Mesa Vista brings home the Braves Invite 'chip, Lobos drops two tough ones and Penasco wins late again
Week 7: New Mexico 2A District 5 High School Hoops Recap
January 8th - January 13th
Very busy week for District 5, with eighteen games on the schedule. Here’s how they went:
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| Marcos Martinez catches an alley-oop during a game at the Braves Invite Tourney. |
Tuesday, January 9th
Cuba, New Mexico
Escalante Lobos - 72
Cuba Rams - 46
Escalante began Week 7 with the lead in District 5, with a 7-3 record on the season. They traveled to Cuba to face the Rams from 3A District 5, who had a 5-8 record. The Lobos led 36-23 at the half.
There were no stats available from this game. The Lobos improved to 8-3 after the win.
Tuesday, January 9th
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Mesa Vista Trojans - 61
Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins - 60
After winning the consolation championship at the NRGT, Mesa Vista finished the weekend with a 4-4 record, reaching .500 for the first time this season. The Trojans hit the road to face Santa Fe Prep, from 3A District 2. The Blue Griffins had a 5-4 record before this game.
There were no stats available from this game. Coach Vigil complimented Santa Fe Prep’s zone defense. The Trojans improved to 5-4 after hanging on to win a close one on the road.
Tuesday, January 9th
Springer, New Mexico
Questa Wildcats - 45
Springer Red Devils - 52
After a tough weekend at the NRGT, the Wildcats had a 3-8 record coming into this game against the Springer Red Devils from Class A District 5. Springer had a 4-7 record this season. Springer beat Questa, 60-36, earlier this season in December. The Red Devils also came into this game with a thirteen-game win streak over the Wildcats.
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| Pablo Romero hits a three for the Springer Red Devils versus Questa. |
The Red Devils led 14-7 after the first quarter behind the play of their outstanding Senior Guard, Devin Tafoya. Tafoya did a good job distributing the ball, and finishing on breaks. Pablo Romero played well in the first half for the Red Devils, with 8 points, including two three pointers.
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| Springer's Devin Tafoya finishes on a drive in the lane versus Questa. |
Springer led 21-7 with 4:50 in the second quarter, before Questa went on a run. Martin Rivera scored 7 points in the second quarter for the Wildcats during that stretch, including hitting several off-balanced field goals. With under a minute to play in the first half, the Wildcats had pulled to within three points, 28-25, after a steal at midcourt and finish by Jacob Vallejos. Tafoya got another basket for the Red Devils before halftime to make the lead 30-25. For a Questa team that has had trouble finding a rhythm offensively in the front half of the season, this first half of this game, and second quarter specifically, was a very encouraging sign for a team that lost to Springer on their own floor, by 24 points, only 28 days earlier.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they lost that rhythm in the third quarter, only scoring 2 points. Xavier Armijo played well in the third quarter for Springer, scoring 5 points, and finishing the game with eight. The Red Devils led 44-27 by the end of the third.
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| Questa's Freshman Guard, Covo Cardenas, finishes a nice off-balanced drive against Springer. |
Springer extended their lead to twenty-two points, 49-27, early in the fourth quarter, but Questa wasn’t done just yet. Wildcats Freshman Guard Covo Cardenas began making plays. First he scored on a drive. Next he made an assists to Rivera for finish with a foul. After a missed free throw, Cardenas got a rebound and made a nice move along the baseline for another finish. Next, Antonio Romero hits a three for Questa. Romero then got an offensive rebound and scored on the put back. The Wildcats went on an eleven-point run before the next Red Devils basket.
Questa continued to chip away at the lead. Antonio Romero played big in the fourth quarter , scoring 9 points. The Wildcats pulled within six points, before a late free throw by Springer to make it a 52-45 final. Springer is a very deep team, with a lot of players that can score. Junior Guard Jordan Chavez had a ridiculous finish in the fourth quarter. Watch out for this kid next year. Good player. Devin Tafoya finished with 11 points, Jason Montoya scored 11 points and Rylan Duran scored 8 points for Springer.
