SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
The regular season is winding down, the district tournaments follow, and then the girl’s state tournament basketball field will be announced by the New Mexico Activities Association.
Until then, everybody has a chance to make the respective 16-school fields. Well, almost everybody. Win district over the regular season or win the district tournament and receive an automatic invite to state.
In the new District 7-2A, top-ranked Texico (18-3) and 3rd ranked Pecos (17-4) will be playing at state no matter who wins district. Clayton (12-8) should sneak in even if it has to settle for third place in the four-school district. At Texico this past Saturday, the Wolverines won their ninth in a row, but it wasn’t easy playing to the final buzzer to edge Pecos, 55-53.
Their rematch will be Feb.22 at Pecos. Before that head coach Ron Drake’s girls will be meeting up with district foes Santa Rosa and Clayton, as well as playing a non district game at 2nd-ranked Penasco (18-3). These Panthers, who lost by two points to Pecos in the final of the Northern New Mexico Rio Grande tournament, also own a 9-game win streak.
Then there’s Elmer Chavez’ Mescalero Apache girls. They are 16-5, have won six straight, and are fifth in the 2A rankings. Chavez coached Santa Fe High’s girls to the 2014 state 4A championship, and it will be interesting if he has to meet up with Pecos and Drake for a clash between two former
Demonette head coaches.
In 3A, Robertson (21-1) is top-ranked and holding down first place in District 2. Its only loss was to 4th ranked Tucumcari (17-4), which has now won 10 in a row. Right behind the Cardinals in the district is 2nd ranked Santa Fe Indian School (19-3), which lost to Robertson at home, but gets a rematch in Las Vegas Wednesday night.
St. Michael’s is in the same district and is 11-11 overall and in third place at 3-2 in district. The Lady Horsemen are ranked 15th and have a shot if they finish well and that includes being over .500, which they have been at nine times. At 1-3 in the same district and 13-8 overall is 7th ranked West Las Vegas, and the Dons have a shot at state.
In 4A, Los Lunas is a-top the rankings at 19-3 overall, 4-0 in district, and on a 15-game win streak. Right behind is Kirtland Central, 18-3 overall and 6-0 in its district with a run of 9-straight wins.
Then there’s Pojoaque Valley (19-4), the 3rd ranked team in 4A. But after a stellar start, it has lost four times and comes off a 5-point loss at home to Los Alamos, which surprisingly holds down first place in District 2 at 5-0, has won four in a row, and stands at 11-12 overall.
The Elkettes should have no problem making it to state. They remain a threat in 4A, but the soaring Hilltoppers are in quest of the district title, a chance to host the district tournament final, and aberth in the state tournament, while currently back in 18th place in the rankings.
On the bubble is 13th ranked Espanola Valley, 11-10 overall and 2-3 and in third place behind Los Alamos and Pojoaque.
In 5A, Hobbs has won 14 straight, is 22-1 overall, and first in the rankings. It is 3-0 in district, a game ahead of rival Carlsbad (19-3), which is the 3rdranked team behind West Mesa (19-1), whose lone defeat was at Piedra Vista (20-3), which holds down the 4th spot in the rankings.
Capital and Santa Fe High have little hope of making state unless they can win District 5, and that would be a stunner. The Jaguars are third in district at 3-3, and 9-12 overall. The Demonettes (8-14) stand in fourth place at 2-4, ahead of winless Albuquerque Rio Grande (0-20, 0- 5), and have a tough task at first place Albuquerque Sandia (14-6) Wednesday night.
The big surprise in the district is 2nd place Albuquerque High. It is 7-13 overall, but 4-2 in district and playing its best ball of the season. Here, too, the Bulldogs must win district to advance to state.
