Ron Drake has the Academy of Technology and The Classics girl’s basketball program moving along at 8-7 overall heading into Thursday night’s District 2-2A test at Espanola McCurdy

Believe it, Ron Drake is on a roll.

Coming off a 2A state championship, the first for Pecos’ girl’s basketball program last year, he now has the relatively new girl’s program at Academy of Technology and The Classics making rapid progress after leaving Pecos to become its new head coach.

It’s a rather young squad that Drake, the winningest girls high school coach in the state, has inherited. He’s having fun and the Phoenix are learning from his experience.

Currently at 8-7 and headed to District 2-2A opponent Espanola McCurdy Wednesday night, it could be ATC’s best at this point of the campaign, but athletic director Tim Host didn’t know, but said his guts tell him it is.

Not only that, but the Phoenix are ranked 12th among 36 2A state schools, with the first 14 gaining the state tournament field, which would be a first for ATC.

McCurdy, which might be the team to beat in the district, will be home today to the combined Desert Academy/Santa Fe Waldorf team that is 1-12, the one win coming in a split with Albuquerque Menaul. But the Bobcats aren’t satisfied to be 6-12, although back-to-back games, even if they are at home, doesn’t look like the right formula.

As for the Phoenix, in Monday’s 45-36 comeback triumph over visiting Menaul, its youth prevailed again. With 8th grader Charli Kosleoglu, the team’s main threat in scoring and rebounding, ill and missing this one, the team showed its balance even if it’s young.

And so another 8th grader, Perla Miramontes, scored 15, and freshman Chanelle Jaeger, tossed in five 3s and had the team-high 21 points.Then there was junior Naomi Lujan scrubbing the boards for seven rebounds and adding six steals.

“We really stepped it up in the second half,” Drake said after his girls overcame a 19-16 gap and outscored the Panthers, 29-17. “Jaeger tossed in the long ones and Miramontes added more scoring.”

Miramontes is presently Phoenix’ leading scorer with a 11.4 average, with Kosleoglu right behind and tops in rebounding with an awesome 12.6 per game, as well as blocks. Jaeger, the point guard, leads in assists with 2.1. Miramontes is also No. 1 in steals with 4.3.

The roster lists two seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, two freshmen and three 8th graders.

In the season open at Menaul, ATC dominated 51-9. And for the Panthers, it was their 17th defeat in 18 games, the lone success coming over Desert Academy/Waldorf, 25-24 after an earlier 25-23 setback to the Wild Wolves.

In another girl’s contest, Santa Fe Indian School overwhelmed Raton on the road, 76-15, in District 2-3A to advance to 16-6 overall and 2-2 in district. The Tigers dropped to 3-14 overall and 1-3 in district.

The scoring leader for the Braves was 5-foot-8 sophomore Cameron Connors with 17 points, followed by 14 each from 5-foot senior Hunter Garcia and 5-6 senior Iris Emery, and nine from 5-2senior Franki Chavez. Garcia and Emery found the range for two 3s each, and Chavez had one.

It was a no contest in the first meeting of the season between the two. Indian School led 28-6 after one quarter, 48-8 at the half and 61-13 after three quarters, with the mercy rule shutting down the game early.