Here’s what’s coming up in the week ahead:
Thursday, Feb. 16
Girls Basketball: Peñasco vs. Mesa Vista
The Lady Trojans (21-3, 7-1) had a big stumble against Escalante. They still control their own destiny in the district, but would need to win a district tiebreaker game to clinch the top seed. But the Lady Panthers (12-11, 5-3), known for always giving a fight to every opponent, will look to prevent that. Tana Lopez remains one to keep an eye on as she continues to seemingly improve every game, and she is now up to 15.2 points per game. The battle in the post between Analise MacAuley and Amarissa Quintana could also determine the winner.
Girls Basketball: Dulce vs. Laguna-Acoma
District races heat up and finish off this weekend, and several local teams are in the running. The Lady Hawks (16-6, 2-1) surprisingly lost to their southern rival on Feb. 3 by 22 points. Laguna-Acoma (17-8, 5-0) is currently top in the district after winning six straight games, but Dulce should be able to win two more games on Friday and Saturday, so a win on Wednesday should give them a shot at a district tiebreaker game. Dulce should be back in good shape after a two-week break.
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 17-18
Wrestling: State Tournament
The Sundevils will have a busy weekend with eight wrestlers qualifying for the state tournament, several medal contenders. Kyle Coffeen, Landon Atencio and Cruz Sandoval all took second place last year, and now will look to improve for a state championship. But the competition is increased, with A-3A also joining the fold. Pojoaque’s Adryan Triana is also a strong contender, and the Elks will also have a pair of competitors in the girls tournament.
Saturday, Feb. 18
Boys Basketball: McCurdy vs. Escalante
The Bobcats (13-12, 7-2) found their team identity late in the season, and for the second-straight year look like a different team once district starts. But they might need another big win to have done enough for a state tournament berth. A win over the Lobos (16-7, 7-1) would likely tie them for the district lead and gain a spot, while a loss might drop them to third and put them on the wrong side. The Lobos are looking to finish strong and surprise people by claiming a district title.