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| This week's "Tip of the Hat" award goes to Springer's Jordan Chavez for this smooth finish late versus Questa. |
Antonio Romero scored 17 points for Questa, and continues to improve offensively throughout his Senior season. Senior Martin Rivera also played well for the Wildcats, with 12 points. Covo Cardenas and Esteban Gomez each scored 6 points on the night, also.
At the end of the day, the Red Devils’ extend their win streak over Questa to fourteen games in a row, but the Wildcats did just go on the road and kept the score to a three-possession game after getting beat by twenty-four against Springer this time last month. That’s a clear improvement.
Questa Wildcats at Springer Red Devils - Game Highlights
Tuesday, January 9th
Espanola, New Mexico
Jemez Valley Warriors - 31
McCurdy Bobcats - 70
McCurdy played very well in last weekend’s NRGT, with a close win over Mesa Vista, a close loss against Escalante and a close win over Mora. They were 5-5 on the season before hosting the 3-4 Jemez Valley Warriors from Class District 7.
The Bobcats controlled throughout in this one, leading 33-18 at the half. Lucas Martinez continued his outstanding Senior season, leading the Bobcats in scoring with 26 points. Martinez also had 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Ryan Montoya had 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Jeremaya Roybal scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
There were no stats available for the Jemez Valley Warriors. The Warriors are now 0-2 this season in games versus District 5 opponents.
Tuesday, January 9th
Penasco, New Mexico
ECAOGCA Eagles (Albuquerque) - 56
Penasco Panthers - 59
The Penasco Panthers came into the game with a 4-8 record. This was Penasco’s first home game since December 4th. The Panthers were hosting the ECAOGCA Eagles from Class A District 7. The 3-6 Eagles won the matchup between the two teams in Albuquerque, 71-50, to open their season.
The Panthers started well in this game, leading 13-6 with 3:43 left in the first. Forward Neamiah Chavez scored 6 points and Guard Kaileb Atencio scored 5 points in the quarter for Penasco. Atencio also played good defense in this game, with three blocked shots by my count. The Eagles brought it to within one, 13-12, by the end of the quarter.
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| TA Benavidez finishes a lay-in for the ECAOGCA Eagles versus Penasco. |
By the 2:45 mark in the second, the Eagles had taken their first lead of the game, 21-19. The Panthers took the lead back with an Angel Romero offensive rebound and put back to end the first half, giving the Panthers a 27-26 lead.
Penasco played well on defense and in the paint against an Eagles team with more size. The Panthers led 36-31 at the 5:20 mark in the third. Demarcus Lopez scored 8 points in the third for the Panthers. The Eagles were never quite out of it, though. This was a game that felt like Penasco should have been up by ten points late, but the Eagles were hanging in there. Noah Rush played big in the second half for ECAOGCA, scoring 10 points, in the third quarter. Penasco held onto a 46-45 lead by the end of the quarter.
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| Noah Rush makes a nice move in the paint for the Eagles during the first half versus Penasco. |
Penasco still led halfway through the fourth before TA Benavidez hit a long three with 4:35 left in the game to give the Eagles the lead again, 51-49. Penasco Guard Shia Romero made a big play coming up with a loose ball and then scoring on a one-handed runner towards the paint to tie it at 51 all. Eagles Guard Luke Kirkman scored on a nice drive right down the middle of the lane to give ECAOGCA a three-point lead, 54-51, with 3:00 left.
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| Penasco's Shia Romero hit the runner into the paint over several Eagles defenders. |
The Eagles got another tough basket on the baseline from Noah Rush to make it 56-52 with under two minutes to play. Demarcus Lopez then stepped up for Penasco once again with a big three pointer from the corner, inside of a minute, to cut the ECAOGCA lead to one point. Lopez then drew a foul on the next possession and hit both free throws to give the Panthers the lead again. After a traveling call on the Eagles with 00:18 left, Angel Romero hit two more free throws for Penasco to seal it.
