They may have been the lowest seed in a 16-team field, but the Santa Teresa Desert Warriors came to play when they took on the top-seeded Española Valley Sundevils March 7 in Española in the opening round of the Class AAAA state basketball tournament.
After Española’s 58-48 victory over Santa Teresa, the Sundevils gave the Desert Warriors the respect they were due.
“They were good,” Española senior guard Donovan Maldonado said. “I don’t think they deserved to be seeded that low.”
The Desert Warriors were 15-12 on the season, but had a win over fourth-seeded Artesia during the season. They finished just 2-4 in District 3AAAA during the regular season.
“We started off slowly in district,” Santa Teresa coach Robert Haack said. “We didn’t really pick it up until the end.”
There was nothing slow about the way the Desert Warriors started against the Sundevils.
Behind a pair of baskets by David Rodriguez and another by Paco Rodriguez, the Desert Warriors took a 6-0 lead before Matt Brito got Española on the board with a fall away jumper. Junior Ryan Salazar got Española within one point when he nailed a bomb before the buzzer to make the score 12-11.
Salazar started a long-range blitz by the Sundevils with a three-point bomb and Brito followed with two more three-pointers that gave the Sundevils a 25-16 lead.
“The game turned when Ryan and Matt hit those back-to-back three-pointers,” Maldonado said.
Española led 26-18 at halftime.
Salazar started the third quarter with another bomb and Española took its biggest lead of the game, 36-22, midway through the third quarter on a basket by Ray Romero. Santa Teresa cut the lead in half 38-31 after seven consecutive points by Paco Rodriguez.
Salazar stroked in his fourth three-pointer of the game just before the buzzer to extend Española’s lead to 41-31 heading into the fourth quarter.
“I’ve been taking big shots since I was in the sixth grade,” Salazar said. “It’s the best part of the game.”
Brito gave Española a 45-35 lead after he drove down the lane, drew a foul, sank a layup and added a free throw.
“We were kind of stalling on offense, and I felt we needed to score,” Brito said.
Stalling is what the Sundevils eventually did. And for the second consecutive game, Brito was benched late in the game, this time after committing a turnover.
Santa Teresa got within four points with 27 seconds left in the game.
Romero went to the line with 22 seconds left to play and this time nailed both shots, Luis Rodriguez stole the ensuing inbounds pass and hit a layup. Maldonado finished the scoring sinking a pair of free throws in his final game in Española’s gym.
Salazar led Española with 14 points and Brito added 13 for the Sundevils. Paco Rodriguez led all scorers with 22 points and David Rodriguez added 10 for the Desert Warriors, who gave Española fits throughout the game with their quickness.
“They were fast,” Romero said.
Española advances to the quarterfinals, where it will challenge three-time defending state champion, St. Pius X, Wednesday (3/11) in the Pit.
After the game, Española coach Richard Martinez spoke seriously with his team.
“I think we have the best players and the best staff,” he said. “What I need from you guys is your confidence.”
This will be Española’s third consecutive trip to the Pit after making just one trip there in its first 31 years.
The Sundevils are seeking their first state basketball championship.
“This is what you guys work for,” Martinez said. “I don’t prepare you to be afraid. We cannot come out tentative down there. We have to come out with intensity.”