Mesa Vista extends winning streak to 11 games in a row and the rest of Week 9 in 2A District 5 Hoops

 Week 9: New Mexico 2A District 5 High School Hoops Recap

January 22nd - January 27th

Only eight games on the schedule this past week for District 5, after the teams began the district games portion of their schedule.

Jordan Gallegos continues to show why he's one of the best players in District 5 after a 19-point game in the win over Escalante.

Tuesday, January 23rd

Questa, New Mexico

District 5 Game

McCurdy Bobcats - 75

Questa Wildcats - 35

The Bobcats came into this matchup with a five-game win streak over the Wildcats.  Questa’s last win over McCurdy came on January 29th, 2022.  McCurdy had an 8-7 record on the season thus far.

The Bobcats dominated the first quarter, 26-5.  They extended their lead to 51-16 by the half.  Lucas Martinez led the way for McCurdy with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals.  Jeremaya Roybal scored 16 points and pulled down 6 rebounds for the Bobcats.  Judah Duran scored 10 points for McCurdy, also.   

For Questa, Antonio Romero scored 12 points on the night and surpassed the 1,000th career point mark.  Congratulations to Romero for hitting that milestone.  Coach Rael called Romero, “Mr. Consistent”, when discussing the achievement.  On a team that has had trouble finding a rhythm offensively this season, Romero is the one player usually good for 10 points a game, minimum.  Nathaniel Rael added 9 points for Questa.

This week's "Tip of the Hat" award goes to Questa's Antonio Romero for scoring his 1,000th career point vs McCurdy. Nice work, young fella.

With the Win McCurdy improved to 9-7 on the season, before their next game at home versus Mesa Vista.  The Wildcats fell to 3-13 on the season.  

Wednesday, January 24th

Penasco, New Mexico

Pecos Panthers - 77

Penasco Panthers - 40

This game was originally scheduled for January 11th but was rescheduled due to bad weather.  The two teams did not cross paths at the NRGT this year, although both were in attendance.  For those living under a rock, the Pecos Panthers are a 2A District 6 powerhouse that won the state 2A championship last season, and the NRGT championship the previous weekend.  Pecos had a 6-0 record against 2A District 5 teams, including wins over Mora, McCurdy, Questa, Mora again and Escalante twice.

This one started off slow, with Pecos leading 14-9 after the first quarter.  Both teams weren’t shooting that well in the first quarter.  By the end of the half, Pecos had extended their lead to thirteen points, 28-15.  

Pecos continued to build on their lead in the second half, leading 50-29 at the end of the thirds.  Demarcus Lopez had 16 points for Penasco and continues to be one of the most consistent scorers in the district. Junior Guard Angel Romero had 8 points.  Kaileb Atencio and Neamiah Chavez both had 7 points each for Penasco, also.  With the loss, Penasco fell to 5-10 on the season.  This was their last non-district game of the season.

Thursday, January 25th

Espanola, New Mexico

District 5 Game

Mesa Vista Trojans - 65

McCurdy Bobcats - 45

In a week full of big games to start district play, this one was as big as any of them.  The Bobcats are the only team that has beaten the Trojans in their last twelve games.  That win came at the NRGT, 70-68, in a game that saw Mesa Vista come back from eighteen-points down to tie it before the Bobcats held on for the win.

In only his Sophomore season, Jordan Gallegos continues to make his case for District 5 player of the year, after scoring 26 points to lead the way for the Trojans.  Mesa Vista’s outstanding Senior Guard Marcos Martinez scored 23 points, also.

With the win, Mesa Vista extended their winning streak to ten-games straight, and eleven out of their last thirteen.  When asked for comment on the current streak, Coach Thomas Vigil said, “We are just executing well right now.  Our guys are fully bought in on the defensive end, and they really trust one another.”  The Trojans were 12-4 after the win.  The Bobcats fell to 9-8 after the loss.

Thursday, January 25th

Questa, New Mexico

District 5 Game

Escalante Lobos - 74

Questa Wildcats - 40

Escalante has not played their best basketball in the month of January, this season.  Despite having lost four of their last six games, the defending 2A District 5 champs were still in second place coming into Week 9, with a 9-6 record.  The Lobos came into this game after a close win over the Dulce Hawks last week. 