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| Demarcus Lopez hits a big three pointer in the Panthers' comeback win over ECAOGCA. |
Another nice come-from-behind win for Penasco. Demarcus Lopez played his best when Penasco needed it most. Lopez finished with 19 points on the night. Neamiah Chavez and Angel Romero each scored 10 points for Penasco. The Panthers got a win over a team that beat them by 21 last time out. Nice work. This Penasco team is getting better as the season goes along.
ECAOGCA Eagles at Penasco Panthers - Game Highlights
Thursday, January 11th
Penasco, New Mexico
Pecos Panthers -
Penasco Panthers -
(Game Postponed Due to Weather)
Thursday, January 11th
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Braves Invite - Santa Fe Indian School Tournament
Sandia Prep Sundevils (Albuquerque) - 50
Mesa Vista Trojans - 58
The played their first game of the Braves Invite Tourney at the Santa Fe Indian School against the 3A District 5 Sandia Prep Sundevils, who were 1-8 coming into this game.
There were no stats available from this game. The Trojans improved to 6-4 on the season with the win.
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| The beautiful Pueblo Pavilion was the host of the 2024 Braves Invite Tourney in Santa Fe. |
Thursday, January 11th
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Braves Invite - Santa Fe Indian School Tournament
Moriarty Pintos - 59
McCurdy Bobcats - 53
This was the first game of the Braves Invite Tourney at the Santa Fe Indian School, for the Bobcats. Moriarty is a 4A District 2 school that had a 3-6 record on the season.
Moriarty led 14-12 after the first quarter. The Pintos were still in the lead throughout the second quarter and went into the half with a 22-22 lead. The Bobcats weren’t shooting well in this game, but they were never that far out of it either. Moriarty led 41-36 at the end of the third. The largest lead the Pintos had in the second half was nine points. Ryan Montoya hit several threes in the fourth but the closest that McCurdy could get was six points.
For the Bobcats, Lucas Martinez scored 21 points. Ryan Montoya scored 15 points and 8 rebounds. Jeremaya Roybal also had 8 points and 8 rebounds for the Bobcats. Junior Guard Jordan Brown led the Pintos in scoring with 15 points. Moriarty big man Jahkeem Graham added 14 points for the Pintos.
With the loss, the Bobcats fell to 6-6 on the season.
Thursday, January 11th
Mora, New Mexico
Cimarron Rams -
Mora Rangers -
(Game Postponed Due to Weather)
This game was going to be the home opener for the Mora Rangers. They came into this game in second place in District 2, with a 6-4 record. Rams team that came into the game in first place of Class A District 5 and with a 8-2 record. Cimarron has wins over fellow 2A District 5 teams Mesa Vista and Questa this season. This game was rescheduled to next week on Tuesday, January 16th, at 7:00pm.
Friday, January 12th
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe Indian School Tournament
Laguna-Acoma Hawks - 45
McCurdy Bobcats - 63
The Bobcats’ second game of the Braves Invite was against the fellow 2A school, Laguna-Acoma Hawks from District 1. The Hawks came into the game with a 1-12 record on the season, after an opening round loss to the host SFIS Braves.
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| Judah Duran hits an early three versus Laguna-Acoma for McCurdy at the Braves Invite Tourney. |
It looks like the Bobcats coasted through the one. McCurdy led at the half, 38-21. The Bobcats’ outstanding Junior Guard, Judah Duran had a double-double, leading the team in scoring with 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Duran also went 3 of 5 from three-point range. Ryan Montoya also had a double-double, with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Lucas Martinez scored 12 points for McCurdy, also. Of the six teams in District 5, this might be the best backcourt trio there is.
With the win, the Bobcats went back over .500 on the season and had a 7-6 record before the Consolation Championship Game of the Braves Invite against Sandia Prep the next day.
