Pirates go 2-1 at Gallup Tournament; Lose in OT to Hope

  • Pirates go 2-1 at Gallup Tournament; Lose in OT to Hope
    Pirates go 2-1 at Gallup Tournament; Lose in OT to Hope
  • The Grants High School boys’ Pirates basketball team went 2-1 at the Gallup Invite last week and forced an overtime with the third ranked team in 4A, the Hope Huskies at home. The Pirates tied it up 58-58 after trailing by as much as 12 points – however, the Pirates came up short 68-63. In this photo Roberto 'Beto' Chavez, 1, leaps in the air to find an open teammate in a close game against Tohatchi at the Gallup Invite.
    The Grants High School boys’ Pirates basketball team went 2-1 at the Gallup Invite last week and forced an overtime with the third ranked team in 4A, the Hope Huskies at home. The Pirates tied it up 58-58 after trailing by as much as 12 points – however, the Pirates came up short 68-63. In this photo Roberto 'Beto' Chavez, 1, leaps in the air to find an open teammate in a close game against Tohatchi at the Gallup Invite.

    All you hear this time of year are squeaky shoes and bouncing basketballs and all you see are packed gyms across the region as basketball tournaments wrap up leading up to district play.

    The Pirates, who have the talent and abilities to compete with any 4A team proved that last Monday as they went up and down the court at the Port of the Pirates with the number three ranked team in 4A the Hope Huskies whole came in with a 7-6 record.

    The Pirates forced the Huskies to an overtime after a 58-58 tie up at the end of four quarters.

    The Pirates, who trailed by as much as 12 points earlier in the game, battled their way to force that overtime. In the OT “JJ” Horacek had a trey and Boudy Melonas had a bucket for five points, however, the Pirates sent the Huskies to the line and they went five for four from the line and scored a bucket to secure the “W”. The final score was 69-64.

    Prior to the Hope game the Pirates went to traveled to one of the bestknown basketball tournaments in the state–the Gallup Invitational. The Pirates had a tough first round game against a top ranked 3A team the Tohatchi Cougars who are 12-2 after the weekend. The game was close as Tohatchi led 18-15 in the first quarter with senior captain and guard Boudy Melonas leading the charge by scoring ten points in that 1st quarter.

    In the second quarter the Pirates tightened it up as the Melonas brothers, Boudy and Coudy, chipped in six points apiece followed by John “JJ” Horacek with 5 points to keep themselves in the game making the score 39-35. In the 3rd quarter the Pirates outscored Tohatchi by 9 points to cut the Cougars lead to 3, 57-54. In the 4th the Pirates were unable to capitalize on their offense gains and burst past the 3– 5-point deficits that they trailed by most of the night—they lost 69-64.

    The Pirates went on to defeat Miyamura 81-63 and Gallup 69-46 later in the tournament. John “JJ” Horacek and Boudy Melonas were both named All-Tournament.

    The Pirates are currently 6-8 and next up for the Pirates will be Zuni on January 15th.

    Franklin Romero - CC