It took some time for Alyssa Veneno’s team to figure out how they can win.
Veneno took over as the team’s coach in early December, after the previous coach stepped aside due to medical concerns. The beginning of her tenure was rocky, losing four of their first five games, including multiple 20-point losses. But since then, they have improved and been almost dominant on offense.
The Dulce Lady Hawks (5-8) lost their first-round game in overtime at the Jan. 6-8 Northern Rio Grande Tournament in Española. But, despite playing with just eight varsity players after injuries, they came back the next two mornings to win the consolation championship and start their 2022 run with new firepower.
Veneno said the Hawks continue to ask to stay late in the gymnasium, even after a two-hour bus ride after a long game.
“These girls have a lot of dedication when it comes to working hard every day,” Veneno said. “A lot of it comes down to them being dedicated to wanting to get better.”
In December, Peñasco beat Dulce by 26. But less than a month later, Dulce showed just how much they improved when the two teams rematched in the first round.
“We made a lot of progress over these weeks,” said sophomore wing Bailey Vigil. “Working together and trusting each other on the court, and actually running our tempo.”
In the first game against the Panthers, Dulce was behind 28-4 before they could even gain their footing. But this time, it was Dulce who took the early lead by scoring 21 points in the first quarter, and they led 25-14 early in the second.
“We’re actually running an offense now,” Veneno said. “Same with our defense. We’ve worked so hard with our half-court press defense.”
Veneno said she has stressed good passing and working on their “inside game.”
Peñasco rallied back in the second half to take a lead. With under a minute remaining, Sidneyanne Becenti drew a foul to tie the game. As Peñasco ran down the clock, Vigil stripped the ball with five seconds remaining, but could not get a shot in time, sending the game into overtime. And in the extra period, Peñasco took a lead early, and Dulce missed a shot to tie with 25 seconds left, allowing 13 points to the Panthers in the extra four minutes, with a final score 65-44.
“It was a good loss, and it’s one to accept,” Vigil said. “Just losing by three in overtime, and they’re ranked No. 9 in the state.” As of Tuesday, Peñasco had improved to No. 7, while Dulce is No. 17.
Becenti’s 29-point performance led all scorers in the game, including 13 made free throws. Maricela MacAuley scored 21 points for the Lady Panthers, and eighth-grader Rochelle Lopez has already proven to be an impressive scoring threat, with 19 points in their first-round win and a team-high 50 in the tournament.
Dulce dominated from the start in their second game, taking a 21-2 lead over McCurdy in the first quarter. And the offensive muscle stayed the entire game, as the team cheered on in the final minutes as a late shot put them at 80 points in the game, their most points in a game since 2017. Vigil scored 25 of those points, and Sierra Martinez scored 17 in the 80-32 victory.
“It really boosted us,” Vigil said. “But it can’t always be just one game. It has to be for all the games.”
The consolation final was another impressive win, with Vigil hitting a 3-pointer to start the game, and fast pace and transition baskets leading to 23 points in the first quarter and an early big lead. Dulce held onto that lead through the end, coming away with an easy 58-43 win, Vigil scoring another 16 points.
The Hawks still do not start district play until February, and will have extended time off after the cancellation of the Santa Fe Indian School tournament unless they reschedule games. District play will be a challenge at the top, with Laguna-Acoma (10-4) one of the top teams in the state (they beat Dulce 57-31 on Dec. 29) but the improvement that Dulce has shown will carry forward, and continue to excite the local fans.
“They’re not ones to be slept on,” Veneno said. “They can show out whenever they want to show out.”