Outsized Santa Fe High boy’s basketball team might have to look up to other teams, but they hold their heads high after making an all-for-one final run to claim the top spot in District 5-5A

By Arnie Leshin 

After losing twice in three days in Santa Fe, Dominick Romero might have to return there if the head coach’s Albuquerque Manzano boys basketball team makes it to the District 5-5A tournament final.

 

It was Capital pinning a defeat on the visiting Monarchs Friday and Santa Fe High doing the same in handing visiting Manzano a 54-37 setback in Monday night’s playoff for first place at Capital High. Now the outsized Demons shrug it all off as they will host the title game Saturday night.

 

It’s been a remarkable effort by head coach Zack Cole’s team. In the 1-point non district loss at Clovis, they also lost talented 6-foot-6 sophomore Fedonta “JB” White for the remainder of the season when he injured his knee. Next came 6-2 junior starter Anthony Sisneros, also sidelined now when he, too, injured his knee three games later.

 

That brought only one win in their next five starts, and it also left them with a 6-0 and a 6-1 player in the lineup. But they didn’t call it a season, instead making good use of their teamwork with balanced scoring that came mostly from the outside, its usual aggressive 3-2 zone defense, and with the same confidence they displayed prior to the costly injuries.

 

With an almost full house dominated by Santa Fe High fans at Edward Medina gymnasium, Romero was already upset when he learned he’d have to travel up I-25 to settle the top spot. But it was the point-differential in favor of the Demons when the two split their two regular season games. They won by 13 in Albuquerque and lost by 3 at home.

 

For Santa Fe High, which was in fourth place in district coming down to the final week, it brought its first 20-win campaign (20-7) in 39 years and its third district tournament final in 31 years. It last won district in 2006, and also in 1998.

 

But all the credit goes to a super coaching job turned in by Cole and his staff, and a team that became shorter but grew into a big nuisance that kept them in contention all the way to the Manzano game. They came to play and win no matter what it took.

 

This time, its defense threw Manzano into an early shooting slump. Despite 6-4 Jack Blankenship and a 6-3 and 6-2 front line, it failed to take advantage inside and didn’t attempt many outside shots. It scored only 11 baskets in 36 tries, and committed 18 turnovers. The Monarchs (14-11) missed their first 13 shots in the third quarter and were forced into 10 turnovers.

 

But early on they hung around, trailing only 15-10 after one quarter. The Demons went after every loose ball and moved it around on offense, but they also failed to increase the advantage, making only 7-of-22 shots from the perimeter, 15-of-42 overall, but their defense brought turnovers and increased the 25-18 halftime lead to 33-20.

 

But their scoring picked up in the fourth quarter behind a 5-for-7 run led by freshman P.J. Lovato stepping up to score five points in his first game back since spraining a ankle late in the season.

 

His back-to-back layups within 30 seconds of each other put the lead at 47-31 with 4:29 to go. Another freshman, Cruz Martinez, had the team-high 16 points and his two consecutive jumpers to start the final eight minutes put Santa Fe High up by 43-27 after the Monarchs closed to within 37-26.

 

Tonight, third place Capital is home for the first round of district against Albuquerque Rio Grande (8-16). The Jaguars could wind up taking on runner-up Manzano again in the semifinals that would be played in Albuquerque, which would make Coach Romero feel much better.

 

But Capital is well coached, have tournament experience, are 18-8 and are ranked ninth overall in the state rankings, one spot behind Santa Fe High. These cross town rivals have the best overall marks in their district. The Demons are automatically headed to the state tournament and Capital will probably join them.

 

Meanwhile, it will be Capital, Manzano, Albuquerque schools Sandia, Rio Grande, and Albuquerque High trying to make it to Toby Roybal Memorial gymnasium Saturday night, and even the Monarchs would have to make the trip to the City Different.

 

This puts both Santa Fe High and the St. Michael’s boys in 2-3A hosting their respective district finals the same night. Now if the Demons get Capital and the Horsemen get Santa Fe Indian School, it would be an all Santa Fe finals up and down Siringo Road.