Mustangs, Rams, Bears all advance

Atrisco Heritage girls beat Valley

Among the boys basketball teams in Class 6A who fully expect to be playing a first-round state tournament game on their home court are the West Mesa Mustangs.

On Wednesday night, West Mesa had key contributions from guards Jose Vigil and Eloy Medina, and also forward Brandon Bouldin, as the Mustangs held off visiting Albuquerque High 45-40 in the second round of the District 4-6A tournament.

West Mesa (18-8) visits the tournament’s No. 2 seed, Valley, on Friday night.

“We’re really rolling now with the way a couple of our kids are playing,” West Mesa coach Shonn Schroer said.

The Mustangs, sparked by sophomore guard Medina, came up big in the third quarter, outscoring AHS (15-11) by a 21-9 margin.

It was Medina who had eight straight points for West Mesa to give the Mustangs the lead.

Later, Vigil and Bouldin both produced some key plays down the stretch to preserve the lead and send West Mesa into the next round.

Vigil had a team-best 16 points, Bouldin added 12 for West Mesa, which went 20 of 26 from the line and was without one of its standout players, Scipio Mitchem.

“Bouldin was really big tonight,” Schroer said.

Marlon Cunningham led the Bulldogs with 14 points before fouling out. RIO RANCHO 80, PIEDRA VISTA 71: At Rio Rancho, the Rams, the No. 3 seed in the District 1-6A

tournament, amassed a 23-point lead before coasting home to a second-round victory over the Panthers (13-14).

Rio Rancho (16-11) is at No. 2 seed Cleveland in the 1-6A semifinal game on Friday night.

Forward Blaine Gallegos had one of his best games of the season for the Rams, leading the way with 23 points. LA CUEVA 81, SANDIA

66: At La Cueva, the Bears (17-9) had their second strong offensive outing in as many nights, beating the Matadors in the second round of the District 2-6A tournament.

Guards Lawrence Calais and Tyler Aeilts had 22 points for La Cueva, and the two combined for seven 3-pointers in the victory over the Matadors (10-16). Dylan Perry of Sandia had a game-high 32 points.

La Cueva will be at No. 2 seed Manzano in the 2-6A semifinal game.

ALSO: Santa Fe Indian beat East Mountain 51-35 in the seecond round of the District 5-4A tournament, as the Braves advanced to Friday’s semifinal at No. 2 seed Sandia Prep.

Girls

Atrisco Heritage, Clovis and Piedra Vista were second-round winners Wednesday in 6A district tournament action.

The Jaguars routed Valley 67-37 in the second round in 4-6A and will play at Highland on Friday in the semifinals; the Wildcats edged visiting Manzano 49-46 in the second round in 2-6A; and the Panthers defeated visiting Volcano Vista 46-36 in 1-6A’s second round.

Also Wednesday, Belen’s girls upset St. Pius 39-38 in the 5-5A semis. The are at No. 1 seed Los Lunas on Friday in the final.