Lady Pirates Basketball Season to Start

The Lady Pirates basketball season had a bit of a wait before their first game and will start their season on Tuesday the 29th of November against the Bloomfield Bobcats on the road.

Second year head coach Douglas “Dougie” Hickman is ready for the challenge of the season and believes that his players have passed the “learning curve” and have now “bought in” to his philosophy. Hickman is setting a goal of advancing further than last year and “making it to the pit.” The Lady Pirates were 8-17 and 3-5 last year. The Pirates will field 5 seniors, 3 juniors, and 3 or more sophomores who will see varsity minutes.

Hickman believes that districts will be challenging—Highland High School, Valencia High school and St. Pius High school were all strong programs last year— and he expects them to be strong this year as well.

In addition, Hickman values student growth and development, ”The camaraderie and becoming a good productive member of society as well as having a positive experience on the team, is what I’d like to see,” said Hickman. “I’d like them to say we had a positive experience in the end.”

Hickman believes he will have some speed with his guards and that will be crucial in offense and defense. Hickman expects more rebounding out of his “bigs” this year. Hickman believes the challenge will be the district playoffs as the district is very competitive.

Hickman is looking for a physical game against Bloomfield on Tuesday. The Bobcats were 11-16, 4-6 last year.

The Grants High School Pirate boys basketball team found plenty of booty last week in their 20 point win last week, 75-55, over the Bloomfield Bobcats in their home opener. The Pirates went toe to toe in the first quarter and mustered a 42-29 lead in the first half. Leading the Pirates was a junior, Noah Victorino, whose hot shooting hands blistered the scoreboard. Victorino shot 5 treys, 2 in the first quarter and 3 in the second quarter for 15 points—-Victorino would lead the Pirates in scoring that night. Fellow Junior Isaiah Griego, came off the bench on fire as well as he contributed 9 points in the second quarter to give the Pirates that 13 point halftime lead.

Michael Thompson of the Bobcats kept them in the game in that first half as he had 13 of his 21 points in the first half.

The Pirates outscored the Bobcats only by 2 points, 13-11, in the third quarter. Griego led the Pirates with 5 points in the 3rd quarter while the Bobcats were led by Thompson with 6 points. The score at the end of the 3rd quarter was 55-40. The fourth quarter proved to be the demise of the Bobcats as the Pirates added 20 points to the 3rd quarter score.

The Pirates wrapped up the night with 3 players in double digits, sophomore, Boudy Melonas, with a sound night of basketball ended his night with 11 points. Senior Dominic Valdez and sophomore Domonick Gonzales had 7 points apiece to round out the high scorers. The Pirates had a total of 10 players scoring in that game. Thompson for the Bobcats finished the night with 21 points.

Next up for the 1-0 Pirates will be a road game against the Taos Tigers (0-0) on December 2nd.

CIBOLA COUNTY SPORTS ROUND-UP

Grants High School wrestling team recently competed at Conquer the Petroglyphs meet at Volcano Vista High School. In competition, the Pirates were defeated 54-12 by Clovis, 39-6 by Monzano and 66-12 by Volcano Vista. Notables for the Pirates were Larry Meador in the 152lb. weight class with a win by a fall over Rhiley Wiliams of Clovis by a fall at :26. Meador also defeated Brandon Nieto of Monzano by a 96 decision in the 160lb. weight class. Against Volcano Vista Meador defeated Marshall Siska by a fall at 4:31. Manuel Gonzales with a win by a fall at 1:10 over Cannon Oaks of Clovis in the 127lb. weight class.

The Laguna-Acoma boys basketball team will have their season opener on November 29th against Moriarty High School. The lady Hawks basketball team will play Gallup High School in an away game for their season opener on November 29th against the Gallup Bengals who are currently 1-1.