“We’re playing our best basketball right now,” said Grants High School Head Boys Basketball Coach Landon Chavez. “We are excited to continue building momentum as we move forward in district play.”
The Pirates Boys’ Basketball Team is indeed playing well as they faced off with the number one ranked team in 4A and district rival, the St. Pius Sartans on the road. The Sartans (14-5, 2-0) had narrowly defeated the Pirates by three points earlier in the season, led by three points at the end of the first quarter, 13-10.
In the second quarter the Pirates, using momentum from their first five, outscored Pius by nine points for a halftime score of 35-29.
In the third quarter, St. Pius outscored the Pirates by four points, chipping the Pirates lead to just two points, 49-47.
The game tightened up in the crucial fourth quarter as both teams battled for the “W”.
Mason Montoya of the Sartans hit a field goal to tie it up 49-49 early in the fourth quarter. Both teams traded buckets and lead changes, and with one minute to go Sartan, Isiah Carpenter hit a field goal to tie it up again 58 all for a second time. Time out St. Pius. Pirate senior Boudy Melonas is subsequently fouled and goes to the line and makes a free throw, 59-58 Grants up by one point. With time running out, Carpenter hits a field goal for a St. Pius win, 60-59.
“The loss was certainly tough since we led for most of the second half,” said Chavez. “A few key turnovers and missed opportunities down the stretch ultimately cost us the game.”
“Despite our three- and one-point losses to [St. Pius], it’s clear that we can compete with the best,” said Chavez. “We’re looking forward to face them again at home.” Melonas led the Pirate with 27 points in that game.
The Pirates have another opportunity to prove themselves as a team on Tuesday, January 28 against last year’s defending state champion the Highland Hornets (910, 0-1) as they make their way to the Port of the Pirates.
The Hornets are 06th in the state rankings.
“[Highland will] be coming in hungry after a double overtime loss to Belen,” said Chavez. “While they’ve had our number in the past, we’re confident that Tuesday’s game we’ll turn things around–we’re playing our best basketball right now–as we move forward with district play.”
Lady Pirates
The Lady Pirates had a tough two game opening for their district play last week as they faced two of the top 10 ranked teams.
On January 21, they played the third ranked team in 4A girls basketball the Valencia Jaguars (13-5,1-0) and lost 54-37.
On January 24, they played the sixth ranked team, the Lady Sartans of St. Pius (12-6,2-0) and lost by 11, 51-40.
“All the girls battled hard to the end,” said GHS lady Pirates head coach Jesi Mandagaran of those two games.
Next up will be Highlands on January 28 on the road. “We aim to beat Highland with intensive and aggressive defense—in hopes to create turnovers,” said Mandagran. “Highlands is a good ball club and is well coached.”
The Lady Pirates are currently 8-12 and 0-2 headed into that game.