With the spring semester rolling full steam, winter sports are doing the same, with cheerleading taking center stage as the Española Valley spirit squad put on a show at the Santa Fe Demons Invite on Saturday.
Not only did Española take first with 185.2 points in the Class 4A all-girls division and beat out Taos, Valencia, Los Alamos and Kirtland Central, but the overall score was the best in show among 21 performances, netting the Sundevils the grand champion title and banner.
“Saturday’s performance was strong and they focused on the small details this time around,” coach TatyAna Quintana said. “We had a few hiccups, but all in all, they did an amazing job.”
It was a performance the coach knew the girls had in them.
“This win was something they’ve been working toward since some of these kids were freshmen, especially our seniors,” Quintana said. “They showed up, they performed and they did it with all their hearts. That’s super important.”
Still, this was just a step forward with an eye to a greater goal, she said.
“Every time we go out on the mat, it’s always an opportunity to practice,” Quintana said. “To prepare for the state championship in March.”
Boys basketball
Jan. 13
Pojoaque Valley 53, Miyamura 36
Joziah Salazar put up 19 points and Andres Trevizo had 15 for the visiting Elks (6-9) and Joshua Gonzales added five rebounds and four assists against the Patriots. Pojoaque benefited from a big second quarter with a 16-6 advantage.
Escalante 73, Socorro 27
The host Lobos (11-3) had four players reach double figures, led by Damien Baeza with 13. Jacoby Valdez and RJ Atencio each added 12 and Mateo Torrez chipped in 10 along with eight rebounds in the dominating performance over the Warriors.
McCurdy 60, Jemez Valley 18
The host Bobcats (5-8) zipped out to a 34-11 lead and coasted to the victory over the Warriors.
Santa Fe Indian School 71, Dulce 52
Grants 54, Española Valley 62
Jan. 15
St. Michael’s 48, Pojoaque Valley 48
Despite 14 points from Joziah Salazar, as well as 12 from Serafin Mendez and 11 from Ezekiel Atencio, the host Elks (6-10) could not quite pull off the win.
Escalante 98, Tse’ Yi’ Gai 12
The visiting Lobos (12-3) simply ran away from the Warriors, outscoring them 25-0 in the first quarter. RJ Atencio had 28 points with Richard Glover pulling down a double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds. Tristen Ulibarri had 14 points and Julio Lujan added 10.
Dulce 67, Aztec 43
Coronado 68, Cuba 59
Santa Fe 34, Española Valley 34
Roy/Mosquero 59, McCurdy 55
Jan. 16
McCurdy 49, Cuba 35
The Bobcats (6-9) got out to a 28-11 lead over the host Rams in the second round of the Cuba Invite, then weathered a 13-2 third-quarter struggle, but still held a 30-25 lead going into the final quarter.
Menaul 54, Dulce 54
Roy/Mosquero 61, Coronado 31
Jan. 17
Pojoaque Valley 66, Capital 30
Joziah Salazar continued his strong run, putting up 17 points, with Serafin Mendez adding 12 points and six rebounds for the host Elks (7-10) , who also got seven assists from Joshua Gonzales.
Pecos 57, Escalante 50
In a rough and tumble game, the host Lobos (12-4) trailed 23-21 at halftime and didn’t quite have enough firepower to come back in a second loss to the Panthers within a week.
Mesa Vista 62, Los Alamos 44
Girls basketball
Jan. 12
Escalante 66, Santa Fe Prep 8
Jan. 13
McCurdy 68, Jemez Valley 25
The host Lady Bobcats (10-3) raced out to a 19-5 first-quarter advantage and were never challenged thereafter.
Española Valley 65, Capital 27
Hope Christian 50, Pojoaque Valley 39
Jan. 15
Roy/Mosquero 61, McCurdy 43
Aztec 47, Dulce 36
In the opener of the Cuba Invite, Emma Martinez-Pierce had 12 points and Mattison Vigil added 10, but the Lady Hawks (8-4) struggled from the field, going 11-for-44 overall.
Grants 45, Española Valley 36
Jan. 16
McCurdy 69 Coronado 17
In the second round of the Cuba Invitational, the Lady Bobcats (11-4) put the hammer down on the Lady Leopards (5-8), with a 26-4 edge to take a 46-11 halftime lead.
Dulce 61, Monte del Sol 6
Amari Castleberry had 16 points and Emma Martinez-Pierce chipped in 10 with five steals for the Lady Hawks (9-4) in a rout in the second round of the Cuba tournament. Dulce got out to a 37-5 lead, then allowed just one point from the line in the second half.
Jan. 17
Mesa Vista 46, Los Alamos 34
Aubrey Maestas and Aaliyah Boies each scored 18 points to power the visiting Lady Trojans (14-2) past the Lady Hilltoppers. Valery Martinez added seven rebounds and Boies, Janessa Sandoval and Isabella Gallegos each grabbed six.
Pecos 50, Escalante 35
The host Lady Lobos (4-8) trailed 23-11 at halftime could not recover against the Lady Panthers.
McCurdy 51, Dulce 47
Española Valley 50, Cottonwood Classical 21