Gallup gallops past Grants, 77-64

The Pirates boys’ basketball team suffered a defeat this past week as they succumbed to I-40 Rival, the Gallup Bengals (106), by a score of 77-64. The Pirates jumped ahead in the first quarter with a 16-13 lead which changed to a 28-26 lead for the Bengals at halftime. The Bengals regrouped and poured in 27-points to the Pirates 16-points to give the Bengals a 55-42 lead. The Pirates were able to fight back and match Gallup’s 22 points in the fourth quarter, however it didn’t break the 13-point deficit from the third quarter.

Four Pirates had double digits in the game. Sophomore Boudy Melonas led the Pirates with 15-points followed by Dominick Gonzales who chipped in 13-points. Isaiah Griego and John Horacek had 10-points apiece. The Bengals were led by Kristian Touchine with 25-points and Brett Bater with 12-points.

Next up for the Pirates will be the Valencia Jaguars in the district opener for both teams. The Jaguars come to the Port of the Pirates with a 7-11 record while the Pirate bring a 7-9 record to the game. The home game is slated for 7 pm on Tuesday, January 17. They will follow up the home game with an away game to be played at St. Pius on Friday, January 20.

The Pirates are third in district 5-4A just after state powerhouse the Highland Hornets and St. Pius. In the most recent New Mexico Overtime Sports Coaches poll Highland is ranked number two and St. Pius is ranked fourth.

The Lady Pirates, fresh off a 46-36 win over the Lady Elks of Pojoaque, are hoping to use that momentum to tackle the two top teams in the district back-to-back.

The Lady Pirates are opening their district play up on Tuesday, January 17 against the Valencia Jaguars who are currently 12-5 as they host the lady Pirates. The Lady Jaguars currently hold first place in the district followed by St. Pius. The Lady Pirates will play St. Pius (10-5) on the road on Friday, January 20 in an away game.

Cibola County Sports Round-Up

Grants High school wrestler Larry Meador (22-9) placed second at the Sammy Vivian Invite in Socorro in the 145pound weight class after a defeat by Chandler Whitman (20-5) of Miyamura High School in the championship match. Montel Frye placed third in the 152-pound weight class after defeating Jacob Burrola of Gallup (22-8) by a 9-5 decision.

The Laguna-Acoma girls basketball program went 3-1 at a tournament last week and took fifth place last week at the Santa Fe Indian School Lady Braves invite and are currently 12-7. A 1point loss, 46-45, prevented the Lady Hawks from going 4-0 for the week. The Lady Eagles of Navajo Prep (12-3,1-0) just edged out the Lady Hawks on Thursday, January 12 to give them their 12th win. On Friday, January 14, they defeated Santa Fe Prep/Santa Fe Waldorf (5-4), 54-14 and then went on to defeat Raton High School by a score of 54-25. Next up for the Lady Hawks will be a non-district away game against Del Norte High School (6-8) on Wednesday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m.

The Laguna-Acoma boys basketball team participated in the Santa Fe Indian School Braves Invite and incurred two losses on Thursday, January 12 they lost 63-25 to Santa Fe Prep.(6-6) and a second loss on Friday, January 13, 50-27 to Mc-Curdy High School (5-10). Currently the Hawks are 310 facing a tough 12-4 Santa Rosa Lions team on Saturday, January 21 in a non-district home game