The Pecos boys basketball team hasn’t slowed down in quest of a fourth straight state title, with head coach Ira Harge, Jr., continuing to turn out teams that are making a habit of hoisting the championship trophies at the Pit

Like “Old Man River”, Pecos’ boy’s basketball team just keeps rolling along.

Put the blame on head coach Ira Harge, Jr., although don’t forget to give him kudos. The tall and taller Harge has now piled up three-straight state championships, two in 3A and last year’s in 2A, the first time the program hoisted these.

Despite a lack of height, his teams have towered over the opposition, 29-1 in 2017, 28-3 in 2018, and 26-3 last season, and carted off three championship trophies after disposing of district rivals Texico, Santa Rosa, and then Newcomb in the University of New Mexico Dreamstyle Arena.

Those three victims were not sure things, with the Panthers, in the title game. handing Texico its first loss in 30 starts, turning back a pesky, experienced 20-game winner Santa Rosa, and then sending Newcomb to only its second defeat in 32 games.

None of the games went down to buzzer beaters, final shots, Pecos was in command and outscored the three finalists 177-130.

Now the Panthers are at it again, as the beat goes on, and they are currently at 6-1 after dominating visiting Cuba, 80-44, Saturday. The lone setback came at the expense of 5A Santa Fe High, 81-73, in the Al Armendariz tournament played at Capital. Pecos hung around for most of the contest, but the Demons maintained their lead.

Other than that, everything came easier with romps over Mora, Escalante, 4A Kirtland Central, 4A Espanola Valley, Estancia, and Cuba. A big test could come when 2A unbeaten Magdalena, now at 9-0, visits the Panthers on Jan. 16. And on Jan. 24, 5A Clovis makes the trip to Pecos.

The District 7 schedule bounces in Jan. 30 when Harge brings his team to Santa Rosa, followed by a home game versus Clayton, and then chief opponent Texico travels up to the Panther. The regular season winds down with games at Clayton, home to Santa Rosa, and then the ride to Texico.

If the Panthers continue on the same path, they will be happy to again own the No. 1 seed in the state tournament. Presently, Texico is 6-2, Rehoboth Christian 5-1, and Estancia 7-3, with Magdalena the lone unbeaten.

Prior to the impressive run by Harge’s youngsters, the program had been in three finals, losing in 1983 to Clayton and,1987 to Escalante, and in 2005 to Mora.

This year’s team is led by its tallest player, 6-foot-3 senior Ismael Villegas, 6-1 senior Xavier Padilla, and 5-9 senior Anthony Armijo, and they are the tri-captains. It has two others who stand 6-1, but it’s much the same as the previous three teams.

And the Panthers have experience, with the 6-1 kids, Juan Varela and Jacob Sandoval, seniors, as are 5-10 Keith Flores, 5-10 Christian Tanus, 5-9 Devin Gonzales, and 5-7 Aaron Ortiz. Then there’s 5-9 junior Willie Trujillo, 6-foot sophomore Isaiah Sandoval, 6-foot junior Rolando Sandoval, and 5-9 freshman Jodaiah Padilla.

Are the Sandovals related? Who knows, we only know they wear the same uniform. Same with the two Padillas.