Roswell triumphs over Santa Fe High
Isaiah Andermann had practiced this shot before — the stepback 3-pointer to get him the space he needed for an open look at the basket.
This time, though, it was for real — and in a moment the Santa Fe High Demons could use his shooting touch. With the clock under 10 seconds and the Roswell Coyotes leading 55-52 in the final game of the boys basketball round robin of the Bobby Rodriguez Capital City Tournament on Saturday, the ball found its way to the Santa Fe High senior on the right wing.
He took a hard step toward the basket before taking a step back and releasing the ball. The several hundred fans in Toby Roybal Memorial Gymnasium rose in anticipation of the outcome, but it was not kind to Santa Fe High fans. Andermann’s shot hit the side of the rim and back to Roswell center Logan Eaker, who was fouled.
He hit one of two free throws to secure a 56-52 win for the defending Class 5A champion and finish the tournament 3-0.
After the game, Andermann was wistful about the miss, but not about the opportunity.
“We were looking for the best shot possible,” Andermann said. “I had the opportunity and, of course, coach is always going to let me take that opportunity. He has confidence in me and I had it in myself. It just didn’t go our way.”
Yet, the Demons (4-4) were within striking distance of the Coyotes, even without senior wing Victor Salcido as he sat out the game after his ejection during Friday’s 79-64 win of Santa Fe Indian School. Much of the reason was because of junior Antonio Lovato, who had 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter to help the Demons climb out of a 43-34 hole at the start of the fourth quarter.
When he drained a corner 3 with 2:48 left in the game, Santa Fe High had the deficit down to 49-48. After Eaker missed a pair of free throws with 2:01 left, the Demons had a chance to take the lead. If only Santa Fe High had someone like Eaker, a 6-foot-7 presence who can be a welcome sight in the low block on offense and the last man in the line of the defense.
This time, Eaker’s defensive skills were essential, as he blocked Lovato’s drive and started a transition opportunity for the Coyotes (5-2). It ended with Dominic Nava scoring a breakaway layup for a 51-48 lead.
“We tell the guys, ‘Funnel them to Logan and let’s see if we can get a block,’ ” Roswell head coach Dude Burrola said. “At least a deflection or a change of shot.”
Still, Santa Fe High did what it could with what it had. Needing contributions from other players on the bench to offset what the Demons lost in Salcido, they got eight points from Derrick Solano and five from Christian Kavanaugh. The junior drained a 3 in the fourth that got Santa Fe High within 47-44 with 5:16 left as the team tried to undo a sloppy end to the third quarter.
Roswell forced the Demons into 0-for-6 shooting and five turnovers over the final 4:19 of the quarter, and it coincided with a 10-0 run that gave the Coyotes a 43-34 lead entering the fourth. Demons head coach Zack Cole said those types of cold streaks have prevented the team from getting a couple more wins, especially against high caliber opponents like Roswell.
“We’re getting closer, we’re getting there,” Cole said. “Once we figure that out, we’ll be able to pull games out like [Saturday], or games against Hobbs, where we played tight down the stretch.”
CAPITAL 90, HOBBS 82
Tyler Alarid was annoyed with Isaiah Vaughn late in the third quarter.
The physical, in-your-face defensive pressure the Hobbs guard placed on him got to Alarid, the Jaguars senior guard. Yet, it wasn’t what Vaughn was doing to him that was at the heart of his frustration.
“It picked me up because we didn’t start off strong in the third,” Alarid said. “It just gave me fire to keep bringing it and help the other guys pick up the energy.”
Alarid attacked the basket with impunity after that and rode an 11-for-12 performance at the freethrow line from the 1:39 mark of the third on to a 27 point night to lead the Jaguars to a 3-0 mark. Capital lived at the stripe, connecting on 24 of 27 — including a 17-for-18 run in the second half.
The Jaguars took control of the game in the second quarter, using a 19-4 run to take a 42-27 lead that they never relinquished. It was enough to withstand a 40-point performance from Eagles forward Clay Strasner. Hobbs fell to 3-3 on the season.
Seth Arroyos added 16 points for Capital (7-1), Aaron Garcia scored 14 and T.J. Sanchez added 12.
ST. MICHAEL’S 65, SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL 60
The Horsemen held the Braves to just seven points in the fourth quarter as they overcame a 53-49 deficit to win their only game of the tournament.
SFIS jumped out to a 21-10 lead, but the Horsemen chipped away at the margin and made it 40-33 at the half.
Dominic Morgan scored eight of his 12 points in the second half, while Jevon Montoya had 16 points to lead the Horsemen (3-3). Jason Abeyta led the Braves with 15 points, while James Bridges added 13.