Building off last season’s heartbreak
Demons pegging hopes of success to 6-foot-6 sophomore White
In the moment, it was just a disappointing loss to the end of the 2017-18 boys basketball season for the Santa Fe High Demons. Eight days later, it became the rallying point for this season.
When Santa Fe High came close to upsetting Albuquerque Atrisco Heritage Academy on March 3 in the opening round of the Class 6A State Tournament, the immediate reaction in the locker room to the 51-48 loss was typical for a team that saw its season end. The coaches talked about missed opportunities for the 14th-seeded Demons to beat the No. 3 Jaguars, the outgoing seniors cried, thanked everyone and implored the returning players to work hard to prepare for next year.
Even in the normal routine of grieving, coach Zack Cole felt something different about this meeting.
“It was emotional, but it was honest,” he said.
Perhaps Cole’s feelings were embedded in what his eyes told him in studying film sessions and after going toe-to-toe with Atrisco Heritage for 32 minutes.
“It was a locker room of realization,” Cole said. “I told them I had watched so many films on Atrisco — I think it was eight, I lost count — and after our players expressed their disappointment and the seniors encouraged the rest of guys to come back, we as coaches told them don’t be surprised if you just lost to the state champs.”
Eight days later, Cole’s prediction came true when the Jaguars beat Rio Rancho Cleveland for the title. Santa Fe High sophomore forward J.B. White said he remembered hearing the news and crying.
“Oh my God, I burst into tears when I found out they won,” White said. “I always dreams of winning state in my freshman year, and I was so excited about winning it that year. It just broke my heart, because we were so, so close.”
What followed was a whirlwind
offseason in which Santa Fe High lost just two of its 30 games played during summer camps, including going 17-1 without the 6-foot-6 White after he broke his thumb during a University of New Mexico camp. That came days after the sophomore prodigy received the first of many scholarship offers by universities and colleges, this one from UNM.
White’s absence, though, allowed some of the other post players to get time on the court and improve, espe-
My team, they have a huge heart. They never let up against anybody, no matter the size, or weight or whatever it is. They’re just going to come for you. That’s the way we are.” Santa Fe High’s J.B. White
cially junior Anthony Cisneros.
“It just brought up our confidence, but J.B. is always going to be there for us,” Demons senior guard Antonio Lovato said. “But it boosted our confidence that we can play with anyone no matter the circumstances. We could miss somebody for a certain night due to an injury or something, and we can step up.”
The heightened expectations for the program, though, are a result of White, who has the size to help lock down the paint that Santa Fe High has generally lacked while also showing the deft shooting touch from all over the court. He also has the ball-handling skills to bring the ball downcourt as well as post up in the block.
But the Demons’ roster is full of quickness and shooters, which allows Cole the luxury of pressing and running. That was on display Thursday in Santa Fe High’s 69-23 win over Pojoaque Valley in its season opener at Capital’s Al Armendariz Tournament.
The Demons’ swarming defense frustrated the Elks into turnover after turnover and led to a 19-0 lead halfway through the quarter.
They also had five players combine to knock down nine 3-pointers in the first half as the lead grew to 48-12 at the break.
The unselfishness Santa Fe High showed underscored the culture change. Cole said he had to break down bad habits that showed up under pressure. It manifested itself in players trying to take matters into their own hands instead of trusting teammates and Cole’s system.
“It was a matter of breaking bad habits in terms of how they approached the game and how easily they lose focus at the task at hand and not be disciplined,” Cole said. “This is the first school that I’ll be at that I am going to get to experience the third year. I was two years at [Santa Fe] Indian School, I was two years at Ramona [Calif.], and we turned those programs around tremendously, but we never experienced the benefit of that hard work in the third year.”
Some of the benefit has come in the attention the program is receiving. New Mexico Activities Association sports information director J.P. Murrieta went to the Santa Fe High campus on Nov. 19 to film the first day of practice for the organization’s website, and was present for the Demons’ season opener.
It’s a new world for the program, but it’s one that White feels the Demons can handle.
“My team, they have a huge heart,” White said. “They never let up against anybody, no matter the size, or weight or whatever it is. They’re just going to come for you. That’s the way we are.”