Report was that Questa played better early than they had in many games this season, but Escalante pulled away in the second half.  Nathaniel Rael led the way for Questa with 13 points.  Freshman Covo Cardenas made his first start of the season for Questa, and scored 8 points on the night.

With the win, Escalante improved to 10-6 on the season.  With the loss, Questa fell to 3-14 on the season.   

Thursday, January 25th

Mora, New Mexico

District 5 Game

Penasco Panthers - 45

Mora Rangers - 58

This was the second matchup between the two teams this season.  They first met at the Northern Rio Grande Tourney on January 4th, where Mora won in a close game, 54-51.  The Rangers came into this game with a 7-7 record.  After a 6-2 start on the season, the Rangers dropped five of their next seven games.  This was a game Mora needed if they wanted to stay in the hunt for the district.

Lincoln Alcon continues his outstanding play for Mora this season, with an early drive down the lane for a bucket versus Penasco.

Penasco came into this game with a 5-10 record on the season.  The Panthers are a young team with a lot of talent and a head coach in just his second year.  Tim Pacheco has done a great job with this team so far this season, winning several games in come-from-behind fashion.  The Panthers feel like a team that will win one or two of these district games that they might not be favored in.   

Demarcus Lopez gets a tough bucket in the paint for Penasco versus Mora. Lopez has played big all year for the Panthers.

The first quarter began slowly, with Mora leading 12-10 after the first quarter.  The second quarter remained close before a Lincoln Alcon steal and finish to put the Rangers up by six, 19-13, with 4:07 on the clock.  Mora led 25-17 by the half.

By the midway point of the third quarter, Mora had extended their lead to fourteen, 33-19.  Alcon continues to lead the Rangers this season, scoring 23 points in this one.  Alcon is a force on the defensive perimeter and is as good as anyone in New Mexico at finishing a drive to the hoop; he’s a very fun player to watch. Dante Alcon also played well for Mora, with 9 points.  Derik Duran added 7 points for the Rangers, also.  

Antonio Garcia hits a three in the first half vs Penasco. Garcia is a young player to look out for in the next few seasons for Mora.

Freshman Antonio Garcia played very well for Mora also, scoring 5 points and handing out multiple assists.  When looking ahead at the Rangers’ roster for next season, Dante Alcon, Derik Duran and Antonio Garcia look like they’ll play a big part.  Coach Manuel Romero has done a good job this season, with his team right in the thick of the district race in late January.

Sophomore Kaileb Atencio hits a long three for Penasco vs Mora. He is another young player in the district with a bright future.

If there is a silver lining to this game for Penasco, it would be the play of Sophomore Forward Neamiah Chavez, who scored 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.  Chavez is an emerging player for the Panthers who, along with Angel Romero, Shia Romero and Kaileb Atencio, will return as the core of this Penasco team next season.  Coach Pacheco also mentioned Justin Pyne as a player to look out for.   

With the win, the Mora Rangers improved to 8-7.  With the loss, the Panthers fell to 5-11. 

Penasco Panthers at Mora Rangers - Game Highlights

Saturday, January 27th

Mora, New Mexico

District 5 Game

Questa Wildcats - 20

Mora Rangers - 60

The Rangers came off an impressive win over Penasco on Thursday night before facing their rivals, the Questa Wildcats.  Mora had an 8-7 record coming into this one, and were trying to keep their footing at third in the district.  The Rangers have won seven games in a row over the Wildcats.  Questa’s last win in the series came on April 22nd, 2021.  

This one was all Rangers almost right away.  Mora led by thirteen, 18-5 at the end of the first quarter.  For a Rangers team still trying to keep up for the district lead, this was a game they’re supposed to win, and they did not miss.  

Senior Forward Jeremiah Pacheco played well for the Rangers, leading everyone in scoring with 14 points on 7 of 9 from the field.  Lincoln Alcon made an impact creating shots for his teammates with his great ability to drive the lane.  Alcon finished with 11 points, 6 assists and 4 steals on the night.  Alcon has to have a seat at the table when talking about District 5 player of the year, this year.

Dante Alcon with a sweet behind the back pass to Lincoln Alcon for the finish in their game versus Questa.

The Rangers had the opportunity to play their bench in the second half.  Freshman Guard Krystopher Padilla played well for Mora, with 7 points and 4 steals.  Another young player the Rangers’ will count on in the next several years.  Santiago Gold added 8 points for Mora, also.

