The Española Valley girls basketball team is going to have a tougher road to their second consecutive District 2AAAA tournament championship due to an untimely injury to sophomore forward Desiree Howie.
Howie’s right shoulder popped out during a Feb. 12 home game against Capital. She will be out a minimum of two weeks, according to Española coach Ron Drake, which means she’ll miss the district tournament and is questionable for the state tournament.
The Lady Sundevils are a sure thing to make it to the state tournament with their 22-4 record, but district tournament success is less than certain now. Not winning the district championship would result in a lower seed in the state tournament and a tougher opening round game that may be on the road instead of the friendly confines of Edward Medina gymnasium.
The Sundevils certainly missed Howie during their Feb. 16 loss to rival Los Alamos. Los Alamos outrebounded the Lady Sundevils and scored all of its points inside. Howie, although only 5 feet, 7 inches tall, is an effective rebounder and strong interior defender. She can also score and is an accurate free-throw shooter.
Howie’s absence in the Los Alamos game exposed the Sundevils lack of depth and height (their tallest player is only 5 feet, 8 inches). Drake was forced to move Nisa Duran, the team’s diminutive but high-scoring guard, inside with Howie out and forwards Marisol Peña and Justine Vigil in foul trouble. Without Duran’s strong perimeter defense, Los Alamos‘ guards were able to drive against Española’s guards.
The Sundevils can beat the Hilltoppers without Howie, but Melanie Vigil needs to find her three-point stroke again and they must stay out of foul trouble.
The Sundevils are currently ranked third in Class AAAA behind top-ranked Kirtland Central and Shiprock. Kirtland has defeated Shiprock twice this season in District 1AAAA.
The Sundevils have not played Kirtland this season but did beat a Thoreau team that defeated Kirtland on its home court. Shiprock had no trouble beating Española 62-45 Dec. 18 in Española. The Sundevils missed a lot of easy shots in that game. That’s been one of their weaknesses this season. You can’t miss layups against good teams because they’ll make you pay. Shiprock is 19-5 overall.
Los Alamos is ranked fifth. Another loss to the Hilltoppers will likely move Española lower in the rankings.
The Sundevils still have a shot at going deep into the Class AAAA state tournament and possibly play for a championship. If Howie returns, their chances improve. Española was 0-27 just three seasons ago and several of this season’s players, including Duran, remember that season. Just being able to run onto the floor of the Pit for the state tournament would be a great accomplishment for this team.