Española Valley extended its consecutive string of victories over Santa Fe High School to six with a 60-57 win Dec. 1 at home
The streak started Dec. 17, 2005, when the Sundevils defeated Santa Fe 57-56 in the championship game of the Jaguar Invitational at Capital High School.
During this latest game, the Sundevils survived a determined effort by Santa Fe. Española trailed the Demons in every quarter of the game and had to come back at the end to claim the victory.
“We’re cooking and scrapping and we’ll see what comes out,” Española coach Richard Martinez said.
What came out against the Demons was different players rising to the top as the pot was stirred throughout the game. Senior Luis Alvarado, Española’s only returning starter, provided the base. He led Española with 18 points and was the only Sundevil to score in all four quarters.
“We kept our composure on defense and hit our free throws,” Alvarado said. “On this team a different player can step up at any time.”
Trailing 16-12 early in the second quarter, Española pressed and used turnovers to put together a 12-0 run that started with back-to-back three-pointers by Rodney Coles and Alvarado. Richie Mondragon scored eight points in the second quarter, and the Sundevils led 35-28 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Demons battled back to take a 39-37 lead. Reserve junior post Fabian Valdez put the Sundevils back in front with a pair of baskets inside. The Sundevils led 45-44 entering the fourth quarter.
Santa Fe’s 6-foot-6-inch post Kurtis Thomas, who led the Demons with 13 points, gave Santa Fe a 46-45 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. With 1:53 remaining in the game and the score tied at 55-55, Española called a timeout. The Sundevils ran their “twins” offense to take time off the clock and try to create lanes to the basket.
Mondragon drove the baseline with 1:19 left to play and drew a foul. He made one free throw to give Española a 56-55 lead. A key steal by Española on Santa Fe’s ensuing possession resulted in a Coles’ layup and Española had a three-point lead with 47 seconds remaining.
An ill-advised foul by Aaron Aragon, who fouled out of the game on the play, put Santa Fe’s Michael Dean at the free-throw line two seconds later. Dean canned both free throws to cut the Sundevils’ lead to a single point.
“(Aragon) fouled him 94-feet away from the basket,” assistant coach Ray Romero said.
On Española’s next possession, Mondragon forced up a shot that missed and Santa Fe came up with the ball. The Demons then turned the ball over to Española, but the Sundevils gave it right back. Santa Fe had a man free under the basket, but Española’s Juan Trujillo got a hand on the outlet pass and the Sundevils got the ball back. Mondragon was fouled with 12.5 seconds left.
Mondragon coolly sank both charity tosses to give the Sundevils a 60-57 lead. The Demons forced up a three-pointer that clanged off the rim, and Española held on for the victory. Mondragon finished with 14 points.
“Those were big free throws,” Romero said.
The Sundevils had seven players score and Martinez mixed up his lineup as he tried to find the right combination on the court.
“I take a lot more time explaining what I want because we have to find that chemistry,” Martinez said. “I have a bit more weapons this year on offense, and it will be difficult to contain this team.”