For Questa, this was another one of those lumps a rebuilding team has to take.  The Rangers are at the level of a team that the Wildcats would like to be in the coming years.  Freshman Guard Covo Cardenas started his second game of his young high school career for the Wildcats.  Games against players like Alcon are useful learning experiences.

The Wildcats fell to 3-15 on the season, and are 0-3 in the district after Week 9.  For Questa, it doesn’t get any easier.  Their next game is at home against the Mesa Vista Trojans on Thursday, February 1st.

The Mora Rangers improved to 9-7 on the season, and are 2-0 in the district.  Their next game is a big one, against a team in a similar boat as they’re in; the McCurdy Bobcats.  Both teams are two games above .500, with McCurdy at 10-8 and Mora at 9-7.  This should be a good one.  This is the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Bobcats winning, 52-50, at the Northern Rio Grande Tourney, on January 6th.  

 

Saturday, January 27th

Penasco, New Mexico

District 5 Game

McCurdy Bobcats - 61

Penasco Panthers - 45

McCurdy were another team in a similar position as Mora, in that they were above .500 by one game, at 9-8, and trying to stay in the hunt for the district.  The Bobcats went 2-1 against the Panthers last season, winning both district games; while Penasco won their meeting at the 2023 NRGT.  

Angel Romero hits a jumper in transition for Penasco vs  McCurdy. Romero has had a big Junior season running the offense for the Panthers.

This one was close early, with the Bobcats holding a four-point lead, 17-13.  By the 2:32 mark in the second quarter, McCurdy had extended their lead to eleven points, 28-17.  The Bobcats got double-digit scoring games from four different players.  Junior Forward Jeremaya Roybal had a big game with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.  Senior Lucas Martinez also scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds and made 3 steals.  

Lucas Martinez finishes the break with the lay-in. Martinez has been a big reason McCurdy is still in the hunt for District 5 this season.

McCurdy held onto a twelve-point lead at the half, 33-21.  In the second half, the Panthers never could quite find their footing, before the Bobcats extended the lead to 50-34 by the end of the third.

McCurdy is blessed with a number of good scorers on their team.  Judah Duran is a standout Guard who scored 14 points, pulled down 8 rebounds and grabbed 4 steals.  Ryan Montoya added 10 points and 7 rebounds and 4 steals for the Bobcats, also.  Ryan Montoya put the icing on the cake with a sweet alley-oop to Jeremaya Roybal.  Outstanding athleticism from Roybal.  Fun player to watch. 

Jeremaya Roybal finishes the alley-oop from Ryan Montoya versus Penasco. Roybal is one of the most athletic players in District 5.

Penasco dealt with injuries to three of their starters through this game and played three games in four days, after a week-long lay off last week.  Coach Tim Pacheco praised Dylan Lopez and Anthony Naranjo for their defensive play in this game.  In the end the Bobcats were too much offensively for the banged up Panthers.  With the loss, Penasco falls to 5-12 on the season, and 0-2 in the district.  Penasco next hosts Escalante on Thursday, February 1st.

McCurdy improved to 10-8 on the season, and 2-1 in the district are still in the thick of the district race.  The Bobcats’ next game is at home, on Tuesday, January 30th, against the Dulce Hawks from 2A District 1.  Dulce has a 2-4 record on the season versus teams from 2A District 5.  This is the last non-district game of the season for McCurdy.  

Saturday, January 27th

Ojo Caliente, New Mexico

District 5 Game

Escalante Lobos - 47

Mesa Vista Trojans - 50

As the old wrestler, Ric Flair, used to say, “If you want to be the man, you gotta beat the man.”  That was this game in a nutshell.  The Escalante Lobos are the three-time defending District 5 champions.  This was the first shot Mesa Vista had this season at the defending champs.  The two teams were both in attendance at the Northern Rio Grande Tourney, but did not cross paths.

Death, taxes and Luka Torrez busting a three on somebody seem like the only sure things in life. This kid is a baller. Respect, young fella.

Mesa Vista’s 2022-23 season ended with two losses in a row to Escalante; first in the district-tourney championship game, and then in the opening round of the Class 2A state playoffs, with both games in Tierra Amarilla.  The Trojans did, however, beat Escalante last season on February 9th, in a close game in which Jordan Gallegos took over on both the defensive and offensive ends of the court to close it for Mesa Vista.  If the Trojans were to take control of the district this season, winning this game would be another huge step towards doing so.