Friday, January 12th
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Braves Invite - Santa Fe Indian School Tournament
Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins - 59
Mesa Vista Trojans - 63
In their second game at the Braves Invite, the Trojans wound up with a rematch against a team that they played on just last Tuesday. Mesa Vista was up 15-4 early, before Santa Fe Prep cut the lead to six points after the first quarter, 20-14. By around the end of the second quarter, Mesa Vista led by thirteen points, 55-42.
The Trojans scored five quick points at the beginning of the third to go up by eighteen before the Blue Griffins went on a big run. It was one of those moments in a game where Santa Fe Prep began getting all the bounces their way. They played outstanding defense during that stretch, scoring on several breaks from MV turnovers. Mitch Grover was a big part of that run, scoring 10 points in the second half for SFP. By the 5:15 mark in the fourth, SFP had brought the lead down to just three points, 55-52, after a three pointer from Senior Kiran Belyeu.
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| Santa Fe Prep's Morgan Field hits a three during a run versus Mesa Vista in the second half. |
It was still a four-point game and Santa Fe Prep had possession of the ball when Senior Guard Marcos Martinez made a big steal for Mesa Vista, with only 00:12 on the clock. Martinez was fouled and then hit both free throws to make it a six point game, before SFP got one more basket. The Trojans improved to 7-4 on the season, and next played in the championship game of the Braves Invite against the host, Santa Fe Indian School Braves.
Santa Fe Prep Blue Griffins vs Mesa Vista Trojans - Game Highlights
Friday, January 12th
Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico
Sanford Mustangs (Sanford, CO) - 48
Escalante Lobos - 44
Escalante’s next game was their first home game since hosting Tohatchi all the way back on November 28th. The Sanford Mustangs play in the 3A/2A Southern Peaks League of Colorado. The Mustangs were 4-4 on the season before the trip to Tierra Amarilla.
Escalante had trouble scoring early, down 19-8 after the first quarter. Sanford led by eleven points at the half, 30-19. In the third quarter, the Lobos got hot from the field. By the end of the third quarter, the Lobos had taken a 38-36 lead, outscoring the Mustangs, 17-8 in the quarter.
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| Luka Torrez hits a three in the second quarter versus the Sanford Mustangs of Sanford, Colorado. |
The score remained close for the next several minutes, eventually tied at 44 all, from the 3:55 mark, until around the 00:30 second mark, when Mustangs’ Senior Cash Caldon made an assist to Colter Canty for the lay-in, to put Sanford ahead by two. The Lobos had a chance to tie or take the lead with a Luka Torrez three but the shot was off.
Torrez was the only player in double figures in scoring for the Lobos with 25 points. Caldon made it a two-possession game with two more free throws to seal it for Sanford. Cash Caldon was the high-point man for the Mustangs, with 18 points. Tough game offensively for the Lobos. With the loss, Escalante was 8-4 on the season.
Saturday, January 13th
Dulce, New Mexico
Questa Wildcats - 47
Dulce Hawks - 67
Questa’s next game was on the road in Dulce. The Hawks won the meeting between the two at the NRGT, 71-46, the previous weekend. Dulce is a 2A District 1 team that had a 4-10 record coming into this game. This was a second chance game for the Wildcats to test themselves against a team that got the better of them within the last week.
The Wildcats played better in this game than in the previous matchup. Report from Coach Mike Rael was that Questa did a good job taking away the inside, but the Hawks were on fire from outside, hitting more than ten three-pointers in the game. Coach Rael added that the Wildcats are, “coming along offensively.” Anyone that watched this Questa team from last season to now would agree.
Questa’s next scheduled game is on Wednesday, January 17th at home against the 9-2 Cimarron Rams. Cimarron is 3-0 versus 2A District 5 teams, including a win over Questa in the Dual Cities Tourney in Santa Rosa, on December 29th.
