Pecos fourth straight boys state basketball title brought the biggest crowds

In Pecos, they sure do love a parade, and each time one of the high school teams win a state championship, the town folks organize one.

Well, this was the fourth straight boys state basketball title and brought the biggest crowds. Why, well because the Panther fans, like all the others that had teams in the semifinals and finals played at University of New Mexico’s Dreamstyle Arena, were banned from the stands because of the world-wide threat of coronavirus pandemic.

So they were lined up on both sides of I-50, the young and the old. In Pecos, it’s always a family thing, and the bigger the family makes for bigger crowds. The parade was lined up on the Glorietta bridge at the exit from I-25 and turned into I-50 where the crowds were. There weren’t many open spots, but those that had them made room for those that didn’t.

At Main Street, the intersection in town withDollar Store on one side and the bank across the street, the parade took a right turn because the crowds were lined up there on both sides of the street, then made a U turn and headed for the high school. There, the varsity players and coaches were seated at the track and field complex and some volunteered to come forward and say a few words.

Of course, a great deal of the words were directed to the fans who supported them all season, as well as those who gathered in droves for the parade, plus those that set up the parade.

A great time was had by all on a sunny day. Will there be a number 5? Who knows and who thought there would four already? And so congratulations to head coach Ira Harge, Jr., his staff and the players who won 28 of 29 games and in four seasons won 112 and lost only eight,