The Journal’s James Yodice provides the inside scoop on prep basketball

Coach Garcia attends a funeral in the day

A day filled with great pain for Ron Garcia at least ended with a positive.

“This was an outlet,” Garcia said.

Earlier Wednesday, he attended funeral services for one of his nephews. Wednesday night, he coached Albuquerque High’s boys basketball team to a crucial 40-38 victory over Atrisco Heritage at Bulldog City.

It was a three-point play by junior forward Marlon Cunningham with 6.1 seconds remaining — the third shot in a frantic sequence under the basket — that was the game-winner for AHS (13-6, 3-2 in District 4-6A).

Cunningham took the first shot. He missed. Teammate Daniel Chavez-McCree rebounded and went up for a shot. He missed.

Cunningham grabbed the rebound and finally converted, as the ball rolled around the rim for a tantalizing moment before falling through.

“In all honesty,” said Cunningham, who has given a commitment to Craig Neal’s Lobos, “when I tried to shoot that first shot, I knew it was off. So I knew I had to make it up to my teammates.”

DeMarcus Sutphen’s 35-footer at the buzzer for the Jaguars was wide.

This victory over Atrisco Heritage (12-7, 4-1) turned a three-team race in 4-6A into a four-team free-for-all. The Bulldogs were out of regular-season contention without this win. But now it’s a legitimate four-team race over the final five games, with Atrisco, West Mesa (8-11, 4-1 after Wednesday’s win over Rio Grande), AHS and Valley (11-8, 3-2).

“This was big,” Garcia said. “We feel we can control where we’re at. Right now, it’s just about the next game.”

This was the biggest win of 2017 for AHS, which was the top seed for the metro tournament last month but had a three-game losing streak that started at the end of that event.

“It was a real eye-opener for us, that three-game losing streak,” Cunningham said. “Us winning this game is sending a message that we can’t take it for granted.”

AHS had an early 15-8 lead, then went nearly the entire second quarter without a point. By halftime, the teams were tied at 19. In the third quarter, they were tied again at 22 and 25, and with 2½ minutes to go, the game was knotted 34-all.

There were three lead changes in the final 1:10. Enrique Bibian of Atrisco Heritage hit two free throws with 23.1 seconds left for a 38-37 lead.

Cunningham had a team-best 16 points. Randy Castillo added 13 points. Bibian led the Jags with 11 points.

Garcia’s nephew, Josh Garcia, 35, died unexpectedly last week. He was a former Cibola player.

At Rio Grande, Eloy Medina, Isaac Sandoval and Brandon Bouldin combined for all 10 of West Mesa’s 3-pointers as the Mustangs defeated the Ravens 52-45. Guard Jose Rodriguez had 17 points to lead Rio Grande.

Also on Wednesday, Valley downed Highland 47-42. The Vikings play host to Atrisco Heritage on Friday night.