Over the primary three weeks of the season the world highschool basketball groups have gotten into full swing and because the native groups have gotten into motion we’ve been in a position to study fairly a bit about them of their early season contests.
Lillyanna Martinez drives to the basket in the course of the Brian Gallegos match semifinal in opposition to Maxwell on Dec. 2 at West Las Vegas.
No crew within the space to begin this season has been extra lively than the West Las Vegas Girl Dons. via Dec. 14 the Girl Dons have performed 10 video games, together with already collaborating in two tournaments so far this season. By 10 video games the Girl Dons are 6-4 with a number of wins over 4A opponents and their solely losses to among the state’s prime groups. Final weekend on the Al Armendariz Event at Capital highschool in Santa Fe the Girl Dons gained the Comfort bracket, defeating district rival Santa Fe Indian Faculty and 4A Espanola Valley. The Girl Dons have made it some extent to check themselves this season and so they have performed simply that, with video games in opposition to defending 5A state champion Volcano Vista and considered one of Arizona’s greatest 5A groups Fairfax. The Girl Dons are a really younger crew and seem like enhancing as this season has progressed and level guard Lillyanna Martinez continues to ascertain herself as considered one of AAA’s greatest, if Jacelyn Morgan and Tyra Horner proceed to step up round her then WLV will probably be as harmful as any crew come district time.
Deshawn Kensey rises up for a bounce shot in West Las Vegas’ win in opposition to Bosque on Dec. 2.
Whereas not fairly as busy because the Girl Dons, the Dons boys basketball crew has been profitable to open the season. The Dons gained the Brian Gallegos match final weekend and continued their successful methods with a victory over Cuba. The Dons have solely performed 5 video games, however after dropping their season opener to Clayton the Dons have gained 4 consecutive video games and are starting to construct up the resume of a professional AAA contender. The Dons are powered by their inside duo of Jonathon Gonzales and PJ Montano. Whereas most of Northern New Mexico relies on velocity and the power to play quick, the Dons have the power to zig when everybody else is zagging by taking part in via their two excessive stage publish gamers. The Dons will proceed to face excessive finish opposition on the Stu Clark Event and Hope Christian Event later this 12 months. The Dons are nonetheless discovering themselves in a way however boast two massive males in Gonzales and Montano that virtually any crew in AAA will wrestle to match up in opposition to, making them an fascinating crew to observe because the season strikes ahead.
The Robertson women basketball crew has solely performed three video games, however has continued to do what they did final season, win. Whereas final season they had been led by their posts this Robertson crew is led by their guards, and with their quickness and athleticism on the perimeter they’ve proven the power to run away from groups early this season. Returning starters Azlyn Padilla, Alexis Pacheco and Mistidawn Roybal have picked up proper the place they left off and the Cardinals have outscored their opponents by over 50 factors within the first three video games of the season, with their most spectacular victory approaching the street in opposition to Hope Christian 64-57 on Dec. 6. Though this crew is perimeter oriented they do have measurement, as Alyxa King-Greenwalt and Jaylee Gonzales are getting built-in into the crew and Roybal has proven the power to battle down low when known as upon. Whereas it’s a special trying crew stylistically and so they haven’t performed very many video games, this Robertson crew is exhibiting early indicators of being a severe contender as soon as once more.
Zach Fox kicks the ball out to a shooter after driving to the basket throughout Pecos’ win in opposition to Espanola Valley on Dec. 9 at Capital highschool.
The Pecos Panthers returned practically each participant from final season’s state runner-up group and was anticipated to hit the bottom operating to begin the season. They’ve responded to these expectations by going 5-1 to start the season, with their solely loss coming to 5A Capital within the Al Armendariz match remaining and personal victories over two 4A groups, beating Espanola Valley and Grants within the opening rounds of the match. It’s velocity that defines Pecos on the basketball court docket historically and that’s the case as soon as once more this season. At their greatest the Panthers will play a breakneck tempo and drive their opponents to maintain up. Pecos will face fellow AA energy Escalante over the weekend and will probably be competing within the Stu Clark match on the finish of the month. Even with an skilled group this Pecos crew appears like they haven’t fairly hit their stride, and so they’re nonetheless successful video games in opposition to some good competitors. As soon as the Panthers absolutely discover their circulation and start forcing everybody to play their means within the method they did in the direction of the tip of final season, they may discover themselves of their sixth state championship sport in seven seasons this March.