5A, it’s now a 4-way deadlock for third place with three regular-season games remaining.

 

All have become must-win games. Capital and Santa Fe High were hosts Tuesday night and the Jaguars took care of business while the struggling Demons dropped their fourth of five starts.

 

Now both (and Albuquerque schools Sandia and Rio Grande) sit two games behind district leader Albuquerque Manzano and one in back of second place Albuquerque High, in what you can call third place or last place.

 

Capital did what it had to do as it handed the Bulldogs a 69-62 setback and advanced to 15-7 overall and 3-4 in district. The Demons weren’t as fortunate in falling behind early and then coming up short, 54-53, to drop to 16-7 overall and 3-4 in district.

 

Now they both head south Thursday to Albuquerque, the Jaguars at Sandia (9-12, 3-4), Santa Fe High at Manzano (13-8, 5-2). The Monarchs claimed the top spot by turning back Rio Grande while the Bulldogs were losing at Capital.

 

But the Demons have problems, are outsized and looking up to other teams after losing 6-foot-6 sophomore Fedonta “JB” White and 6-2 Anthony Sisneros to knee injuries. They are also having trouble by falling behind and having to count on rallies that are falling short.

 

This time, they fell behind the Matadors, 16-5, after one quarter and 31-18 at halftime. In addition, their shots weren’t finding their way into the basket and hit on only 8 of 22 tries inside and 1-for-10 from outside.

 

But in the third quarter the home team made a move, outscoring Sandia, 19-9, to creep within 40-37 heading into the fourth quarter, It build a 53-51 lead with eight seconds remaining, but the visitors’ Lucas Jordan tossed in a 3 at the final buzzer.

 

Capital didn’t allow the pressure to bother it. Led by 6-2 junior wing T.J. Sanchez turning in a game-high 28 points that included clutch free throws in the fourth quarter between him and senior Siji Olivas. Both stepped up big time to hold off Albuquerque’s comeback and not turn the ball over.

 

But when the Jags made good on just one field goal over the last eight minutes, the Bulldogs came to within 57-53 before the Capital defense held them to four-straight possessions without a point, and while Sanchez converted four-straight foul shots and Olivas did the same. In that quarter, the Jaguars made good on 12-of-18 freebies.  

 

In 2-3A, visiting first-place St. Michael’s became 7-0 in district and 16-7 overall by overwhelming Santa Fe Prep, 79-41, to drop the Griffins to 7-13 overall and 3-7 in district. The Horsemen, who play host to Robertson Friday night, were in control throughout, and were up 34-19 at the half.

 

Junior Thomas Wood led the balanced scoring with eight points, and seniors Connor Glatz and Hayden Lee added 12 and 10 points respectively.

 

Santa Fe Indian School holds on to second place in the district at 6-1, with the lone loss coming against St. Michael’s at home. February 23 is the rematch at Perez-Shelley gymnasium, and regardless of the result, both schools will be invited to the state tournament.

 

Tuesday night, the Braves became 13-9 overall by handing visiting Robertson a 58-50 setback that dropped the Cardinals to 12-10 overall and 4-3 indistrict. Senior Anders Aguino was Indian School high scores with 17 points and senior James Bridges made big plays before heading to the bench. With 6:40 left, his 3-point play sparked the Braves’ 8-2 run.

 

In 2-4A, visiting, first place Espanola Valley won its sixth straight district contest by dominating Moriarty, 86-57, and now stand at 15-8 overall. Ryan Trujillo and Brian Martinez led the way with 24 points apiece.

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