Saturday, January 13th
Penasco, New Mexico
Cimarron Rams - 81
Penasco Panthers - 68
Penasco’s third home game of the week was against the Cimarron Rams. The Rams came into this matchup in first place of Class A District 5.
The Panthers were leading after the first quarter in this one, 24-23. Penasco did a good job mixing it up in the paint, as well as they could have anyway, with Cimarron big man Demetrius Jackson, who stands 6’9”. For a player that size, Jackson is not a statue. The kid can shoot from the outside, too. Definitely a player worth watching if he makes a stop in your town.
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| Cimarron's big man, Demetrius Jackson, finishes in the paint versus Penasco. |
The Rams had taken the lead by the half, 35-30. The Panthers were not out of it in the second half, hanging in there after the third quarter, only down four points, 59-55. Penasco started the fourth quarter cold. The Rams were able to extend their lead to fourteen points, after a ridiculous four-point play from a three-point shot, with the foul, by Jackson.
Cimarron held on from there to win by thirteen, 81-68. The Panthers fell to 5-9 on the season, with their next game being scheduled on Thursday, January 18th, at home versus the Cuba Rams.
Saturday, January 13th
Mora, New Mexico
ATC Phoenix (Santa Fe) -
Mora Rangers -
(Postponed to an Unspecified Later Date)
This was going to be a big one. The ATC Phoenix are an outstanding 2A District 2 team with an 11-2 record coming into this game in Mora. The Phoenix have one win this season against fellow 2A District 5 team, Penasco. We will have to wait to see this one, but I’m looking forward to it.
Saturday, January 13th
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Braves Invite - Santa Fe Indian School Tournament
Sandia Prep Sundevils - 60
McCurdy Bobcats - 58
The final game of the weekend for McCurdy was against the Sandia Prep Sundevils. Sandia Prep came into this game with a 2-10 record, after losses on Thursday to Mesa Vista and Menaul on Friday, but don’t let that record fool you.
The Bobcats led by seventeen points at the half, 43-26. They still held onto a twelve-point lead, 54-42 at the end of the third quarter. Sandia Prep cut the lead down to five by the 3:00 minute mark, then got two more baskets within a minute, to cut it to one with 2:20 left. Lucas Martinez got a lay-in for McCurdy to put them up three before Sandia Prep’s Jacob Schierloh got a finish with the foul. He hit the free throw to tie it at 58 all, with 1:35 left.
McCurdy had a chance to take the lead but missed on a shot near the basket with 1:20 to go. Sandia Prep held onto the ball all the way down to the 00:01 mark when Miles Manzanares hit Jacob Schierloh on an easy cut to the basket for a lay-in. Big finish to the game for Schierloh. Tough finish to the weekend for McCurdy, after being up by seventeen points at the half.
The Bobcats fell to 7-7 this season after the loss. Their next scheduled game is on Saturday, January 20th, on the road in Sandia Park, against the East Mountain Timberwolves.
2024 Braves Invite Tournament Bracket
Saturday, January 13th
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Braves Invite - Santa Fe Indian School Tournament (Championship Game)
Santa Fe Indian School Braves - 48
Mesa Vista Trojans - 55
Just wanted to start this game recap by saying that the Santa Fe Indian School gymnasium is one of the most beautiful high school gyms I’ve ever seen. The architecture, the colors of the bleachers, the pattern designs on the court, the natural lighting coming through the windows all made it a great tourney to cover. A big “Tip of the Hat” to the folks down there, and the architects that designed the place.
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| Antonio Manzanares hits an early three for Mesa Vista to take the lead versus SFIS. |
The Trojans made it to the championship game of the Braves Invite Tourney after the close win over Santa Fe Prep. The Braves came into this game with an outstanding 11-2 record, after wins over Laguna-Acoma and Moriarty in the first two games of the tourney. The Braves were in third place of 3A District 2, and riding an eight-game win streak.
