Santa Fe super sophomore White dislocates patella
Father, daughter coaches match wits
Is Santa Fe’s J.B. White done for the season?
The Demons’ standout 6-foot-6 sophomore shooting guard, who already has a scholarship offer from New Mexico, suffered a dislocated patella (kneecap) Saturday night in a game at Clovis — an injury that sent him to a Clovis hospital.
White was to have an MRI on the knee Wednesday night, Demons coach Zack Cole said, adding that the results should be available by Monday.
“Obviously, if there’s structural damage, he’s done for the season,” Cole said.
White was trailing a play in the first quarter, looking to block a shot from behind as a Clovis player worked his way toward the basket. As White landed after going up for the block, he became tangled with the Wildcat, and the knee “buckled under him,” Cole said.
Santa Fe is hopeful the damage is not severe, and that he might be able to rejoin the team before the end of the season.
The Demons (13-3) are idle until Jan. 23.
FAMILY AFFAIR: One of the great scenes of the season unfolded Tuesday at Del Norte, as Knights girls basketball coach David Medina went against the oldest of his four children, Micaela, Valencia’s first-year head coach.
Micaela got the better of her father, 30-25.
“It was kind of exciting, nerveracking a little bit,” David Medina said. “But it was really cool, really neat.”
Micaela is in her first season coaching the Jaguars after leading Cobre the last two years. She played for her father at Del Norte, graduating in 2009.
“It was surreal to me,” Micaela said. “To coach against him … was an awesome experience.”
Not to mention the bragging rights that come with it.
“I get it for at least a year,” Micaela said, laughing.
David, Del Norte’s longtime coach who has over 300 wins, wore a Valencia T-shirt under his outfit.
“I didn’t want to lose that game,” David said, “but after a loss like that, it was almost like, it was OK.”
Elise Medina, Micaela’s sister, is Valencia’s JV coach.
TAKE A BOW: Del Norte sophomore running back Isaiah Ortiz’s 430 yards and eight touchdowns against Los Alamos on Nov. 2 earned him national recognition, as he recently appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd.
According to the New Mexico Activities Association’s records, the 430 rush yards by Ortiz rank No. 4 all-time in New Mexico. The eight rushing TDs place him second, and the 48 points in a game are tied for third.
VIVIAN CLASSIC: The annual Joe Vivian wrestling tournament is Friday and Saturday at Albuquerque High.
Tentatively, more than 30 teams are scheduled to attend, headed by Carlsbad. All of Albuquerque’s 13 public high schools — with Volcano Vista perhaps the strongest threat — are also entered.
The Vivian begins at 1 p.m. Friday. Action on Saturday starts at 9 a.m., with the finals slated for 6 p.m. Saturday.
THIS AND THAT: Albuquerque Academy runner Zoe Hunter, a state champion in both cross country and track and field, has given a commitment to Texas. … Sandia volleyball coach Kris Borland, who recently welcomed a baby daughter, has resigned. Former head coach Megan Holland will be taking over the program again. … The girls are up first on Saturday for the Albuquerque Metro Swimming & Diving Championships at the West Mesa Aquatic Center. Bosque School, Rio Rancho and Cleveland join the 13 APS programs. Action begins at 8 a.m. … La Cueva senior volleyball setter Brie Mortensen is New Mexico’s Gatorade Player of the Year. Mortensen, who has signed with New Mexico State, had 775 assists, 163 digs and 47 aces last season for the Class 5A state champion Bears. … Rob and Kathy Hipwood of Los Alamos (boys) and Adam Kedge of Academy (girls) are the 2018 New Mexico cross country coaches of the year, as determined by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.