Super Saturday
State championships for wrestling are on the line this weekend at the Santa Ana Star Center
As the high school basketball regular season entered its final two nights, much was left to be decided, especially in District 1-6A.
While Cleveland’s boys already have clinched the regular season, Rio Rancho’s girls are now facing a very real prospect of a playoff game next week.
The Rams fell 58-52 at Cibola on Thursday night, leaving Rio Rancho (14-11 overall, 5-2 in 1-6A) one-half game in front of Volcano Vista (4-2) and Cibola (16-8, 5-3) in the 1-6A standings.
Rio Rancho was home to Piedra Vista late Friday. The Hawks were home to Cleveland, and also are home this afternoon to Piedra Vista. If the Rams and Volcano Vista win out, there will be a playoff game early next week to determine the No. 1 seed for the district tournament.
The boys’ 1-6A standings could still see much fluctuation.
Cleveland does have the regular season clinched, but the next three slots are not yet solidified.
Rio Rancho helped its cause tremendously, beating Cibola 80-74 in overtime on Thursday night.
The Rams (17-8, 4-3) were in second place starting Friday; Rio Rancho was visiting Piedra Vista to finish the regular season.
Cibola (17-7, 4-4) is through with its regular season. Volcano Vista (13-9, 3-3) had games at Cleveland Friday and at Piedra Vista tonight and, with two wins, could overtake Rio Rancho for second place.
DISTRICT 4-6A: Atrisco Heritage’s boys clinched first place earlier this week. Entering Friday night, the battle for second place was still raging.
Valley (14-9, 6-3) was tied with Albuquerque High (16-7, 4-3), with West Mesa (9-14, 5-4) looming in fourth place. The Vikings met Highland late Friday, while AHS took on Atrisco, also late Friday. West Mesa played Rio Grande.
Valley has the tiebreaking edge on AHS since the Vikings swept the Bulldogs in district games.
West Mesa’s girls on Thursday night routed Rio Grande and won for the 21st straight time this season. The Mustangs are done with the regular season, having finished 23-1 overall and 10-0 in 4-6A.
West Mesa’s injured sophomore guard, Esperanza Varoz, did play on Thursday — but only to shoot two technical free throws. Her status going forward remains very questionable for the Mustangs.
Valley’s girls will be the No. 5 seed for next week’s District 4-6A tournament. West Mesa will be idle until Saturday, when it will host the tournament final.
DISTRICT 5-5A: St. Pius closed out the regular season on Thursday, losing to Hope Christian. The Sartans (13-11, 4-4) will be seeded third for the district tournament, behind Belen and Los Lunas.
The Sartan girls (17-6) will be seeded second behind Los Lunas at the district tournament. St. Pius closed out the regular season late Friday at Hope Christian.
DISTRICT 4-4A: Bernalillo’s boys (13-13, 7-1) locked up first place earlier this week when the Spartans defeated Santa Fe Indian School. Bosque (4-21, 2-5) had its regular-season finale late Friday at SFIS.
Bosque School’s girls, despite being 13-12 overall, faced a crucial Friday night game at home versus SFIS. The Bobcats went into the game 2-5 in district, trailing third-place Bernalillo (3-5) which is 4-22 overall. Bosque will likely have clinched an at-large bid to the state tournament if it won Friday. Failing that, the Bobcats would have to win the district tournament to qualify for the postseason.
The Journal’s main sports section will have some updates of Friday’s prep basketball.
Wrestling/swimming
The first two rounds of the state wrestling championships were conducted Friday at the Santa Ana Star Center, with numerous Rio West athletes in the hunt for a title.
No. 1 seeds from the area who have advanced into today’s semifinals are Volcano Vista’s Marcus Santillanes (106 pounds), Mikey Mascareñas from Cleveland (113), Ryan Rochford of Rio Rancho (152), Richard Govea of Volcano Vista (170) and Storm heavyweight Daimon Altamirano.
No. 2 seeds who will be in the semifinals are Noah Mirabal from Cleveland at 126 pounds, Orion Gutierrez of Rio Rancho at 160, Kallum Cain of Cibola at 182 and Brendon Armstead of Cleveland at 220.
The Storm leads the team standings, with 108 points. Rio Rancho (87) is in second place. Volcano Vista (77) is fifth, Cibola (38) is 12th, West Mesa (36) is tied for 13th and Valley (12) is in 18th place.
St. Pius is 17th in the 5A standings. The Sartans’ Diego Pavia, the No. 2 seed at 138 pounds, will be in today’s semifinals.
SWIMMING/DIVING: The state championships began Friday at the Albuquerque Academy Natatorium. Rio West will offer a full recap next Saturday of both playoff events.
Cleveland
Volcano Vista distance runner Jericho Cleveland has earned a major kudo — he has been selected to compete for the USA Track and Field national cross-country team.
He will compete in Boca Raton, Fla., on March 4 at the North America/Central America/ Caribbean championships.
He qualified earlier this month in Bend, Ore.