SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
Class 3A’s opening state boys basketball tournament on Saturday came through in a 3-fo-3 sweep for St. Michael’s, Santa Fe Indian School and Robertson, with only the 7th-seeded Braves having to struggle.
But in 5A it was two and out when both 13th-seeded Santa Fe High and 16th-seeded Capital concluded their seasons with respective losses, the Demons to No. 4-seed Alburquerque West Mesa, 56-41, the Jaguars to top-seeded Albuquerque Volcano Vista, 88-60.
In 2A, No.1-seeded Pecos had no problem disposing of 16th-seeded McCurdy in a 87-52 rout.
For other Santa Fe area teams, in 4A, No. 7 seed Taos rolled past Portales, 63-44, but No. 15 seed Pojoaque Valley, was shellacked 84-41, by No. 2 seed Albuquerque Highland.
In 3A, 12th-seeded West Las Vegas was nipped by 3rd-seeded Crownpoint, 61-60, and in 2A, No. 2 seed Academy for Technology and The Classes topped 15th-seed Tatum, 53-41.
No. 1-seeded St. Michael’s upped its overall record to 23-4 by cruising past the visitors from 16th-seed Tucumcari, ran its winning streak to 19 and will meet up with No. 9 seed Socorro in Wednesday’s quarterfinals after the Warriors downed Tohatchi, 57-53.
Robertson (23-4) had somewhat of a tough go versus 14th-seed Santa Fe Prep before prevailing 71-55. But Indian School, now 18-9, held off the challenge of 10th-seed Hot Springs in a tight 44-43 triumph.
Santa Fe High finished at 18-12, had an early lead against the Mustangs, but it didn’t last long. Capital wound up at 16-12 with the usual problem, height disadvantage. Volcano Vista, with a pair of 6-foot-6 players dominating underneath, had much too much size for the Jags.
Indian School now meets up with No. 2 Navajo Prep on Wednesday at the Rio Rancho Events Center, Robertson takes on No. 11 Ruidoso, which upset No. 6 Albuquerque Bosque School, 74-68.
Pecos (24-3) next plays No. 8 Eunice, a 66-47 victor over No. Tularosa.
And ATATC and Taos remain in the hunt and head for the Wednesday quarterfinals.
