GIRLS BASKETBALL
Taking stock as district play gets underway
With high school basketball entering district play this week, it’s a good time to check where things stand for local teams. This week we’ll take a look at the girls side of the ledger and follow up with the boys next week.
CLASS 6A
DISTRICT 2: After a tough start to the season, Santa Fe (9-8, 0-1) began to pick it up, winning seven of eight games before district play started. Despite opening district play with a loss, the Demonettes have a real chance to make some noise as the district is down this season and as senior forward Adonica BacaMartinez is proving she can be a force down low.
CLASS 5A
DISTRICT 2: No one in the district has a record above .500, which means a district championship is up for grabs. That being said, the champion is likely going to be the only team going to the state tournament. Española Valley (7-9, 1-0) and Capital (8-10, 0-0), behind leading scorer Kyannah Cole, look like leading contenders, while Los Alamos (5-14, 0-1) is struggling with a young team.
CLASS 4A
DISTRICT 2: Three teams in the state’s toughest district are a virtual lock for the state tournament, with Robertson (15-3, 1-0) behind Alianza Darley and Maria Barela, and Pojoaque Valley (15-1, 1-0), led by Dallas Archibald and Shania Thronas, will be championship contenders. Their games Jan. 31 in Pojoaque and Feb. 17 in Las Vegas will be ones to mark on the calendar.
West Las Vegas (12-5, 0-0) has won five of seven and should see postseason play, as well. St. Michael’s (8-10, 0-1) is a young team still trying to find itself and Taos (6-10, 0-1) simply doesn’t have the players yet to contend in the rugged district.
DISTRICT 5: Santa Fe Indian School (13-4, 1-0) is by far the class of the district with sophomore point guard Hunter Garcia a deep threat capable of sparking quick runs. The Lady Braves have no one taller than 5-foot, 8-inches, but that won’t matter one bit in district play.
CLASS 3A
DISTRICT 2: McCurdy (11-4) should easily cruise to a district championship as only Dulce (9-6) will pose much of a threat in a weak grouping. Monte del Sol (1-9) and Santa Fe Prep (0-7) simply have not been competitive this season.
DISTRICT 3: Pecos (11-3) has rolled its last five opponents to enter district play on a hot streak as Cassaundra Muller has been dominant when she’s been able to play. She missed four games earlier in the season with knee issues. Freshman post Trinity Herrera is turning into a star and is almost averaging a double-double at 10.4 points and 9.4 rebounds, to go along with 4.8 steals. The Panthers meet their top district challenger Tierra Encantada (11-3) in a late game Thursday to open district play. The Alarcranes, however, have not had a particularly tough schedule, with their best win last month at Santa Rosa.
Despite almost 13 points a game from senior Felicity Sealy, The Academy for Technology and the Classics (5-9) is struggling, and Desert Academy has not topped 40 points this season.
CLASS 2A
DISTRICT 5: Peñasco (13-4) should have little trouble in a district with no other team above .500. Questa (6-10), Mora (6-10) and Escalante (6-8) are all capable of pulling off an unexpected win, especially at home, but Mesa Vista (3-14) is well down this season.