The Hope Christian Huskies ended Española Valley’s 16-game winning streak Feb. 13 with a 60-50 victory over the Sundevils in front of a sold-out crowd of over 3,500 fans in Española.
“You couldn’t ask for a better match up,” Hope coach Jim Murphy said. “Both teams were 22-1 and both losses came to La Cueva. We were able to eke out a win.”
Hope, an Albuquerque private school, is the top-ranked team in Class AAA and considered by some as the best team in New Mexico regardless of class. The Sundevils are ranked second in Class AAAA.
“We were so excited and appreciate Española allowing us to add this game,” Murphy said. “Our seniors got to experience the great support the Sundevils have in Española.”
The Huskies jumped out to a 4-0 lead over the Sundevils at the start of the game after the Sundevils turned the ball over on their first two possessions. Hope would never lose the lead throughout the game despite several runs by the Sundevils.
“We didn’t get off to a good start,” Española coach Richard Martinez said. “We were never able to get ahead. You can do so much more when you have the lead.”
The Sundevils managed to draw within a point of the Huskies at 8-7 after five points from post Gabriel Rodriguez. Hope’s Kyle Elliot answered with a pair of three-pointers and the Huskies led 16-9 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Hope opened up a 10-point lead after a basket by Matt Murphy, son of coach Murphy. Española’s Luis Alvarado beat the buzzer with a putback to make the score 33-25 at halftime.
The Sundevils struggled from behind the arc, sinking just two three-pointers despite firing up seven attempts.
“We didn’t shoot the ball well,” Martinez said. “If we don’t hit those three’s we can’t really take off. We never really had control of the game.”
The lively crowd did not sit silent during halftime. It booed when members of the Española School Board and Española Mayor Joseph Maestas were introduced over the loudspeakers. This fire did not translate to a better half for the Sundevils.
Hope opened up a 12-point lead in the third quarter, its largest of the game.
Española got a spark off the bench from junior Zach Trujillo, who scored five points during a 12-5 Española run to end the third quarter. A three-pointer by Alvarado to begin the fourth quarter made the score 46-44 in favor of the Huskies as the Española fans shook the gym with their cheers of approval.
Hope’s second string gave the Huskies a boost by putting together a 5-0 run.
Española managed to get back within three points of the Huskies after a basket by Alvarado, who led all-scorers with 21 points.
That would be as close as Española would get, as Hope finished the game going 7-of-12 from the free-throw line. Española would try to catch up by firing three-pointers, but the Sundevils finished the game 4-of-21 from beyond the arc.
Elliot led the Huskies with 14 points, including four three-pointers. Christian Schlenker had 12 points and Matt Murphy 10 points for Hope.
Rodriguez scored 11 points for Española.
Hope held Española’s normally high-scoring point guard, Rodney Coles, in check, limiting him to seven points
Coles acknowledged that it was hard to drive against Hope’s defense.
“It’s not a bad loss for us,” he said. “We know where we’re at and what we have to work on before the state tournament.”
Martinez was positive despite the defeat.
“This game did not hurt me,” he said. “You gain a hell of a lot playing a team like Hope.”