The Pojoaque Valley Elkettes opened the season Nov. 22 at home against the Mora Rangerettes with practically the same lineup that won the 2008 Class AAA state championship.
The only player missing from that championship game lineup was Andrea Cruz, who graduated in May. Cruz had led the Elkettes with 15 points in the championship game.
Fortunately, the Elkettes found 6-foot, 2-inch senior transfer Jackie Bartleson to fill Cruz’s big shoes. Bartleson, who last season led Santa Fe High School in scoring, made her presence felt immediately by leading Pojoaque with 18 points in the Elkettes’ 62-38 victory over Mora.
It was quite a change from Pojoaque’s opening game last season, when the Elkettes beat Mora on a last second shot by Nicole Gonzales.
Mora started the game looking for another upset and took a 17-15 lead after the first quarter with some good perimeter shooting.
“They shot very well,” Pojoaque coach Lanse Carter said. “Some of those shots were from NBA range.”
Pojoaque turned things around in the second quarter by extending its defense to the perimeter and creating turnovers.
When Mora’s shooters got the ball, a hand was in their face before they could get the shot off. Pojoaque denied Mora’s players the ball and harassed the Rangerettes into bad passes that led to Elkettes layups.
“Defense is communication,” Carter said “We were calling out the switches and calling out who the cutters were.”
The Elkettes outscored Mora 14-5 in the second quarter to take a 29-22 lead at halftime. The Elkettes extended their lead to 48-30 at the end of the third quarter and coasted to a 24-point victory.
As the defending state champions, Carter knows the Elkettes will be in everyone’s sights during the season..
“There needs to be a sense of urgency to get better,” Carter said. “I want them to understand that target on our backs means we have to get better.”
Gonzales, a key reserve last season, returns again this season. The returning starters for the Elkettes include senior forward Janelle Roybal, junior guards Dionna Montoya and Marissa Romero and senior point guard Ellen Cruz.
Ellen Cruz is Andrea’s sister and was a Class AAA all-state selection last season. She is the Elkettes’ engine.
“Ellen does such a good job as the catalyst to making everyone better around her,” Carter said. “She understands that the confidence of the team as a whole is up to her so its not all on her shoulders.”