Pirates win last two games

GRANTS N.M. - The Grants High School pirates boys basketball team let one slip away on Tuesday, April 13h in an empty locked out gymnasium as the lost another tight game by single digits as district rival Valencia Jaguars bested them 45-42 in the final seconds of the game.

“After leading by 5 at halftime…we were up three at the free throw line with a few minutes left in the game, and somehow turnovers which have been Achilles’ heel all season shined through,” said GHS head coach Landon Chavez as he summed up the game.

Leader scorers for the Pirates were seniors Nicholas Trujillo with 13 and Adam Garcia with 10.

On Thursday, April 15, the Pirates hosted the second ranked 4-A team in the state, the Highland Hornets, and while the Pirates led by 1 point, 10-9, at the end of the first quarter and maintained a 24-22 lead at the half, the third and fourth quarters saw the Hornets sting their way back and the “Achilles Heel” struck once again, as the Pirates lost a close game. The Pirates were outscored by 14 points in the second half for a final Thursday night score of 54-43.

“Highland was another tough game being that we had to battle the Goliath of 6’9” Joe Murillo,” said Chavez. “This game seemed to be the best collective one ever we’ve put together, and the two new pieces in Hocker and Aragon seemed to fit in just right.” The GHS Pirate basketball team recently added Seniors Terrell Hocker and Cyler Aragon.

Adam Garcia, who led the Pirates with 17 points, said of that game, “The Highlands game was a good game, and we held our with them. They didn’t expect us to come out like that.”

The Pirates leading scorers in that game, after Garcia, were Nicholas Trujillo with 9 points and Isaiash Hernandez with 7 points.

On Saturday, April 24 the GHS Pirates traveled to Valencia County once again, however, this time they tackled the Belen Eagles (1-6, 0-4) whom they easily defeated 57-28.

“Going into Belen we were in need of a victory—I was very proud of our guys because they’ve been fighting and re silient throughout the entire season,” said Chavez “The best part about district play is that you get a second chance at every team. I expect us to make some noise every single night, look out for Grants in these next four games,” said an optimistic Chavez.

True to those words, the Pirates went last week on a twogame winning streak as they defeated St. Pius on Tuesday, April 20 on the road by a score of 57-51 and the Valencia Jaguars by a score of 57-53 and advance to 4-6, 3-3. They will play the Highland Hornets on Tuesday, April 27 on the road and then turn around and host the Belen Eagles on Thursday, April 29.

The lady Pirate basketball team dropped a home Tuesday night (April 13) game to the Valencia Jaguars 32-21 and then on Thursday (April 15), on the road, they lost to the lady Hornets of Highland High School, 70-27. The lady Pirates were able to beat the lady Eagles of Belen, 35-33, at home on Saturday April 17.

On Tuesday, April 20 they hosted the St. Pius Spartans and lost 39-18 and lost a close one 26-25 on Thursday, April 24. Currently the lady Pirates are 1-9, 1-5 as they play the Highland Hornets (7-1, 6-0) on Tuesday, April 27, and the Belen Eagles (3-7,0-6) on April 29.