SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
The beat goes on with the Pecos boys. They won four-straight state basketball championships, graduated the entire starting lineup and maybe even a key reserve or two, lost head coach Ira Harge, Jr., to Espanola Valley as its athletic director, and handed the reigns to former boys assistant Art Gonzales.
But these Panthers have still managed to take the court and win. They haven’t lost their habit of winning of home, and Monday nightscored a resounding 77-35 rout on the road against non-district opponent Mora to bring its overall record to a surprising 8-2. They are 2-1 in District 6-2A, with the loss at Texico, and who they play host to Thursday night with a chance to create a first place tie.
Like the championship teams, Pecos lacks much height, and this team is doing it with 6-foot-1 junior Isaiah Sandoval and 6-1 sophomore Gabriel Montoya, and 5-11 sophomore Jodaiah Padilla, younger brother of talented 3-year starter Xavier Padilla. They have already beaten district rivals Santa Rosa and Clayton.
And once again, it is in the hunt for maybe another state title. It heads the list in 2A, with undefeated Jal and Rehoboth Christian, Mescalero Apache, Tularosa and Texico also up there to challenge.
Also in 2A, Monte del Sol is trying to gain a berth for the state tournament as it plays Menaul at Christian Life Thursday and first place Estancia, who it lost to previously at home, on Saturday. Win both and the Dragons have a better shot at getting a bid following Monday night‘s 76-55 romp at non-district opponent Santa Fe Prep that put them at 6-2 overall after they won their first four starts.
Once again, 6-foot-5 senior Brayan Roybal had a big night, scoring 23 points and taking down eight rebounds, while sophomore Kevin Endriquez had the game-high 27 points that included seven 3s of the 11 made by the team. Then there was senior transfer Keith Montoya tossing in a dozen points to go with 10 boards and seven assists. Senior Zed Anthony added nine rebounds and handed out 9 assists.
Monte del Sol led 15-12 after one quarter, 44-25 at halftime, and 56-38 after three quarters to drop the Griffins to 3-7 overall.
Said head Dragons coach Ralph Casaus: “We played great defense and moved the ball well.”
At Los Alamos Monday night in District 2-4A, Taos turned in a 80-54 triumph over the Hilltoppers and advanced to 8-3 while Los Alamos fell to 6-4, both overall records.
Also in 2-4A Monday, first place Espanola Valley, 8-3 overall and 7-0 in district, came away with a 45-28 win at Moriarty, which lost for the ninth time in 10 starts.
