Hoops: District 4AA foes keeping watchful eye on Rangerettes, new head coach

David Salcido has patiently watched the Mora High School girls basketball team from the bench, content to let long-time head coach Mark Cassidy be the front man as the Rangerettes annually contended for the Class AA state championships, winning one in 1998. Salcido remained in the background, even as he contributed to the team's success as an assistant. Now that the head coach's whistle is around his neck, however, things have changed just a bit. "There's going to be a lot of pressure ...

• + Related: Hoops: Girls 2A & 2AA capsules
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Prep basketball: Braves roll to victory

The difference between Laguna Acoma and Albuquerque Hope Christian is the difference between kindergarten and graduate school. That's the gap the Braves of Santa Fe Indian School will jump from. The Braves opened their boys basketball season Thursday with a resounding 89-39 win over the Hawks in Francis L. Abeyta Memorial Gymnasium, and showed they might be closer to the level of the reigning Class AAA champion Huskies than the elementary level of the Hawks. SFIS gets that oppo ...

Prep basketball roundup: Trojans utilize second-quarter run in rout

There's no 120-second mercy rule in boys basketball. "We tried to win the game in the first 2 minutes," said Thomas Vigil, Mesa Vista head coach. When that didn't happen, the Trojans settled for a 28-10 second-quarter scoring advantage en route to a 70-43 victory over Monte del Sol in nondistrict play Thursday night in Ojo Caliente. It was the season opener for Mesa Vista. The Dragons dipped to 1-2. "We came out a little too tight," Vigil said. "It took us a while to settled ...

Anti-Fan: Letting Westbrook play: That's disrespect

When the Cincinnati Bengals player formerly known as Chad Johnson flashed a dollar bill at a referee during a replay challenge, he was fined $20,000 by the NFL — and properly so — for the display of disrespect. When Tennessee owner Bud Adams gave Buffalo fans the middle-finger salute after the Titans' victory over the Bills, he was fined $250,000 by the NFL — and properly so — for the display of disrespect. Sunday, three weeks after Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook suffered a concussion ...

Hoops: Girls 4AA capsules

MORA RANGERETTES Head coach: David Salcido (first season) 2008-09 record: 22-7, lost 70-66 to Lordsburg in Class AA quarterfinals. Returning starters: Angelica Abeyta, senior, 5-4, guard; Jessica Garcia, senior, 5-7, forward. Key newcomers: Monique Duran, junior, 5-8, post; Francesca Alexander, junior, 5-8, forward; Andrea Romero, sophomore, 5-6, guard. Outlook — The Rangerettes have the luxury of a quality program and deep numbers this season, so they are able to field ...

Hoops: Girls 3AA capsules

MCCURDY SCHOOL LADY BOBCATS Head coach: Ray Roybal (first season) 2008-09 record: 21-6, lost 25-22 to Mora in first round of Class AA state tournament Returning starters: None Key newcomers: Novela Salazar, 5-5, senior, post; Isabelle Garcia, 5-5, junior, guard: Jacqueline Maestas, 5-4, sophomore, guard Outlook — With no returning starters and just three seniors on the squad, the perennially contending Lady Bobcats could be hard-pressed to return to the state tournament ...

Hoops: Girls 2A & 2AA capsules

CORONADO LADY LEOPARDS Head coach: Eric Kajca (first season) 2008-09 record: 16-11, lost 69-55 to Navajo Pine in the first round of the Class AA State Tournament. Returning starters: Katherine Trujillo, senior, 5-5, wing; Angie Schmitz, senior, 5-10, post; Stephanie Vasquez, senior, 5-9, wing. Key newcomers: Gabby Vigil, sophomore, 5-6, wing; Erin Cordova, sophomore, 5-6, wing. Outlook — Kajca is still on getting-to-know-you basis with the Lady Leopards — he was hired ...

Hoops: Peñasco begins season with former Mora head coach Romero at helm

It's early evening on a mid-November day and Manuel Romero again finds himself musing on meeting the parents of his players to begin another high school basketball season. There's one big difference this time around though — rather than the Kelly green-and-white of his alma mater Mora High School, Romero is talking to parents clothed in the blue-and-gold of Peñasco High School. Romero finds himself in this peculiar situation after spending 13 years as the head coach of the Rangers, whe ...

