Bulldogs get set for district playoff, while Primero girls advance in District Playoffs with win over Aguilar
by David J. Santisteven, Jr.
WESTON — Colorado State basketball history was made last Saturday afternoon in Weston at Primero High School. Bulldog senior 6’0” Vince Damelio scored 61-points, went 24 of 27 from the field, and 10 of 11 from three point land as Primero fell to the South Baca Pirates (16-3) ranked #11 in the latest RPI Rankings 89-74.
Primero, ranked #12 in the RPI rankings, gave the Pirates all they could handle. Damelio also entered the Colorado High School Athletic Association’s record books, now tied for fifth most with 24 shots from the field made in a single contest. His 10 three’s made from long distance ties him for 14th most.
“It was a very special thing to watch because he practically didn’t miss a shot,” said Primero coach Kyle Navarette in an interview with CHSAANow.com.
Primero had just come back from a long trip to Cotopaxi the night before where Damelio had 18-points and eight rebounds in a key Class 1A District-6 35-31 win. In the game against Cotopaxi (13-6)(5-5), freshman Antonio Cordova added nine boards and four blocks, and PHS was three for 13 from the free-throw line in the contest. The Bulldogs held Cotopaxi to just 31 points on 23 percent shooting, causing 17 Cotopaxi turnovers. Cotopaxi was 10 of 21 from the charity strip.
Saturday, the Bulldogs got off to a slow start against South Baca (who co-ops, Pritchett High School, Vilas High School and Campo High School) and fell down 23-12 in the first half. Damelio had 16 heading into halftime. Then, in the second half, Damelio found his groove and helped his team to a 23 point third quarter, but the Pirates had too much firepower from senior Micha Crane who scored 38 points, senior Thomas Manuel who chipped in with 25 points and sophomore Shadow Varnado who had 16 points. Primero did shot 73 percent as a team, but only attempted seven free-throws. South Baca shot 27 of 68 from field and were 24 of 28 from the charity stripe. Each team had 10 turnovers.
Primero will now get ready for the District-6 playoff this weekend, in one of the toughest and best districts in Class 1A Boys Basketball. The Bulldogs are the #3 seed in the D-6 playoffs. Three teams from D-6 are in the Top Ten RPI Rankings: #7 Sierra Grande (16-3), who is the top seed in D-6; #3 Creede (16-3), who is the #2 seed in D-6; and #9 Sangre de Cristo who is the #4 district seed. The Class 1A D-6 playoffs will have games on Friday Feb. 23 with the semi-final games at 5 pm. and 8 pm. The D-6 final on Saturday Feb. 24, is at 3:30 pm. at Adams State University in Alamosa.
In all classes in boys hoops in Colorado, Demelio is sixth in scoring and is second in scoring in Class 1A, averaging 25.6 PPG (scoring 1312 total points). He also is averaging six steals a game for his career. He has averaged 23.3 PPG, and is shooting 51 percent from the field,7.8 RPG and four steals a game, 39 percent from the three point line, and 69 percent from the free-throw line. In his career at Primero he has had 223 steals and 78 block shots.
Primero 13 09 06 07 35 – Cotopaxi 11 05 05 10 31 S.
Baca 23 28 15 23 89 – Primero 12 19 23 20 74
Lady Bulldogs
The young Primero Lady Bulldogs basketball team (6-14) on Monday night at home beat long time rival Lady Wildcats from Aguilar 55-17 to advance in the Colorado High School Girls Basketball Class 1A District-6 playoffs. Behind the play of Kirsten Martinez and Taylor Mestas, the PHS girls will advance to play #3 seed Antonito girls (16-3) who are ranked #9 in the RPI Rankings according to CHSAANow.com
Martinez who is averaging 23 PPG in 2017-2018, scored 33 points. The sophomore was three of seven from long distance behind the three point line, had 21 boards, seven steals and seven assists in the win over Aguilar.
Senior Mestas added eight points, 11 rebounds and had three blocks. Alysia Baca chipped in with six points and seven rebounds. Gabi Griego brought down eight rebounds and hit for four points.
Primero Lady Bulldog Head Coach Mark Martinez after the win said, “Discipline and running our offense were the keys today against Aguilar. Our girls work hard, and have worked to get better with each game, each practice. After the first quarter we wanted to work on our defense and dribble drives and our team work this group of girls even now want to get better.”
The Lady Wildcats were led by freshman Alyssa Torres’ team high six points and nine boards. Destani Garcia, a junior, added six points, five rebounds, and two steals. Savana Costellano had nine rebounds and three blocks.
Aguilar 04 02 07 04 17 – Primero 18 14 18 05 55
