The game was effectively over in the first five minutes for the Monte del Sol Dragons when they hosted the Mesa Vista Trojans Nov. 20 in Santa Fe.
Mesa Vista scored the first 17 points of the game, and Monte del Sol did not score until there were only three minutes left in the first quarter. The Trojans utilized a smothering full-court defense to create several turnovers that turned into layups.
Senior forward Jaime Cruz led the Trojans with 15 first-quarter points to give the Trojans a 31-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Things only worsened for the Dragons in the second quarter. They managed just nine more points and the Trojans put up 33 to take a 64-18 lead at halftime. The Trojans’ Frankie Giron fired in four three-pointers in that quarter.
Cruz finished the first half with 19 points and Giron added 17.
The pace slowed considerably in the second half, as Mesa Vista played its reserves and dropped back into a half-court defense. Each team totaled 23 points, and the game ended with the Trojans holding the same 46-point lead they had held at halftime to take a 87-41 victory.
The win was an impressive debut for the Trojans, who are coming off a 26-3 season where they were knocked out of the Class AA state quarterfinals.
Monte del Sol, who last season made it to the Class AA semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Texico in overtime, fell to 0-3 on the season.
Better Execution
Mesa Vista coach Tomas Vigil has entered his second season as the helm of the Trojans. Vigil, a 2001 Mesa Vista graduate and former Trojan point guard, said what he learned last year would fill a reporter’s notebook.
“I don’t think you have enough pages,’ he said.
Vigil felt that last year was a learning experience for himself and the team.
“We’re going to work more on execution,” Vigil said. “Last year was tough because they were learning a whole new system. It was tough to teach everything without missing a thing or two.”
Despite the transition, Mesa Vista started last season with a 17-game winning streak, and after starting District 3AA play 1-2, they ended up with the District title.
The Trojans lost four seniors to graduation, including post player Jason Gallegos and shooting guard Geronimo Lopez. They do return Cruz, last season’s leading scorer, and the 5-foot, 9-inch Giron, who has been the Trojans’ starting point guard since his freshman year. Both players are seniors.
Senior Adrian Coronado moves in at one forward spot. He scored 10 points against the Dragons. Senior Estevan Trujillo fills in at the other. Coronado was a key reserve off the bench last season, and Trujillo is returning after missing most of last season with a broken foot that he suffered before the season began.
Senior Kris Buzzard takes over in the post. At 6 foot, 3 inches, he provides a large presence in the paint.
“During the summer, we played some big schools, Class AAAA and Class AAAAA,” Vigil said. “Having Kris inside helped us.”
The victory over the Dragons allowed Vigil to give his new players, including guard Alejandro Lopez and forward Ramon Trujillo, some playing time.
“I need to develop my bench,” Vigil said.
District 3AA is one of the toughest districts in the state and includes Questa, Peñasco and McCurdy. At one time last season, three District 3AA teams (Mesa Vista, Peñasco, Questa) were ranked among the top eight Class AA teams in the state.
In Class AA there are no at-large berths in the state tournament. A team has to finish first or second in district play to advance to the first round of the state tournament. In District 3AA, that means that one of the best teams in the state could miss the state playoffs.
“If you do survive districts and go into the postseason — that’s a big if — you’ll be battle-tested.” Vigil said. “It will be difficult to be put in a situation you haven’t been in.”