The Coronado Leopards have had trouble finding any consistency with their schedule.
Two feet of snow in early-mid January caused numerous transportation issues, and several games had to be postponed or canceled for about two weeks, and for much of the time they were unable to practice.
The Leopards (3-9, 0-2 in district) finally got back to playing on Wednesday, when they fell 59-42 to New Mexico School for the Deaf (4-7, 2-3).
The first score of the game bounced. An offensive rebound attempt by an NMSD somehow deflected at a perfect angle and right into the basket for two points for the Roadrunners, who scored the first six of the game.
Coronado trailed 8-5 after the first quarter, but let up 12 straight points to go down by 15. At halftime, they trailed 26-15. In the fourth quarter, they started to rally, and were down by just eight points. But then two leading scorers fouled out, and the Roadrunners ultimately won by 17.
Zack Aragon led the Leopards with 14 points, and Mossi Gutierrez added 10, though both fouled out in the fourth quarter.
“It’s been a roller coaster,” Coronado coach Andre Cordova said. “I see the effort improving. But we still need to, we don’t practice enough.”
Cordova said getting everyone to practice consistently, even before weather issues, is a challenge.
“Getting my kids into the gym to practice, where the only place they can improve upon their skills and teamwork,” he said. “Their hearts are in the right place, their effort is in the right place. But practice is where it all comes together. And we haven’t had enough of that.”
The Leopards were also without a leading player in Elias Trujillo, who is in concussion protocol, and Matthew Jacquez is battling a wrist injury.
Coronado next plays Legacy Academy (12-4, 5-0) on Saturday, looking for a big upset at home.