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Expectations? Playoffs or bust for local girls’ basketball teams
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Los Lunas and Valencia are confident they will return to post season action for a second straight year, while the Belen Eagles believe they will surprise the rest of the state.
Belen Eagles
“We’ll have a different look,” said Belen coach Sam Gavaldon, promising “a lot of new things up our sleeve,” after a disappointing season (11-16, 3-5) one year ago.
While Gavaldon wouldn’t share what the “new things” are, he is confident.
“Don’t be surprised if you see us in the Pit,” at the state tournament.
This confidence comes from a veteran lineup, including sisters Jaelynn and Danilynn Bob, “excellent shooters,” Jadarose Wright, who “pushes the ball,” post Brooke DeLeon and point guard Sara Martinez.
“I’m excited,” said Martinez. “We can do a lot better than we’ve been doing. I’m just looking forward to it.”
Because BHS is not a tall team inside, relying on Brooke DeLeon for rebounding strength, look for the Eagles to use their speed.
“You will see a lot of pressure defense, a lot of up and down the court,” the coach said. “We’ve added all the pieces to our puzzle. We’re ready.”
On Tuesday, Belen hosted Valley, after the print deadline of News-Bulletin.
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Valencia Jaguars
Valencia (19-12, 5-3) got a taste of it last year, a trip to the 4A state playoffs that included a home victory over Lovington. Now the Jaguars come into this season with big expectations.
“We’re always trying to get that blue trophy (first place), so that’s a big goal of ours,” said Jadyn Montoya, who was one of New Mexico’s leading scorers at 20.6 points per game. “We just have more manpower,” Montoya said about the Jaguars deeper bench.
Raymond Montoya, no relation, was hired as head coach shortly before the start of last season, missing out on an off-season program.
“A lot of the girls lived in the gym, put in a lot of work this summer,” said coach Montoya. “I think we’ll play a lot faster than we did last year. We should have a lot more depth to really implement our style.”
Many of the Jaguars are familiar to basketball fans. Aside from Jadyn Montoya, there are athletic sisters Jaiden and Eden Montgomery inside and Francesca Otero and Isabel Zamora on the perimeter.
The Jaguars’ first game was Tuesday at Gallup, after News-Bulletin’s print deadline.
Los Lunas Tigers
After improving by 13 victories from the previous year and reaching the 5A state tournament, Los Lunas (19-11, 9-1) will not catch anyone by surprise this season.
“People recognize us now,” said Manny Vigil, LLHS second year coach. “I’m expecting that we can play with the top teams. That’s our goal, to compete with anybody we have to play.”
Most of the Tigers return from the team that won District 5-5A. Back from injury are post Alyssa Campos and Vayda Golino.
“Vayda will be taking over the point guard duties,” Vigil said about replacing Scarlet Marez, last year’s only senior.
“I definitely think our defense is the best part of us — our pressing,” said Golino.
Shooting guard Tessa Jaramillo, the Tigers’ top returning scorer, “has been playing great,” Vigil said.
The coaching staff and players are “starting to think the same. Our wavelengths are similar,” Vigil believes. “We play hard. We’re physical. That’s kind of our ‘go to now,’ our physicality.”
LLHS only has five home games before district, including Valencia and Belen. The Tigers started the season Tuesday at Las Cruces, after the News-Bulletin print deadline.
