Pecos boys basketball’s four straight state championships is now history

Pecos boys basketball was stellar over the last four years, winning four state championships before graduating last season’s entire starting team. Presently, they are 3-1 with back-to-back District 6-2A tests on the schedule.

The Panthers’ girls had a rather disappointing campaign, slumping down the stretch one year after winning the state title. Currently, they are unbeaten in four starts as they, too, have two-straight district tests on tap.

And to the road they go, to Santa Rosa for a Thursday doubleheader. How is Santa Rosa, well the boys have played five times and have won them all. The girls are 3-1.

Saturday, it’s off to district foe Texico for another doubleheader. The Wolverines were not a factor last season, but usually are. The girls are 1-3 and the boys all even at 2-2.

While Santa Rosa’s boys return two starters and one key reserve, the Pecos boys will rely on those who came off the bench last season, and with the coronavirus pandemic not allowing fans in the stand for the state championship. Ira Harge, Jr., is no longer the head coach and was replaced by Arthur Gonzales, yet once again the program lacks size, but will have to rely on 6-foot-1 junior Isaiah Sandoval, perhaps 6-1 sophomore Gabriel Montoya and 5-10 sophomore Jodaiah Padilla, whose graduated brother was one of the key starters.

Santa Rosa, meanwhile, has experience with returnees 6-2 junior power forward Jaron Sanchez and 6-2 senior small forward Ricardo Chavez. It can also bank on 6-1 senior Esteban Hernandez, last year’s sixth man.

So it figures to be a good test for Pecos’ new look lineup.

The Panthers’ girls return head coach Bryan Gonzales and have their top player returning for a fourth season, and that is 5-10 senior Trinity Herrera, who is very versatile and can play at shooting guard or power forward. She is one of the leading small-school players who can toss in shots from outside, drive to the basket, hand out assists, and haul down rebounds. Her younger sister, sophomore Alexia, is a 5-7 power forward who is expected to see plenty of time.

There’s also two other sophomore hopefuls in guard Kristina Ragland and power forward Mistidawn Roybal, and the other senior on the roster is guard Eliza Ortiz. Three of the assistant coaches, Monique Herrera, Lawrence Ragland and Matt Stout all have daughters on the varsity. Its most impressive win was 59-42 over Robertson.

Santa Rosa is also the Panthers and rely on 6-2 post Kamaren Codding, power forward Maddie Duncan, and 5-6 two-way guard MJ Thomsen.

In Wednesday night games, West Las Vegas got a split, its boys rolling past visiting Raton, 70-46, and the girls falling to city-rival Robertson, 66-53.

The Dons’ boys had four players in double figures, with D.J. Byron leading the way with the game-high 21 points as they advanced to 4-3 overall and upped their district mark to 2-2 after two-straight setbacks. At halftime, WLV was up 47-16 thanks to a 30-point second quarter. Raton dropped to 2-5, 1-3.

The West Las Vegas girls fell behind at the start as Robertson (5-2) jumped away to a 12-0 run, then outscored the Dons, 21-9, in the second quarter and led 35-20 at halftime. Cardinals’ junior forward Jayden Jenkins scored 16 of her game-high 28 points in the first half, plus she was also 10-for-10 from the foul line in Robertson’s district opener. WLV is now all even at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in district, and its leader scorer, Briana Marquez, came away with the team-high 19 points.

The Dons’ boys play at Springer Friday, and the girls head for Mora Monday. The Raton boys are at Santa Fe Prep Friday and the Robertson girls play the same night at Raton.