Even basketball coaches from the most storied programs agree that it's tough to win on the road in Grants. After the Belen Eagles boys team suffered a 67-55 defeat in the Port of the Pirates, BHS first-year coach Dale Jaramillo now knows firsthand what those coaches are talking about.

The loss dropped the Eagles to 14-7 overall, but more importantly, made Belen 0-2 in the short race that is the District 6-4A regular season.

"Grants is a tough place to play," said Jaramillo, whose Eagles had beaten the Pirates seven straight times over the previous three seasons. "In our last two games, we haven't played to our potential. I can't quite put my finger on it."

The loss was the Eagles' third defeat in their last four games and fourth in their last six, though the 6-4A teams are among the toughest in the state. In the most recent coaches association poll, Volcano was No. 5 in Class 4A, with the Eagles at No. 5, Grants No. 7 and St. Pius No. 10.

The Eagles, who were set to host St. Pius late Tuesday after News-Bulletin press time, will play at Volcano Vista on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Volcano game was moved from its original Friday date due to VVHS setting up for Saturday's 6-4A wrestling tournament.

Last Friday, the game was fairly even in the first half, Jaramillo said, with Grants attempting to press the Eagles and Belen beating the press and scoring well at times.

Down 40-35 at halftime, the Eagles would trail 56-42 at the end of the third quarter, due largely to points Grants scored in the paint, said Jaramillo.

"It's frustrating," "said Jaramillo. "We work on that every single day, guarding the paint."

The Pirates, known for their 3-point shooting, had that element of their game largely taken away by the Eagles on Friday. Grants' three-point sharpshooter, senior Brandon Rael, was held to a pair of first-half treys by BHS and went scoreless in the second half, finishing with six points.

But Grants was able to drive to the basket, especially in the third quarter.

Grants' Chris Lopez couldn't be contained by the Eagles. The slashing junior guard went for 26 points Friday, much of that from dribble-driving into the paint, while teammates Eddie Gonzales and Isaiah Whitmore each had 14.

Jayson Gurule led the Eagles in scoring Friday with 19 points. Orlando Garcia had a career-high 13 points in the loss, and Jaramillo said both Gurule and Garcia got some of their looks at the basket in the first half when Grants' ineffective press was in effect.

Garcia's total is likely a career high.

Eagle point guard Josh Mattox was stifled for the second straight game, finishing with only five points.

"Josh is a marked man," said Jaramillo. "Teams know how good he is. He's always going to have at least one good defender on him."

The Eagles played at Grants yet again without guard Brandon Santiago. Jaramillo didn't comment on why the senior has missed several recent games. He said Monday it was too early to tell if Santiago will be available for Friday's game at Volcano. The Hawks won 55-38 at Belen on Feb. 2.

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