No Estancia for Monte del Sol’s boys basketball team

Instead of, as reported, Monte Del Sol’s boys basketball team will not play at Estancia for the District 2-2A title on Saturday, but will now play host to Menual Thursday for the top spot and an automatic berth in the state tournament.

For Estancia’s boys and girls basketball teams, the season was abruptly ended, and it was announced that the high school is not expecting to have any upcoming sporting events. The reasons were described as public conduct on school property. The notice said that the purpose of the policy is to maintain public order and prevent abuse of the rights of others. The rules are not intended to limit freedom of speech or assembling peacefully.

But according to the Estancia Municipal School District, the teams conduct was not within the policy rules, and thus it was the district’s rights to end the season for both. Both the girls and boys had expected a district doubleheader at home Saturday versus Monte del Sol, but what this brought was a switch in teams for the district championship.

Monte del Sol is 6-2 overall and 1-1 in district having lost to Estancia. But Menual, with coronavirus pandemic issues, has played only three games and is 2-1 overall and 0-0 in district, and this will be its first meeting with the Dragons.

Monte del Sol head boys coach Ralph Casaus learned of this on Tuesday morningand was no doubt surprised because he had no reasons reported. He does now, so on Thursday, his team will follow the Menual-Monte del Sol girls opening game at Christian Life scheduled for 3:30 at around a 5-5:30 tip-off. Christian Life across the street from St. Michael’s is the Dragons home court.

Also on Thursday, Pecos will be home for a District 6-2A doubleheader against Texico, with first place at stake for the boys after losing the previous test at the Wolverines.

And on Wednesday at Santa Fe High, it will be crosstown rivals clashing in the hunt for the District 5-5A title with Los Lunas. The Demons, who won the previous game at the Jaguars, 43-40, are 6-2 overall and 6-1 in district, same as Los Lunas, with Capital at 5-2 overall and 5-1 in district.

 Also on Wednesday, St. Michael’s is home for a District 2-3A contest against Raton with a state tournament berth the goal of the Horsemen after undefeated Robertson won the district and St. Michael’s is in second place.

That’s the way this abbreviated shortened season is winding down because of the COVID-19 issues, with the NMAA announcing the less-numbered state seedings on Saturday night around 9 o’clock. Plus any games played in Albuquerque will not allow fans in the stands, and it might also be the same in other areas that hold tournament games.