by Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
ALBUQUERQUE — From the very beginning of the NM Boys Class A Championship in the Pit, it was a tough physical brand of basketball played with few whistles and a lot physicality that Coach Eloy Brazil noted after the game was not Maxwell’s style of basketball. But the defending state champion boys held on until late in the game when the size of the Buffaloes played a key roll under the basket in both rebounds and shots.
The #1 seed in the tournament, Melrose posted four boys well over six feet against the two six plus Riggs brothers, Kolton and Kaden, from Maxwell. Under the basket it was a fight for the ball after every shot. Often times the ball would get tipped out for the guards to battle over. Neither team could find the bucket as both teams could only muster 11 points in the first quarter. Again, size made a difference as Maxwell was forced to shoot over the six foot plus Buffaloes.
Maxwell’s Carl Gonzales, Jeremy Archuleta and Wesley Jeffery were held to only one three pointer each in the first half of the game while Kolton Riggs could only muster four points and seven rebounds on the half. The 6’ 6” Jordan Jasso who stuffed shots and often was in the fray for the rebound, managed to put in 11 of the Buffaloes’ 19 first half points, but only pulled in four rebounds.
The figure that stands out in the first half was Maxwell’s 11 turnovers to Melrose’s seven turnovers and 25% shooting average.
Adjustments made by both teams during the halftime break reduced the turnovers, but shooting percentages went down for Maxwell (18%) while improving to 40% for Melrose. The very physical play continued into the second half of the game and Coach Brazil adjusted to try and get the ball inside to Kolton Riggs. However this game saw him battling two big boys as tall or taller than he is to get into the paint and up to the basket. The weave play that Brazil instituted also freed up one of the boys out on the wings. The shots were close but only 18% meant that few fell through the bucket.
As the third quarter progressed Melrose managed to expand on their minuscule three point lead to eight at the end of the quarter. In the fourth quarter, time became the enemy of the Bears as Melrose broadened their lead to 10 but faltered to allow the Bears to get back within six.
The pressure and a couple of lucky bounces expanded the Melrose lead to 10 and finally 13 when the final buzzer sounded on the Class A state title game, giving Melrose this year’s title of State Champions, a sweet sort of revenge after Maxwell toppled Melrose last year in the semi-final game. Late in the game, senior Karl Gonzales dropped in the last two points of his basketball career and the game for Maxwell from the free throw line. It was the only time he went to the free throw line in the entire game. Maxwell only attempted a total of eight free throws and sank five, while Melrose went to the line 18 times, making 12.
Junior guard Jeremy Archuleta often faced two to three Buffaloes at the half court line. He noted after the game that all he could do was to power through while Coach Brazil added he is a good ball handler and makes it tough for the press to keep him contained.
When asked if he would coach again next year, Brazil noted that Gabriel Peña is his grandson and as long as his grandson plays, he will probably coach.
Maxwell’s high point players were Gonzales with 18 and two of two free throws and four 3-pointers; Jeffery with three; Kaden Riggs with one; Kolton Riggs with six; Archuleta with nine. On free throws, the team made five of eight attempts.
Melrose high point scorers were Jasso at 19 and four of five free throws; Blake Devaney at 12 and zero for two free throws; Tristen Sena at three; Sterling Sena with six; Carson Fraze with three; and Hunter Sorgen with seven.
Maxwell. 11 5 11 10 37
Melrose 11 8 16 15 50
