This basketball season may be over but the passion for high school basketball in Northern New Mexico is one flame that is never extinguished. As one season ends, thoughts of another season begin.
Let’s take a look at how a few local teams stand looking ahead to next season:
Española Boys
The Española Valley Sundevils provided heart-pumping thrills once again this season. The Sundevils fell just short of their first state title when Rodney Coles’ three-pointer bounced off the front of the rim to end the championship game. Are more heart-stopping thrills in store for next season? Count on it from the Sundevils and perhaps other local teams.
Española loses senior starters Luis Alvarado, Aaron Aragon and Gabriel Rodriguez, as well as reserves Juan Trujillo and Jacob Serrano. They will be hard to replace.
However, Coles, who developed into a high-scoring star this season, and fellow junior starter Fabian Valdez will return, as will bench players Antonio Romero, Richie Mondragon and Zach Trujillo. Sophomores Jeremy Romero and Jozzeb Martinez, and juniors Ariel Flores and Jeremy Trujillo should see more playing time next season.
Española Middle School’s seventh-grade and eighth-grade teams enjoyed outstanding seasons. I expect to see some players emerge from these programs who will contribute in the future. The Sundevils program is solid and success should continue.
Coach Richard Martinez should be hired back for an eighth season, although judging by the responses on the SUN’s website, there are those who don’t want him to return. He has proven himself to be a tireless worker when it comes to improving his team and that is reflected in the string of four consecutive appearances in the state tournament and the school’s first finals appearance.
Martinez has looked at the big picture. He didn’t have to schedule teams like Hobbs and Clovis, not to mention Hope Christian and other Class AAAAA teams from Albuquerque. But he did so, in order to prepare his team for the state tournament. That alone shows Martinez is looking toward a goal and not just trying to keep his team’s record clean.
And he has proven that even when the team loses stars — Alvarado from this year’s team and Matthew Brito the season before — that he isn’t rebuilding, he is reloading.
Española Girls
The Española girls program will lose some outstanding players to graduation that will be hard to replace. Seniors Nisa Duran, Melanie Vigil and Marisol Peña helped take Española to within five points of the championship game, and helped make the Sundevils arguably the second-best team in the state. They were just unfortunate to meet the best team in the state and the eventual state champion, Kirtland Central, in the semifinals, where they lost.
With starters Justine Vigil and Desiree Howie returning, Española has two players around which to build. Freshmen Amanda Maestas and Lauren Quintana will move into key roles as sophomores. Quintana was impressive in her first varsity season.
Coach Ron Drake will have to replace his starting guards. Maria Serna will likely be one replacement, while Laura Duran and Reina de la Cruz are candidates for the other guard spot. Drake is beating the bushes looking for a player taller than 5 feet, 8 inches. Don’t be surprised if he finds one.
That is if Drake returns. He has been unwilling to give a definitive answer to whether he will return for a fourth season. Drake has taken a team that went winless the season before he arrived into one in the best in the state.
But I don’t think people really appreciate what he went through during the 2008-2009 season. He nearly died and he is still recovering from problems related to his gall bladder bursting. If he decided not to come back because of his health, I would not blame him one bit.
Española’s district, District 2AAAA, will lose Taos, which will move down to Class AAA and will be replaced by Santa Fe High School. The Demons will be one of the largest schools in Class AAAA and the boys program should have an immediate impact on the District 2AAAA race. Santa Fe’s girls program has been struggling ever since Drake left in 2003 and should not be a factor. Lenny Roybal will be returning to Española as Santa Fe’s boys coach. Roybal coached the Sundevils for 13 seasons and he attempted to fire Martinez after the latter’s second season.
Small Schools
Pojoaque should be very strong next season as coach Joey Trujillo will return a strong class of juniors, led by point guard Luke Salazar. Christian Gonzales-Baca and Brian Montoya have proven themselves to be strong inside players.
Pojoaque will be challenged in its new district, District 5AAA, in which it will be the only public school. The Elks will have to tangle with state champion Hope Christian, Sandia Prep, St. Michael’s and Santa Fe Indian School. Pojoaque was always saying how their old District 2AAA was the toughest in the state.
The Elkettes will lose two players to graduation who helped lead Pojoaque to two state championships: Dionna Montoya and Marissa Romero. Cheyenne Cordova started at point guard as a freshman this season and should just get better. Audrey Smith and Kiana Vigil are both seasoned veterans who’ll return. Post Liz Gomez has the height at 6 feet, one inch. If she works hard to improve her skills, she has the potential to be a force.
Among the smaller schools, the Mesa Vista boys team will lose six seniors, but will return some solid players. Sophomore Sean Richardson emerged as a player, while junior Alejandro Lopez proved to be a leader at point guard. Erik Garcia was impressive going to the basket and sophomore Evan Jaramillo showed the ability to score. Next season, the Trojans will play in District 7AA and should benefit from a weaker district that will no longer include Peñasco and Questa. Cuba, Jemez Valley and Dulce are the other members of District 7AA.
The Lady Trojans likewise should do well in this district. They will return three strong starters in Carmelita Trujillo, Julia Martinez and Muriah Dean. Coach Richard Montoya will have to find some players to fill the shoes of departing seniors Crystal Martinez and Samantha Giron.
The Coronado boys team will face a major rebuilding season. The Leopards will drop from Class AA down to Class A and compete with Escalante and McCurdy in District 4A. Coronado loses two standouts in post Pedro Valdez and point guard Pat Cordova. They’ll rebuild around sharpshooter Johnny Chavez and slasher Jason Velasquez. Coach Ezau Rios made the decision to leave Coronado after his third season. the Leopards will be looking for a new coach.
The Lady Leopards didn’t have a coach until literally days before the season started and it’s unknown if coach Eric Kajca will return. Coronado loses two players who were stalwarts of the program in Stephany Velasquez and Angie Schmitz. They will be difficult to replace as Coronado looks to rebuild.
It sounds like Escalante coach Milnor Manzanares will leave after this season and he will be missed. The Lobos lose five seniors who made up their starting lineup much of the season. They’ll return tall and athletic Eric Belser and if the Lobos can develop some guards, they’ll threaten for the district title.
The Lady Lobos could be the favorites to win the District 4A title next season, as Coronado will be rebuilding and McCurdy was just 1-21 this past season. Escalante will return two good guards in Arneshia Avalos and Annah Martinez.
A lot can happen between now and November, so we will just have to wait and see who will emerge next season as state title contenders.