A LOOK BACK AT THE TOP SPORTS STORIES IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO
After two, quick first-quarter fouls, Robertson star Alianza Darley got to watch the rest of the first half from the bench.
It was not a pretty sight as the Cardinals scored just four first-quarter points and trailed St. Pius 17-11 at the half.
But Darley and her teammates got it rolling in the second half Thursday to beat the Sartans 38-35 in the Sandia Prep Sundevils Tournament.
Darley finished with 14 points – all in the second half – and Pasepa Tuineau added 10 for Robertson (12-0).
“We have plays set for different people and I figured if we can get a few plays for her, get her to make a few shots, we can get her some confidence,” Cardinals coach José “Majik” Medina said of Darley. “When you make a shot, it helps get pumped a little bit and that helps you on both ends of the floor. Defense, offense rebounding, whatever it is.”
It is games like this one that help prepare the Cardinals for their ultimate goal of going deep into the state tournament come March.
“There are still things we need to work on,” Medina said. “We’re still working on our defenses. We’ve got to work on our shooting. We have to become better free throw shooters. Like every team, we have to take care of the ball better, especially in pressure situations. This is why we play these predistrict games. Playing against team like Pius and good teams like that will only help us get better for the postseason.”
Robertson had its hands full all game with the Sartans Maya Trujillo, who finished with a 22 points.
“I knew she that she had that potential in her, and I was just hoping that we could stay on her and control her and keep her in check,” Medina said. “But she had a good game against us. I give her a lot of credit. She stepped up and had a good game.”
THURSDAY
BOYS
SANTA FE 63, CLEVELAND 62: Antonio Lovato scored 17 for the host Demons (12-2), who got a big win with J.B. White and Christian Kavanaugh each adding 12 to topple the No. 1 ranked Storm.
CAPITAL 56, ST. MICHAEL’S 23: T.J Sanchez scored 12 points and the host Jaguars (9-2) got up big early to run away from the Horsemen (7-5), who got eight points from Lucas Coriz.
TAOS 53, GODDARD 43: The Tigers (8-4) took over in the second half, outscoring the Rockets 30-19 to come away with the win, overcoming 16 points from Goddard’s Jon Carillo at the Ruidoso Mountain Madness Shootout.
RUIDOSO 59, POJOAQUE VALLEY 48: The Elks (5-7) could not overcome a ragged second quarter in which they were outscored 19-4 and lost to the Warriors at the Shootout.
PECOS 86, PEÑASCO 13: Pecos (10-2) jumped out to a 35-1 lead after the first quarter as Xavier Padilla scored 12 of his game-high 16 points. Juan Varela and Ishmael Villegas each added 14 for Pecos, while Dominic Lopez led Peñasco (2-7) with five in the Northern Rio Grande Tournament at Pojoaque Valley.
MORA 51, ESCALANTE 46: With a new coach at the helm, the Rangers (6-6) scored the last 15 points of the game to pull off the come-from-behind victory for Marco Sanchez at the NRG Tournament.
DULCE 53, QUESTA 16: Tyrese Redwine scored 12 points for the Hawks (5-2) and Ross Julian had nine as the Wildcats (1-7) were dominated early. Dominic Torres led Questa with eight points at the NRG.
MCCURDY 73, MESA VISTA 41: Ubaldo Barela scored 25 points to lead the Bobcats (8-1), while Raul Arroyo added 16. Damian Trujillo led the Trojans (1-7) with 13 points at the NRG.
SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL 74, NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY ACADEMY 35: The Braves (5-5) easily won the opening game of the Santa Fe Indian School Tournament.
GIRLS
RIO RANCHO 42, CAPITAL 39: Trailing 34-26 entering the final quarter, the Jaguars (4-5) could not quite make up the difference despite six points from Rebecca Sorenson, who finished with eight. Ethena Silva led Capital’s efforts with 14.
CLEVELAND 62, SANTA FE 40: Lexi Espinosa scored 10 points for the Demonettes (5-8), but they could not overcome a 27-15 halftime deficit.
MORA 36 (6-3), QUESTA 28 (3-6): Dennika Bustos had 14 points, including four 3-pointers for the Rangerettes (6-3) while the Wildcats (2-6) got 10 from Kiana Passino at the NRG Tournament.
PEÑASCO 62, ESCALANTE 31: The Panthers (8-2) doubled up the Lobos (0-7) at the NGR Tournament as Carly Gonzales scored 23 and Adrianna Tafoya added 16 for Peñasco. Aubrie Hinds and Kalese Torrez each scored nine for Escalante at the NRG Tournament.
DULCE 45, MCCURDY 28 (5-6): Brooke Vigil had 16 points and Brannon Vigil added 13 to power the Hawks (6-4 past the Bobcats (5-6), who got 12 from Erika Loera at the NRG Tournament.
PECOS 49, MESA VISTA 28: Cassaundra Muller had 17 points and Faith Flores had a doubledouble with 10 and 11 rebounds, as well as six steals, to lead the Panthers (8-2). The Trojans (2-5) fell behind 26-10 at the half and were never able to get into it at the NRG Tournament.
POJOAQUE VALLEY 62 (11-0), HOPE CHRISTIAN 60 OT: The visiting Elkettes (11-0) remained unbeaten by overcoming a 13-point first-quarter deficit as Taylor Roybal scored 17 points for Pojoaque and Toni Aquinio added 13.
LOS ALAMOS 47, BELEN 31: The visiting Hilltoppers (5-8) got 11 points from Jenee Montoya and outscored the Eagles 30-16 in the second half.
ROBERTSON 48, ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY 26: The Cardinals (11-0) got up 14-2 after the first quarter in the Sandia Prep Sundevils Tournament and Alianza Darley finished with 19 points for Robertson.
HATCH VALLEY 66, ST. MIKE’S 47: Trailing 26-7 after the first quarter, the Lady Horsemen (6-7) could never quite back in the game despite 19 points from Carisa Padilla and 13 from Joelyn Fernandez.
SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL 78, NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY ACADEMY 11: Jaydia Lucario scored 14 points and the Lady Braves (9-2) jumped out to a 24-4 lead after the first quarter in the SFIS Tournament.