West Mesa girls the talk of the town after beating the Hawks
Rio Rancho boys back at full strength in romp
Behind the closed door of the West Mesa High School girls basketball team’s locker room, the voices were boisterous.
It was obvious that this was not just another victory.
“I’m very excited. Just to have a little bit of success is the main thing,” Mustangs coach Manny Otero said. “The girls deserve it. The community deserves it.”
Sophomore guard Maiah Rivas was Steph Curry-esque in the first half, nailing six 3-pointers; she finished with seven treys and a gamehigh 21 points as West Mesa — most certainly a team to watch in Class 6A basketball this season — turned aside visiting defending Class 6A state champion Volcano Vista 49-39 on Tuesday night.
“Everyone is just excited,” said the 5-foot-2 Rivas. “It’s a new program. West Mesa has gone from a losing school to a whole new story.”
While her teammate, Esperanza Varoz, has been averaging over 25 points a game in the early stages of this season, it was Rivas who the Hawks (3-2) couldn’t stop Tuesday as Varoz had only two baskets.
Rivas was continually open as other guards penetrated and kicked out to her. She missed only one of her 3-point tries in the first half.
“Everyone on the team can shoot,” said Rivas.
The game on Tuesday turned on an 11-0 run that spanned four minutes by West Mesa in the second quarter. From 16-all, the Mustangs surged in front on back-to-back 3s by Rivas, another 3 from Emily Burk and a short shot off the glass by Varoz.
Volcano Vista was never closer than six points the rest of the way, and the Mustangs didn’t let the Hawks stay close for long, as near the end of the third quarter, Buck drained another 3 and scored on a putback at the buzzer for a 42-31 lead headed to the fourth quarter.
Facing Volcano Vista is part of a tough opening stretch for West Mesa, which already has faced Rio Rancho, Hope Christian and Los Lunas.
The Mustangs buried 11 shots from beyond the arc on Tuesday, then slowed the game down with lengthy possessions in the second half.
“When we’re shooting well,” Otero said, “we’re a tough team.”
Mariana Baros had 18 points and Jayden Chischillie 16 for the Hawks, who only got five points from everyone else.
SANDIA 75, ALBUQUERQUE
HIGH 15: At Sandia, Marisol Silva, Cara Liggins and Sapirah Broussard combined for 52 points in the huge win for the Matadors (3-0).
ST. PIUS 38, MIYAMURA 24: At St. Pius, Taylor Reed had a team-best 12 points as the Sartans improved to 4-0. DEL NORTE 50, VALLEY 37: At Del Norte, Malakah Martinez’s 13 points paced the Knights (4-2) and kept the rebuilding Vikings (0-5) winless.
Boys
RIO RANCHO 81, GALLUP 58: In Rio Rancho, the defending state champion Rams (3-2), playing for the first time this season at full strength now that football season is over, had four players in double figures, led by Joe Elmalhy’s 14 points.
HIGHLAND 53, ST. PIUS 50: At Highland, Taylor Turner had a game-high 21 points to lead the Hornets (2-3) over the Sartans (2-1). MENAUL 51, BOSQUE SCHOOL 22: Junior post Michael Ou led the Panthers (4-1) with 24 points.