It is back to reality for the Española Valley High School boys basketball team.
They were among five teams in the state that were undefeated, midway through the season, and now only two remain.
Las Cruces High School and Texico High School are the only remaining teams in New Mexico that are undefeated, after Bernalillo High School, Estancia High School and Española dropped games this past week.
The Rio Rancho High School Rams, whom the Sundevils had already defeated earlier in the season, was the school to take them down. They won the game, 86-71, Jan. 13, at Rio Rancho.
The loss makes Española’s record 15-1, before the start of district play. The first district game is Wednesday (1/17) against Albuquerque Academy.
“We definitely need to refocus and re-energize,” Española head coach James Branch said.
On Dec. 29, the two teams played their first match-up, in the championship game of the Rio Rancho Tournament. The Sundevils took that game, 72-54.
Senior forward J.P. Sena felt that both of the games were closer than the scorelines showed. In each of the games, the winning team pulled away with a good amount of points toward the end.
Rio Rancho had 30 points in the fourth quarter, double the amount of points they scored in the second quarter. Española, by comparison, had 20 points in the fourth quarter.
The two teams were tied at 44 points in the third quarter, before the Rams were able to take a steady lead.
Having played two weeks before, Rio Rancho knew the type of team they would be facing when they played the Sundevils a second time.
They prepared a line-up that could dominate on the inside and take some of Española’s taller players out of the game.
Sena and Azaziah Salazar had to sit on the bench, because they were in foul trouble. That meant much of Española’s size was taken away.
The Sundevils were also playing without two players, who were sick on game day — senior guard Scotty Alexander and junior center Justino Rascon.
Branch felt that the defense at the core of the team’s success was non-existent against the Rams. He said he had never seen his transition defense give up as many layups as they did, and attributed some of that to his team’s complacency.
Branch also said the offense needs to be more balanced. Too often, the Sundevils resorted to shooting the three-ball, instead of trying to drive in the lane.
He did say Monday’s practice, following the loss, was filled with energy that he has not seen in a long time.
Sena confirmed the sentiment and he said there is a bit of relief for the team now that they no longer have to worry about staying undefeated.
Branch is hoping they can get back to hard-nosed basketball and the type of defense that made them undefeated in the first place.
The Sundevils will not face Rio Rancho again this season. They are prepared for district play and the Rams will play in division 6A playoffs, while the Sundevils will compete in 5A.