In the Ben Lujan Tournament final, two 2A teams were the last ones standing, after each taking down a 3A and 4A school on the path there.
“That made a statement amongst bigger teams,” Dulce coach Alyssa Veneno said. “It just goes to show, everyone that counted Dulce out, we’re here, and we’re ready to take on the rest of this season.”
The Dulce Hawks (7-2) took down big schools on the way to a second-place finish at the Ben Lujan Tournament in Pojoaque, where they lost to Mesa Vista.
“Sometimes, things just don’t fall our way,” Veneno said. “But they fought hard. They came out from the beginning ready to fight.”
Veneno said she expects to play the Trojans twice more — once will be at home on Jan. 10, and the other would be in the state tournament. Mesa Vista had made the final after beating Moriarty and Crownpoint in the earlier rounds.
“That just shows the caliber of our 2A level,” Mesa Vista coach Jesse Boies said. “Right now, 2A in my eyes is one of the toughest girls divisions in high school basketball.”
In the current girls 2A Maxpreps rankings as of Monday, teams from the North dominate: Mesa Vista in first, Escalante second. Dulce ranks fourth, with Clayton (if you define that corner as part of northern New Mexico) right behind them. Peñasco is not far behind in eighth, and could rise back up with big opportunities on their future schedule.
“That just shows the talent that we have up here in the north,” Boies said. “The north has woken.”
Sidneyanne Becenti and Bailey Vigil both made all-tournament for the Lady Hawks.
The Hawks currently sit at 7-2, with their two losses both coming to Mesa Vista by a combined three points. At this time last year, they were off to a 2-5 start.
“They’re hungry to win,” Veneno said. “They know that they’re capable of winning. They know that they’re capable of being a top team.”
Dulce lost a nailbiter to Mesa Vista (6-0) in the tournament championship, 48-46, on a pair of free throws with less than two seconds remaining. Vigil led the Hawks with 16 points in the game.
Dulce won a physical battle with Pojoaque (5-5) 37-28 in the tournament’s second round. Pojoaque led for most of the first half, and for one 8-minute stretch held Dulce to just one point. But the Hawks took back the lead in the third quarter, and a 13-5 fourth-quarter margin put the game away. The Hawks outscored Pojoaque 26-13 in the second half. Becenti scored 16 points to lead Dulce to the win, including nine in the fourth quarter.
“We’re getting more confident in our shots,” Becenti said. “And just becoming a better and stronger team.”
In the first round, Dulce cruised past Wingate (4-4) after going ahead 25-10 at halftime, for a final score of 57-36, with Vigil leading the way with 31 points.
“I had no words for them the two games before we came in to the (final),” Veneno said. “Because they just played so well, on all ends.”
Dulce next plays a tough game against Santa Fe Indian (8-2) on Wednesday, and will play at the Aztec Tournament starting on Dec. 28.