Saturday, August 2, 2008

Tiger hoops players strong at Jaguar fundraiser tournament

Walter, Marquez shine at Romero's first VHS hoops event

Jason W. Brooks News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jbrooks@news-bulletin.com

Tomé A 3-on-3 fundraiser for the Valencia High School boys basketball program had a distinct Los Lunas Tiger presence, as the winning team in two of the three age divisions had current LLHS players.

Aaron Marquez and Max Walter were both members of a team called "Ronald McDonald's," a squad that won both the high school and adult divisions of the July 24 tourney, held at VHS. The one-day event drew 22 teams, and many local and Albuquerque-area players showed up and helped support the VHS boys hoops program.

Valencia, in its third year as a high school, will compete in varsity boys basketball for the first time in 2008-09, joining District 5-4A under new coach Dominick Romero.

A team called "J's" won the middle school division, which had five teams.

Justin Storey, Santiago Ibuado, Kane Beats and Nathaniel Hernandez were all on the winning team.

The runner-up among the mid-schoolers was T-Man Team, which consisted of Tristen Sanchez, Hector Ayala, Ryan Kline and Marcos Griego.

The high school division was the largest with 10 squads. Marquez and Walter were joined by Brad Lardner to form the winning high school group.

Runners-up in the high school division were a team called the Saintz, featuring another player with LLHS varsity hoops experience: Ladaundre Cage. Desion Roy and Devante Roy were also on the team.

Rob Arambula was Marquez's and Walter's teammate on the adult squad called "Ronald McDonald's." Jeff Kerby, Joey Bertrand and Josiah Patterson formed the Chinchillas, a team that took second among the adults.

The winner of the 3-point shooting contest was Nicholas Nagel of Valley High School.

Romero organized a number of successful 3-on-3 fundraisers in the last few years while coaching the Socorro High School boys team. He said he wants to thank Los Lunas sponsors for helping with his first VHS fundraiser, including Coldstone Creamery, Big C's Pizza, Ribs, Checker Auto Parts, Pizza Hut of Los Lunas, Auto Zone and Caliente Designs.

Romero hopes to stage at least one tournament each summer and begin a VHS tradition.

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