Dominant 2nd period lifts Hope
Huskies also reach girls final
What a surprise: another high functioning boys basketball team from Hope Christian.
The Huskies on Friday night rode a huge second quarter to a victory over Cibola in the semifinals of the Joe Armijo Classic at Albuquerque Academy.
Hope will face Oñate at 8:15 tonight in the final.
The Huskie girls are also in the championship game. against La Cueva at 6:30 p.m.
Boys
JOE ARMIJO CLASSIC: Senior guard Marcus Medina had seven points in a crucial first-half run for Hope (4-0) as the Huskies held on to beat the Cougars 64-58. The final margin was misleading, as Hope Christian led by 18 with 3:14 left in the game.
The Huskies outscored Cibola 17-5 in the second quarter, scoring the first seven and the last seven.
“Those eight minutes, our defense is what lifted us up, and our offense ran really well,” said Medina, who finished with 14 points — nine of them in the second quarter. “Basically, all we do in practice is run our offense over and over.”
Point guard Cole Yearout added 11 points and half a dozen assists for the Huskies. Preston Ulibarri led Hope with 15 points, including three 3-pointers, all in the first half. Both losses this season for Cibola (4-2) have been to Hope Christian.
In the other semifinal, Oñate (6-1) received a spirited challenge from the host Chargers (2-4), but the Knights delivered several key buckets in the fourth quarter, made 10 of 14 free throws in the final eight minutes and won 45-35. — James Yodice SUNDEVIL INVITATIONAL: At Sandia Prep, Española Valley and West Las Vegas are in today’s 3:15 p.m. final. The Sundevils edged St. Pius 41-40, while the Dons defeated Valencia 68-48. HUB CITY TOURNAMENT: In Belen, Roswell and the host Eagles play at 4:30 this afternoon in the championship game. The Coyotes beat Centennial and Belen routed Bernalillo 58-33 in the semifinals. ARTESIA TOURNAMENT: Rio Rancho beat Carlsbad 63-58 in Friday’s semis, and will play the host Bulldogs tonight. The Rams were without guard Clay Patterson, who dislocated his knee in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s win over Las Cruces. Juan Hurt led Rio Rancho with 24 points.
Girls
JOE ARMIJO CLASSIC: Hope ripped Cibola 58-41, although Huskies senior post Alivia Lewis apparently sprained her ankle in the first half and was noticeably limping, even into the evening while watching the Hope boys.
Her availability is unknown for the title game. It could be a factor if the 6-foot-2 Lewis sits out, since La Cueva 6-2 sophomore Brynn Wade — who transferred from Hope before the 2015-16 season — had such a terrific game in the other semifinal, a 47-36 victory over Cleveland (4-3).
Brooke Nelson and Delaney Markham each scored 12 points for the Bears. Wade had 10 points, dominated the glass and blocked at least half a dozen shots.
The Huskies already have beaten the Bears once this season, 50-40 on Dec. 3.
In the first semi, Cibola (4-3) was leading 20-12 right about when Lewis tweaked her ankle. Most of the 17-0 run the Huskies (5-1) put together to take control was with Lewis on the bench.
Guard Charity Murphy scored 16 points, with four 3s, to lead the Huskies, who like the boys took control in the second quarter, winning that period 21-5.
MEL OTERO INVITATIONAL: At Rio Rancho, Centennial will play Roswell in today’s championship game. The Hawks defeated the host Rams 58-50, while the Coyotes held off Las Cruces 49-47.