Both teams started the game off scoring well.  Marcos Martinez and Jordan Gallegos each scored 6 points in the first, and Luka Torrez and Adamacio Bustamante each scored 5 points for Escalante.  Mesa Vista led by seven points early, which was the largest lead of the game for either team.  Then it was tight the rest of the way.  The Trojans led 19-16 at the end of the first quarter. 

Escalante's Greysen Horan finishes a tough basket in the paint versus Mesa Vista. Horan scored 10 points in the game versus the Trojans.

The scoring slowed down a bit in the second quarter, with the score tied 25-25 at the half.  Mesa Vista’s standout Sophomore Center, Jordan Gallegos, had 9 points in the half.  Bustamante had 7 points at the half for Escalante.  

Mesa started the third quarter well, getting out to a five-point lead, 30-25, but could never seem to pull away very far before the Lobos would make a few baskets.  Escalante brought the lead down to one, 40-39, at the end of the third quarter.

Freshman Andres Valdez has played big for Mesa Vista this season. He hits a three here early in the fourth for the Trojans.

Gallegos made a great pass from a crowded baseline to Freshman Guard Andres Valdez made a big three pointer to start the fourth quarter for the Trojans.  Valdez scored 10 points in the game and continues to impress in his Freshman season, starting on a team with a lot of talent on the team at that position.  Down four points with 5:00 on the clock, Jayden Salazar hit a big three for Escalante to bring the lead back down to one.  Jordan Gallegos then hit a mid-range jumper, followed by a Marcos Martinez offensive rebound and put back to go up by five.

The Lobos’ Luka Torrez showed why he’s the reigning District 5 player of the year, hitting a runner in transition with 1:16 left.  Escalante then got possession back after a Trojans missed shot. Torrez then found Greysen Horan for a long two-point shot to make the score 48-47 with 00:28 seconds left.  

Luka Torrez hits a clutch runner in the lane with a little over a minute left to bring the Lobos within three.

Naturally, you would imagine a tight game like this would come down to free throws.  And it did.  Mesa Vista’s outstanding Senior Guard Marcos Martinez hit two free throws to make it a three-point game.  On Escalante’s last possession, with a chance to tie it, Salvador Saavedra and Marcos Martinez met Torrez at the three-point line and forced a turnover, which Andres Valdez came up with.  Valdez met Coach Thomas Vigil at center court with a big chest bump after the buzzer went off.  Big win for the Trojans here, although still early in district play.

Mesa Vista Coach Thomas Vigil and Andres Valdez meet at center court to celebrate following a big win over Escalante.

Coach Vigil wasn’t too high after the win, though.  “I mean, we are 2-0.  Same place we were at this time last year, and we didn’t win the district, so in my mind things are just getting started.  We have to keep it going,” Vigil said after the game.  He continued, “I just think we were resilient.  Escalante pushed us to the absolute limit.  They’re an incredibly gritty, well coached and disciplined team.  We were just fortunate to make one more play than them.  We knew it was going to be an absolute war, and I’m sure the next time will be no different.”

Jordan Gallegos led the way for Mesa Vista with 19 points on the night.  Andres Valdez scored 10 points for the Trojans.  Santiago Martinez and Marcos Martinez each added 8 points for Mesa Vista, also.  Luka Torrez was the leading scorer for the Lobos, with 17 points.  Greysen Horan and Jayden Salazar each scored 10 points for Escalante, also.

With the loss, the Escalante Lobos fell to 10-7, and are 1-1 in district play.  Their next game is Thursday, February 1st, on the road to play the Penasco Panthers.

With the win, the Mesa Vista Trojans are now 13-4 on the season.  Their district record is 2-0, and they have an incredible eleven-game win streak; they have also won thirteen of their last fourteen games.  That’s ridiculous.  This team is playing so well right now.  They also remain in first place of 2A District 5, after the past week.  Mesa Vista next plays on the road against the Questa Wildcats on Thursday, February 1st.    

Escalante Lobos at Mesa Vista Trojans - Game Highlights

Current 2A District 5 Standings

Mesa Vista remains at the top of the 2A District 5 standings, after the first week of district play.

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 Hudl.com and nfhsnetwork.com.

For the third week in a row, here are the Blue Ventures to take us out. Thanks again for reading.