Hoops preview
A look ahead at Rio West area boys and girls high school basketball teams
BERNALILLO
Coach: Terry Darnell (24th year) Last season: 15-14; lost to Hope Christian in 4A quarterfinals
Key players: Reyes Herrera, 5-9, jr., SG; Luis Villegas, 5-9, soph., PG; Fernando Villegas, 5-8, soph., G; Soloman Fragua, 6-7, sr., P; Mariano Lobato, 6-4, sr., P.
Outlook: The Spartans might be in their best position in years to make a serious run at a blue trophy. In addition to Herrera, who led the team in scoring last season and can go off on any night, Bernalillo will have some rare size in the form of Fragua and Lobato. The Villegas twins are stout defenders, and this team has both experience and depth. Could be the Spartans might find their way to the Pit in March.
BOSQUE SCHOOL
Coach: Clifton Davidson (1st year) Last season: 5-22 Key players: Eli Davidson, 6-3, soph., PG; Isaac Wayne, 5-7, jr., combo G; Silan Landson, 6-2, sr., FW; Connor Murphy, 6-3, sr., FW; Eyob Lubin, 6-0, fresh., G.
Outlook: With a healthy Eli Davidson, who was injured for more than half of last season, the Bobcats could be much more competitive for the next three months. Bosque — with a good crop of young shooters — plans to speed things up and improve in transition this season, and that will be a requirement in a tough district featuring the likes of Bernalillo and Sandia Prep.
CIBOLA
Coach: Ray Rodriguez (20th year) Last season: 19-9; lost to Cleveland in 6A quarterfinals
Key players: Cameron Dixon, 6-3, sr., SG; Ricardo Zambrano, 6-1, sr., G; Charles Penn, 6-5, sr., P; Dylan Martinez, 5-9, sr., PG; Jacob Padilla, 6-2, jr., FW.
Outlook: The best pair of teammate shooters in all of 6A could be Dixon and Zambrano, four-year varsity players who are going to be problematic for everyone who defends the Cougars. Questions at the point and inside remain, however, although Rodriguez will have some size to deploy beyond just Penn. The veteran coach will try to strike a balance between his shooters and his bigs, and will need another scorer or two to take the pressure of Zambrano (a terrific pure shooter) and Dixon.
CLEVELAND
Coach: Sean Jimenez (2nd year) Last season: 22-8; lost to Las Cruces in 6A semifinals Key players: Jayden Phillips, 6-1, sr., PG; Jalen Munn, 6-4, jr., FW; Aamer Muhammad, 5-10, jr., SG; Justin Ainsworth, 6-2, sr., FW; Taylor Turner, 6-0, sr., combo G.
Outlook: The Storm figure to benefit immensely from the addition of Turner, a highscoring guard who transferred from Highland. This remains an extremely quick, athletic team, with enough guards (including Muhammad and Phillips) to keep a frenetic pace for 32 minutes. Cleveland will likely have plenty of four- and five-guard lineups, in fact, and is on that list of teams that could play on the season’s final day.
RIO RANCHO
Coach: Wally Salata (9th year) Last season: 20-9; lost to Volcano Vista in 6A first round Key players: Derrick Reyes, 6-3, sr., FW; David Patterson, jr., 6-2, G; Keshawn Banks, 6-4, sr., P; Blaine Gallegos, 6-6, jr., P; Derrell White, 6-0, sr., PG.
Outlook: After graduating a pair of all-state guards, the backcourt will be where the Rams have the most question marks, although Patterson should fill some of that void very nicely and freshman Kenny Noland has plenty of scoring punch. Rio Rancho does have some excellent big men, however, led by Reyes and Banks, and they’ll supply some extra scoring inside. But Rio Rancho will still look to push the pace regardless.
ST. PIUS
Coach: Damian Segura (15th year)
Last season: 14-13; lost to Alamogordo in 5A first round Key players: Michael Gonzalez, 6-0, sr., FW; Matthew Gonzalez, 5-8, sr., PG; Daniel Vigil, 5-9, sr., SG.
Outlook: With just one starter returning, this is largely a new group on the West Side with much of last season’s JV (which was 19-2) now moving up. There is depth on this roster, if not much experience, although that issue should resolve itself slowly during the course of the season. Identifying scorers is another matter that will be a mystery as this new season begins.
VALLEY
Coach: Joe Coleman (21st year)
Last season: 15-11; lost to Hobbs in 6A first round
Key players: Anthony Chavez, 6-1, sr., PG; Segun Oyeku, 5-11, sr., G; Zeke Roybal, 5-8, sr., G; Isaiah Torres, 6-3, sr., W; Chris Prudencio, sr., 6-2, W.
Outlook: The Vikings will have one of the best backcourts in 6A with Oyeku and especially Chavez, a four-year starter for Valley. But what concerns Coleman is becoming a tougher team, a team that knows how to close, and that skill will be necessary in the Vikes’ unforgivingly difficult district. There is some length and athleticism with Torres and Prudencio, and some young players are moving up to add some scoring.
VOLCANO VISTA
Coach: Greg Brown (9th year)
Last season: 18-12; Class 6A state champions
Key players: Jalontae Gray, 6-0, jr., FW; Andres Vigil, 5-9, jr., combo G; Jorell Phillips, 5-9, sr., G; Dion Battle, 5-9, soph., PG; Cesar Madrid, 6-3, jr., FW.
Outlook: After their stunning run to a blue trophy in March, the Hawks have a strong nucleus returning, led by Gray and Vigil. Without a big man like David Cormier, Volcano Vista will have to be a better shooting team, but the Hawks do have depth on the perimeter. Primary questions are defense, and how they handle being the defending state champions.
WEST MESA
Coach: Shonn Schroer (16th year) Last season: 10-16 Key players: Jose Vigil, 5-10, sr., PG; Brandon Bouldin, 6-4, sr., FW; Eloy Medina, 6-1, soph., G; Camren Schroer, 5-10, jr., G.
Outlook: No surprise that the Mustangs are dominated by guards, but it is the talent of that group that has Schroer believing West Mesa could have its best team in years. Vigil and Medina led the team in scoring last season, but they aren’t the only players that can burn defenses from long range. This will be a more experienced team, too, and should be tighter defensively.