3/19/09
Pojoaque coach Joey Trujillo knows that against an opponent like St. Michaels, you have to play a full game in order to be victorious.
But in the third quarter of the Elks’ quarterfinal matchup March 11 against St. Michaels, they gave up points on offensive rebounds and sank just 2-of-6 from the free-throw line. The Horsemen outscored Pojoaque 17-8 and turned a 24-20 Pojoaque lead at halftime into a 37-32 St. Michaels’ lead going into the fourth quarter.
The Horsemen held off Pojoaque for a 56-54 victory and moved onto the semifinals of the Class AAA boys basketball tournament.
“In the third quarter, St. Mikes’ came out more aggressive,” Trujillo said. “They kicked our butts on the offensive glass.”
The Horsemen finished the game with 31 rebounds to Pojoaque’s 18, including a 12-6 advantage on the offensive glass.
“When you play a team like St. Mikes, you can’t afford to give up two or three shots at the basket,” Trujillo said.
The Horsemen sank 28-of-42 free-throw attempts, including 11-of-16 in the fourth quarter. Pojoaque finished 13-of-21 from the charity stripe.
“Our pressure, our ability to get to the fee-throw line — and rebounding — were the difference in the game,” St. Michaels coach Ron Geyer said.
The loss ended Pojoaque’s bid for a second consecutive state title and extended its losing streak to St. Michaels to 15 games.
Geyer has never lost to Pojoaque in his four seasons as the coach of Pojoaque’s archrival. Geyer has collected two state titles during his tenure and has had starting guard Jordan Romero the entire time.
“After the game, I turned to Jordan and told him, ‘Can you believe we’re here again,’” Geyer said.
Romero led the Horsemen with 25 points.
The Elks tried to rally in the fourth quarter behind senior B. J. Trujillo and sophomore Luke Salazar, who combined to account for 15 of Pojoaque’s 22 points in the fourth quarter. Trujillo scored 15 points to lead Pojoaque, while Salazar added 12.
A pair of free throws by B. J. Trujillo and a steal followed by a layup by Salazar brought the Elks back to within five points in the final quarter. But St. Michaels put the game away from the free-throw line, sinking 7-of-10 in the final 1:01 to seal the game. It was not a storybook ending to a roller coaster season for Pojoaque.
The Elks lost five consecutive games during one period of the season, but went 8-2 in District 2AAA. Pojoaque finished the season 19-11, with four losses to St, Michaels.
“We had a choice to make,” B. J. Trujillo said. “We could let the season go or we could go balls out and take it to them.”
Joey Trujillo, finishing his fifth season at Pojoaque, went from shaking his head in frustration after a disappointing 60-41 home loss to Socorro to another trip to the state tournament, where his team fell just short.
“It was a lot fun and a learning experience to watch these young men grow,” he said. “I’m real proud of them, and they should hold their heads up high.”