SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
After their double-digit win at home Monday over Los Lunas to claim first place in District 5-5A, Santa Fe High’s boys basketball team got the same treatment on the road Wednesday night when Los Lunas avenged that with by sending the Demons home with a 67-51.
It was similar to the contest at Toby Roybal Memorial Gymnasium, with the Tigers getting away to a quick lead and maintaining it to up their district record 6-1 and drop the Demons a game behind at 5-2. Overall, Los Lunas is 6-1 and Santa Fe High 6-3. On Friday, :Los Lunas plays at district foe Capital, and the Demons are at Albuquerque Manzano Friday and follow with a visit from the Jaguars.
Capital’s scheduled district contest at Albuquerque High Wednesday night was postponed until May 1st. The Jags are 4-2 in district and 4-2 overall to remain in the running for a berth in the state tournament, but might have to win out to get there.
In West Las Vegas, St. Michael’s won 56-55 on a buzzer-beater 3 from junior Devin Flores just before time expired to remain in the hunt for District 2-3A honors and a berth in the state tournament. The Horsemen, who got a team-high 15 points from junior Lucas Coriz, are now 5-2 overall and 4-2 in district, with Robertson on top. The Dons, who got the game-high 26 points from guard D.J. Byron, fell to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in district, and is at crosstown rival Robertson Friday night.
St. Michael’s, which has a game at Santa Fe Prep Friday and followed by one at home against Raton, was behind 55-53 with three seconds left in regulation after WLV’s Roy Pacheco converted one-of-two free throws. There was little time remaining when the Horsemen’s Derek Martinez inbounded the ball to teammate Adam Montoya, who quickly found Flores beyond the 3-point arch, and who then released the ball a split second before the buzzer.
After a brief discussion from the referees, the basket stood and St. Michael’s picked up the key win at West Las Vegas’ middle school gym.
Said Horsemen head coach Dave Rodriguez: “We both have two games left but we both needed this one.”
Meanwhile, Robertson had to problem rolling past visiting Raton, 68-44, to up its district record to 6-0 and is now 8-0 overall. The Cardinals own a 51-47 triumph at St.Michael’s and also defeated the Horsemen at home, 56-44.
