Pirates Roll a Deuce Twice–To Go 1-2

The Grants boys’ basketball team went 1-2 this weekend at the Al Armendariz Tournament at Capital High School. The first game was a barn burner on the hard court as the Pirates went basket for basket with last year’s 2A state championship runner up, the formidable Pecos Panthers (4-1) on Thursday, December 8.

“We got a slow start against Pecos—they exposed our full court press and got some easy buckets,” said Grants High School head coach Landon Chavez. “We bounced back in the second quarter taking the lead before the half. The score at the half was 3127. We knew we had to make adjustments,” said Chavez about the halftime talk. “We adapted and found ways to score,” added Chavez. At the end of the third quarter the Pirates led by one point (4142).

In the fourth quarter the Pirates led by eight points with four minutes to go and as Coach Chavez stated, “We were unable to find ways to get stops and close out the game—-such a heartbreaking loss.” Pirates lose by a deuce, 57-55.

The Pirates were led by the hot shooting of junior Noah Victorino who had 23 points and three treys in the fourth quarter to keep the Pirates in the game. Victorino was followed by the five-man working his inside game, Dominick Gonzales, a sophomore, who had 10 points. Boudy Melonas, also a sophomore, chipped in eight points.

In game two of the tournament the Pirates then played the Aztec Tigers (1-7) on Friday, December 3 in another close game where the Pirates came up short by a deuce. “When you allow a team to hang around and you don’t put them away early, they maintain hope and shock you,” said Coach Chavez of the 6765 loss. “Which is exactly what happened.”

The Pirates led by 10 in the first quarter 29-19 and at the half the Pirates led 35-28. However, by the third quarter the Pirate lead was one. “Squandering a double-digit lead left the game up for chance— -we learned not to let off the gas until the buzzer sounds,” said Chavez. In the fourth quarter the Pirates 19 points were not enough for the TIgers 20 points leading to another loss by a deuce. Victorino led the Pirates in scoring with 18 followed by 12 points apiece by Melonas and Gonzales.

The travel weary Pirates did not roll a third deuce as they easily handled the Tohatchi Cougars, 73-63. Victorino had 22 points against the Cougars followed by Melonas with 15 and Isaiah Griego, a junior, with 10 points to round out the top scorers. The Pirates are currently 2-3 as the play rival, the Bernalillo, Spartans (3-3), on Tuesday, December 13. “We need to be the aggressor, take care of the basketball and be relentless on defense,” said Chavez of that rivalry match up.

Cibola County Sports Round-Up

The Lady Pirates faced some bigger and stronger teams in tournament play over the weekend and came up empty handed. The lady Pirates lost to Rio Rancho 55-28, West Mesa 84-52 and to Santa Fe 47-35. Prior to the weekend tournament play the lady Pirates played and lost to the powerful lady Broncos of Kirtland Central (8-0) by a score of 62-37 on Tuesday, December 6. Next up for the lady Pirates will be a road game on Tuesday, December 13 to take on the lady Spartans of Bernalillo (2-7). The Lady Pirates are currently 0-5.

The Laguna-Acoma Hawks boys basketball team is currently 2-1 after a 69-64 defeat of the Thoreau Hawks (1-3). Next up for the Hawks will be a tough match up against the Menaul Panthers, last year’s reigning 2A championship team, who are currently 4-3. That game will be a home game.

The Lady Hawks are 1-3 after a 39-2 loss to the lady Pintos of Moriarity (5-2) on December 5th. Next up for them will be an away game against the Menaul Panthers on Tuesday, December 13.

Franklin Romero - CC