• + Related: Hoops: District 2AA & 2A capsules
• + Related: Hoops: District 3AA capsules
• + Related: Hoops: District 4AA capsules

The Pit in midst of change

ALBUQUERQUE — It's a rebuilding year at New Mexico. Just look at all the hammers and ladders. The college basketball season will go forward during a $60 million renovation at The Pit, site of the 1983 Final Four and long considered one of the nation's loudest venues. Head coach Steve Alford is focusing on the amenities, not the inconveniences, when the job is finished in time for the 2010-11 season: video boards, luxury suites, more restrooms and concessions, and wider concourses. ...

Local sports in brief Nov. 18

Rockies to play at Isotopes Park The defending National League wild card winner Colorado Rockies will play a pair of games at Isotopes Park during spring training. The Rockies will play the American League's Seattle Mariners on April 2 and 3. Tickets are currently being sold exclusively to Isotopes season-ticket and mini-plan holders at Isotopes Park. The general public gets its crack at the tickets Feb. 20. Prices range from $25-$65 for single game tickets or two-game package ...

Hoops: District 4AA capsules

MORA RANGERS Head coach: Hank Laumbach (first season) 2008-09 record: 12-17, lost 83-49 to Mesa Vista in the first round of the Class AA state tournament. Returning starters: P.J. Pacheco, senior, 5-7, guard; Henrique Chavez, senior, 5-7, guard. Key newcomers: Tyler Martinez, junior, 5-9, guard; Santiago Duran, senior, 5-10, forward. Outlook — The Rangers have a long tradition of success and Laumbach expects that to continue under his guidance. "Our expectations ar ...

Hoops: District 2AA & 2A capsules

District 2AA CORONADO LEOPARDS Head coach: Ezau Rios (third season) 2008-09 record: 16-12, lost 62-60 to Navajo Pine in the first round of the Class AA State Tournament. Returning starters: Johnny Chavez, junior, 5-foot-8, guard; Jesse Chavez, senior, 5-8, wing; Patrick Cordova, senior, 6-0, guard; Pedro Valdez, senior, 6-3, post; Josh Jaquez, senior, 5-10, wing/post Key newcomers: Jose Chacon, sophomore, 5-6, guard; Stetson Schmitz, sophomore, 5-10, post. Outloo ...

Hoops: District 3AA capsules

MCCURDY SCHOOL BOBCATS Head coach: Walter Bustos (first season) 2008-09 record: 6-21, lost 64-41 to Questa in District 3AA quarterfinal Returning starters: David Martinez, 5-11, junior, forward; Ryan Bustos, 5-8, senior, guard Key newcomers: Eric Vigil, 5-3, freshman, guard; Justin Garcia, 6-1, sophomore, forward Outlook — Bustos, who has had two stints coaching the McCurdy girls, says the team got a good deal of work in over the summer, playing 46 games with a core of 1 ...

Prep hoops: East Mountain hangs on

The master outmatched the pupil again. But the pupil is gaining. East Mountain, led by former St. Michael's head coach Matt Pribble, used a 14-11 advantage in the fourth quarter to outlast Desert Academy and head coach Daniel Romero 49-42 in both teams' boys basketball season opener Tuesday. Romero, who played for and coached under Pribble at St. Michael's, saw his teams lose by scores of 54-27 and 58-23 last year, but he felt the Wildcats matched up better with a year of seaso ...

College basketball: McDonald, Martinez push Lobos past New Mexico State

LAS CRUCES — Phillip McDonald scored a career-high 27 points Tuesday night to lead New Mexico to a 97-87 victory over New Mexico State University. McDonald hit 8 of 15 from the field, and teammate senior forward Roman Martinez chipped in with 24 points. The Lobos (2-0) were 12-for-26 from 3-point range. At halftime, UNM had made 64.5 percent from the field and led 52-36, a team record for first-half points under head coach Steve Alford. The Aggies (0-2) trailed by as much as ...

NMHU tops Eastern New Mexico University in women's basketball

Hope Williams drained two free throws with two seconds remaining to seal New Mexico Highlands University's 89-85 victory over Eastern New Mexico University in women's basketball Monday night in Greyhound Arena in Portales. Highlands finished 33-of-41 from the free-throw line to win its season opener and snip a seven game losing string to Eastern (0-1). Ashley Logan, who was 10-for-11 from the line, scored a team-high 24 points for the Cowgirls. Jessica Armijo and Briana Gholston evenly ...