Ingram goes out with injury, but Bears still crush Sandia
Junior guard rolls her ankle in first quarter
One team saw its best player taken out of the gymnasium midway through the first quarter in a wheelchair.
Oddly, of the two teams on the floor at La Cueva, this was the team that had a fantastic night with little stress.
The loss of junior guard Kaya Ingram barely slowed third-ranked La Cueva, as the Bears’ girls basketball team, with three freshmen leading the team in scoring, beat visiting Sandia 48-38 on Tuesday night.
This matchup between La Cueva (12-1) and No. 9 Sandia (8-4) fit the textbook definition of a game that was not nearly as close as the final score would indicate.
Bears coach Robert Perea, up 44-22 with 4½ minutes remaining, had four freshmen and one sophomore on the floor before a cosmetic flurry by Sandia, its former district rival.
“Our defense was outstanding tonight,” Perea said. “We’re quick, and we’re swarming, and that’s what is working for us this year.”
Last Saturday, La Cueva held No. 1 West Mesa to 14 points below its season scoring average in a 46-38 loss to the Mustangs in the metro final. The night before that, in the semifinals, the Bears held Volcano Vista 25 points under the Hawks’ average.
Tuesday, Sandia was 17 points below what it usually scores, and really, that’s only because La Cueva took its foot off the pedal at the end.
“I think we anticipate every pass, and we have learned how to help each other,” said senior Deja Sandoval, who scored nine points for the Bears.
Three ninth-graders — Rylie Ottmann, with 11; and Nina Romero and Teona Savic, with 10 apiece — were the only players to reach double figures for La Cueva.
“That showed the depth of our team,” Perea said.
Ingram, the Bears’ leading scorer, rolled her ankle with 3:33 to go in the opening quarter when she came down on another player’s foot. She had to be helped off the floor, and was wheeled out of the gym moments later.
This was the same (left) ankle Ingram severely sprained last season, an injury that caused her to miss the final third of the season, including the state tournament. But she didn’t believe it was the same type injury.
“I was just hoping we would be OK,” Sandoval said. “She’s a strong player. And we hope she’ll recover quick.”
Ingram, who returned to the bench (on crutches) to start the second half, seems unlikely to play tonight against Albuquerque High, and the Bears also face Manzano on Saturday.
La Cueva certainly needs Ingram healthy for what is sure to be a super tough District 2-5A slate, which begins Tuesday against Farmington.
Viané Cumber had 18 points, Sapirah Broussard 16 for Sandia, which only had four players score. Broussard had 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Through three quarters, the Matadors, who had an awful night shooting the ball, had as many turnovers (17) as points. — James Yodice VOLCANO VISTA 66, HIGHLAND 37: At Volcano Vista, freshmen guard Natalia Chavez scored a team-best 24 points as the Hawks (11-3) whipped the Hornets. Jaelyn Bates added 22 for Volcano Vista, which pulled away in the second half.
ELDORADO 41, CLEVELAND 37:
In Rio Rancho, the Eagles avenged a loss to the Storm in last week’s metro tournament with a road victory on Tuesday.
Boys
ATRISCO HERITAGE 61, VALLEY 60: At Valley, Isaiah Brooks nailed a corner 3-pointer with 3 seconds left for the game-winner for the visiting Jaguars, who knocked off their former district rivals. Joziah Ramos’ 22 points led Atrisco Heritage (11-3).