“We’re picking up right where we left off,” said Grants High School Head Boys Basketball Coach Landon Chavez That’s not a bad spot to pick up from, as the Pirates made it to the quarter- finals last year. In the quarter finals they lost to the eventual champion, the Highland Hornets (61--50), who were third in district 5 4A, just behind Highland and St. Pius with a final record of 1812, 4-4.
When asked how this year’s team is taking shape after the football players have come in Chavez said, “We're excited to get our football players back after their great season—-they seem hungrier than ever after last year’s state playoff run–there’s a strong determination this season.”
On his goals for the season Chavez said, “Our goals are simple: improve every game, make each other better and stay composed in tough moments — while aiming for another deep state run.”
The Pirates start their season with a match up against Miyamura high school on the road on December 3, then they host the Taos Tigers on December 6, and neighboring Laguna-Acoma on December 7.
“That will be a tough home game against Taos,” said Chavez. “The Laguna- Acoma game is always special—especially with it being the Eddie Pena and the Robert Daily tournament matchups for both boys and girls basketball.
Chavez was bullish on his first three games and made a goal to be 3-0 to start the season.
The Lady Pirates basketball program is under the helm of new head coach, Jesi Mandagaran. Mandagaran, a familiar face in the basketball community, was last year’s C-team coach and took over when Douglas “Dougie” Hickman resigned over the summer. Mandagaran will have her team tested early with a game on Tuesday, November 26 at home against Pojoaque Valley then they will travel to Rio Grande on December 2nd and then to Bernalillo on December 5.