The Braves were leading, 13-9 after the first. By the 4:20 mark in the second quarter, the Trojans had taken a 19-15 lead. Mesa Vista extended the lead to nine points at the half, 29-20.
Mesa Vista controlled throughout the rest of the way, leading 45-31 at the end of the third. The Braves made a small run towards the end of the fourth to cut the lead to seven points, before Mesa Vista finished it out with the 55-48 win on the home floor of SFIS.
After starting the season off 2-4, Mesa Vista has won six games in a row now, to improve to 8-4. The Trojans might be the hottest team in 2A District 5 at the moment. Jordan Gallegos continues to assert himself as the most dominant inside player in the district and possibly all of Northern New Mexico.
It’s not just Gallegos playing big right now for Mesa Vista. Marcos Martinez, Santiago Martinez, Salvador Saavedra and Andres Valdez all continue to play well on a consistent basis. Only a Freshman, but Valdez is a baller; a player to keep an eye on the coming years for the Trojans.
Mesa Vista’s next scheduled game is a big one on Tuesday, January 16th, on the road to face the defending 2A state champion Pecos Panthers. This is a game that was rescheduled from the middle of December because of the weather. That rescheduling might benefit the Trojans, as they have really begun to hit their stride this season. Either way, it will be a good one.
Saturday, January 13th
Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico
Pecos Panthers - 51
Escalante Lobos - 43
Sometimes life is about making the most of second chances. For the Lobos, Saturday night was a chance to play a Pecos team they lost big to in the NRGT championship game the previous weekend. Coming into this game, the question for me was whether Escalante would have a better showing against Pecos on their home court, as opposed to playing them in the last game of a long weekend tournament.
I got my answer pretty quickly, as Pecos jumped out to a 12-0 lead to start the game. By the end of the first, the Panthers were up 23-7. This game started out similarly to the Sanford game on Friday night, where the Lobos were very sluggish in the first quarter.
The second quarter was similar to the Sanford game also, in that Escalante started hitting shots. The Lobos outscored the Panthers 11-4 in the second quarter. Pecos led 27-18 at the half.
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| Jayden Salazar hits a jumper in the first half versus Pecos. |
Pecos got back on track by the end of the third quarter, leading 41-26. It looked like a repeat of the matchup between the two teams last weekend at the NRGT in Espanola, but that was not how this one finished.
Escalante’s Gumicindo Deyapp played big to start the fourth quarter, finishing on several drives that drew a foul on back-to-back possessions. Torrez then made several big defensive plays, including a steal and pull up in the lane to bring the Lobos within eight points, 43-35, with 4:10 left. Next, Jayden Salazar made a big three pointer. Torrez scores on another pull up in the lane, with 3:10 left. Deyapp then made another big play with a steal. It sounded like the roof was about to come off of the place when Greysen Horan found Jayden Salazar alone in the corner for his second three of the quarter, with 2:22 on the clock.
Pecos got another basket within the two-minute mark going back up, 45-43. Escalante had a chance to tie it but turned the ball over. With 1:05 left, the Panthers' Sophomore Guard Brandyn Encinias drove straight down the lane for a nice left-handed finish at the basket, just outstretching Horan for the Lobos. Escalante had another unforced turnover on their next possession. Pecos was able to seal it with a few more sets of free throws to win, 51-43.
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| Brandyn Encinias with the left-hand finish after a drive through the paint versus Escalante. |
Current 2A District 5 Standings
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| Mesa Vista now has sole possession of first place in the district after a six-game win streak. |
As always, any notifications of any mistakes or needed corrections are very welcomed at cwmartinsports@gmail.com.
For more coverage of 2A District 5 and other Class 2A teams, as well as teams from around the state of New Mexico throughout the season, including recaps and game highlights, please visit cwmartinsports.blogspot.com and youtube.com/CWMartinSports.
All footage and photos come courtesy of nfhsnetwork.com.
Here's a song from the Blue Ventures to take us out:
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