Belen boys lock up first place in 5-5A; VVHS girls win
On the penultimate night of prep basketball’s regular season, some questions were answered. Some questions remain.
Some of Friday’s highlights:
BOYS: Belen, with a 58-51 road victory at Grants, secured the District 5-5A regular-season championship, avoided a one-game playoff with Los Lunas and ended a tumultuous week.
It was the 20th win of the season for the Eagles, who will host the 5-5A title game next weekend, with Los Lunas as the No. 2 seed.
Rio Rancho clinched second place in District 1-6A on Friday. The Rams, led by Keshawn Banks’ monster 19-point, 17-rebound performance, went to Farmington and blitzed Piedra Vista 89-56.
Senior guards Juan Hurt and Clay Patterson both went over 20 points in the victory for Rio Rancho, which won its fifth straight game. The Rams will host the 1-6A semifinal game next Friday night.
Cleveland, still in the mix for the No. 1 overall seed, hammered visiting Volcano Vista 71-49. The Storm (20-6, 7-1) had four players in double figures, led by Marquise Hill’s 14 points. Post Tyrique Weaver added 13 points, including a 3-pointer, in the win for Cleveland.
The Hawks (13-10, 3-4) saw any chance of finishing second in 1-6A vanish with this loss. Volcano Vista closes the season today against Piedra Vista, and if the Hawks can win, they can sneak ahead of Cibola for the third seed for next week’s district tournament.
David Cormier had a team-best 19 points for Volcano Vista on Friday night.
Second place in District 4-6A was also determined Friday night.
Valley’s 76-70 road win at Highland gave the Vikings the No. 2 seed for the district tournament next week. Senior guard Anthony Chavez poured in 30 points in the victory for Valley (15-9, 7-3).
The regular-season champ of 4-6A, Atrisco Heritage (17-7, 9-1) — which clinched earlier in the week — had a big fourth quarter Friday night and pulled away from Albuquerque High, 61-45. The Bulldogs (16-8, 6-4) finished in third place in the district standings.
Joziah Ramos led Atrisco with 17 points in the win.
West Mesa will be fourth, despite the Mustangs losing 38-36 to Rio Grande on Friday. Jason Earnest led the Ravens with 14 points. West Mesa remains in line to receive an at-large bid to the playoffs, however.
Eldorado’s boys can clinch 2-6A tonight at Santa Fe; the Demons and La Cueva both are one game behind the Eagles. There is the possibility of a threeway tie for first, depending on tonight’s results.
GIRLS: Volcano Vista can force a one-game playoff with Rio Rancho in 1-6A if the Hawks defeat Piedra Vista this afternoon.
The Hawks on Friday night beat Cleveland 48-28. Melissa Mancha and Mariana Baros each had a dozen points for Volcano Vista (15-7, 5-2).
Rio Rancho (15-11, 6-2) closed out the regular season with a 38-31 win at home over Piedra Vista. Kamirah Decker had a team-best 16 points for the Rams. If there is a playoff, it will be at a neutral site either Monday or Tuesday night.
Also Friday, Hope Christian routed St. Pius 62-42, with Hanna Valencia scoring 19 points to lead the Huskies (24-2).
Tonight is the final night of the regular season. La Cueva’s girls are still trying to clinch a regular-season title in District 2-6A; the Bears are at Clovis, while second-place Eldorado is home to Santa Fe.
The state tournament fields will be chosen a week from Sunday.