For a lower seed, the district tournament can be quite a challenge.
A pair of teams based in Española, both around the tournament bubble, need to do as much as they can to sure up their spots, and try to get a more favorable matchup.
The McCurdy boys (15-12, 5-5 in district 5-2A) and Española girls (15-12, 4-4 in 2-4A) both won big at home on Tuesday. The Bobcats beat Peñasco (7-19, 2-8) 68-43, and the Lady Sundevils won 51-32 against Taos (8-20, 3-5). Now they both have a long road ahead in the district tournament.
McCurdy will have to win three games in three days just to reach the championship game. Their reward for Tuesday’s win is a Wednesday trip to Mora to face the tough Rangers (13-13, 5-5). If they win that road game, the next day they travel to face rested Escalante (18-8, 9-1). If they manage to win that game as well, they will then get a day off before the district final against Mesa Vista (21-5, 9-1).
Española gets a day off after their win, and travels on Thursday to face GG Romero and Los Alamos (15-12, 6-2). If they win that game, they get to face Pojoaque (15-12, 6-2) for the district title on Friday.
“It’s just mentally tiring,” said senior center Alexandria Montoya. “You’re running back and forth, and you only get like a day off.”
But both teams have reason for optimism. The Bobcats have beaten Mora twice this season in three tries, including once by 22 points. They have played multiple close games with Escalante, and beat Mesa Vista back in January (though since then, the Trojans have had the advantage by 20 and 16 points in district meetings).
Española has a win over Los Alamos this season, by 14 points on the road, and went to overtime in their last meeting with Pojoaque.
While the Lady Sundevils are more safely in the 16-team field, ranked No. 11 in 4A as of Monday, McCurdy is nervous about their position as currently ranked No. 14 in 2A.
Española’s win snapped a streak of three losses in four games, including a loss at Taos that finished their regular season.
Both teams took a big lead right at the start. The Lady Sundevils scored 11 points before Taos got on the board, with a press leading to transition baskets. Montoya said they executed well, and the early lead built confidence for the rest of the game.
“We were a little hungry,” Española coach Ray Romero said. “The other night, we didn’t play like we normally play. I told the girls, we’ve got to focus, that was the word that I used.”
McCurdy started the game with a 15-2 lead, with Lucas Martinez contributing a dominant first quarter. The Bobcats led 17-8 after the first quarter, 36-17 at halftime, and by 26 points through three quarters, ultimately winning by 25.
Española led by 17 points at halftime, and Taos only ever made small runs that the Sundevils were quickly able to thwart.
“We were making our layups, and driving it down fast,” Montoya said. “It was easy for us to execute.”
Romero said the Sundevils struggled with shooting at Taos earlier, scoring just 27 points and shooting 6-of-37. They matched that number of field goals in just the first quarter with seven. Eight different players scored in the first quarter; 10 scored in the game.
Alyanna Medina led the charts with nine points.
The Lady Sundevils remain excited about the opportunity to make a statement this week.
“The sky’s the limit for us,” Romero said.
Tuesday Scores:
District 2-4A Boys:
No. 3 Los Alamos 56, No. 5 Moriarty 43
District 5-2A Boys:
No. 3 Mora 56, No. 6 Questa 34
District 5-2A Girls:
No. 3 Questa 42, No. 4 Escalante 36
District 1-2A Boys:
No. 3 Navajo Pine 65, No. 4 Laguna-Acoma 48
District 7-1A Boys:
No. 4 Coronado 62, No. 5 Chesterton 49