Basketball Lady Mustangs still #1
by David Tesitor
KIM/ BRANSON — Despite their 39-34 upset loss to Holly, the Lady Mustangs retained their # 1 ranking in the latest RPI through January 30. The Mustangs trailed 18-8 at the half but came galloping back with a 23-12 point run in the third and took a one point lead going into the fourth quarter only to let it slip being outscored 9-4. The Mustangs fell to 1-1 in league action (11-2) overall. Holly, ranked #8 in the RPI is 3-1. The Mustangs went 2-1 this past week. Kim will host Granada tomorrow with action beginning at 4 pm.
Kim/ Branson 4 4 23 4 35 – Holly 6 12 12 9 39
Mustangs 0 for 3
by David Tesitor
KIM/ BRANSON — The Mustang men’s basketball team went 0-3 this past week falling to 1-1 in league action after their 66-34 loss to Holly and 5-8 overall on the season. The Mustangs could not stop Holly’s Jesse Gomez who shot 20 points and 11 rebounds from completing the double-double or Jesus Dominquez 18 points. Holly is 14-0 and the number one team in the state in both RPI and ChsaaNow.
Kim/ Branson 11 6 10 7 34 – Holly 19 20 12 15 66
Primero Bulldogs go 2-3 for weekend
by David Tesitor
WESTON — The Primero Bulldogs men’s basketball team went 2-3 this weekend, with impressive victories over the Centennial Rams 52-46 and the Springfield Longhorns 54-28. They lost to the Sierra Grand Panthers 73-59. Against the Rams, Vince Damelio and Antonio Cordova led the Bulldog scoring with 14 points. Primero shot 47% from the field.
In their game against the Longhorns, Damelio exploded for 25 points shooting 56% from the field. He had nine rebounds. Cordova scored 17. The Panthers opened up strong with a 37-28 halftime, led then pulled away, with 22 points in the third to put the game away. Damelio was once again the Bulldog leading scorer with 21 points. Joey Archuleta scored 16 and Cordova scored 10. Primero has three games on the road beginning with Antonito (TBA) on February 1, Des Moines February 2 at 5 pm and Raton on the 3rd at 3 pm.
Primero 17 17 14 4 52 – Centennial 3 7 15 21 46
Springfield 8 6 2 12 28 – Primero 7 13 17 17 54
Sierra Grande 17 20 22 14 73 – Primero 13 15 11 20 59
Primero girls lose three
by David Tesitor
WESTON — The Primero Lady Bulldogs had a tough week, losing three in a row and falling to sixth place in league action with a 3-3 record and 4-8 overall. The losses included a 46-31 loss to Centennial, to Springfield 64-20 and a mauling by the Sierra Grand Panthers 74-14, Sierra Grand leads the league. Springfield is the #3 ranked team in the State.
Against Centennial, the Bulldogs faltered in the second half and were outscored 24-8 to lose the game. Mercifully, the 35 point rule kicked in during the games against Springfield and Sierra Grand as the clock continued to run. Both coaches showed great sportsmanship in pilling their starters and not running up the score. The usually high scoring Kirsten Martinez of Primero was contained bur still managed to score 15 against Centennial and all 14 points against Sierra Grand.
Primero 8 15 3 5 31 – Centennial 8 4 3 11 46
Springfield 15 16 21 12 64 – Primero 0 5 5 10 20
S.Grande 20 18 14 12 72 – Primero 5 3 4 2 14
Hoehne Farmers lose sixth in a row
by David Tesitor
HOEHNE/SWINK — The Hoehne Farmers boys’ basketball team suffered their fifth and sixth losses in a row as the Swallows Charter Academy Spartans trounced Hoehne 62-35 and the Swink Lions won a game which was closer than the final 60-51 score indicated.
With the losses, the Farmers fell into a tie with John Mall for fifth place in the District 6 standings with a record of 3-6 and overall 7-7. This was the Farmers’ sixth loss in a row.
SCA is a full game ahead of the Farmers. No statistics were available by press deadline. The Farmers will travel to Las Animas Friday for a 4 pm tipoff and host Crowley County Saturday at 4 pm.
Hoehne 5 3 8 19 35 – Swallows 15 13 17 17 62
Swink 16 11 14 19 60 – Hoehne 10 4 10 21 51
Lady Farmers split games
by David Tesitor
HOEHNE/PUEBLO WEST — The Hoehne Farmers defeated The Swallow Charter Academy Spartans 49-14 last Friday to win their second league game of the season. They are now 2-7 and 6-8 overall, in a tie with John Mall for sixth place. In the game Shaylee Walton hit the double-double with 25 points and 10 boards.
On the following night, the Swink Lions continue to dominate all league opponents, defeating the Farmers by the score of 42-33. Walton one again had an outstanding game, scoring 29 of the teams 33 points.
The Farmers will be at Las Animas tomorrow and then host Crowley County on Saturday with a 2 pm tipoff.
Hoehne 21 14 4 10 49 – Swallows 2 3 6 3 14
Swink 10 13 6 13 42 – Hoehne 4 12 8 9 33
John Mall Lady Panthers drop two
by David Tesitor
WALSENBURG/ROCKY FORD — The John Mall Lady Panthers lost a pair of league games this week. The first was against league leading Rocky Ford who holds a 9-1 league record, by the score of 42-24. The second was at home against Fowler with a final score of 58-17. In both games, turnovers and poor shooting from the field were contributing factors in the loss.
The Lady Panthers will be at Swink to begin a three game league schedule. They will face the Lions February 2 with tipoff at 4 pm (JV), Saturday against Swallows Charter 2pm (JV). On Tuesday they will be at Crowley County with JV games beginning at 4 pm.
John Mall 9 5 4 6 24 – Rocky Ford 13 15 5 9 42
Fowler 15 8 15 20 58 – John Mall 2 8 2 5 17
Panthers hoopsters lose second in a row
by David Tesitor
WALSENBURG/ROCKY FORD — The John Mall Panthers lost two league games last week and fell into sixth place in District 6 standings, one-half game behind the Hoehne Farmers. John Mall now sports a 3-6 league record with Hoehne but is 4-10 overall.
The Panthers could not keep pace with the Meloneers as they fell behind early and could not contain the hot shooting Rocky Ford team. Mercifully, the running clock prevented Rocky Ford from scoring even more points.
The Panthers lost the battle under the boards, pulling down a total of 13. Leading the way for the Panthers was Nikko Vallejos who scored 11 points.
The scene was much the same the next day when Fowler came to town, winning a decisive 50 – 28 game. The Grizzlies opened up a 24 – 11 lead by the half and never looked back. Philip Valdez led the Panthers with seven points. Armando Ruiz scored six.
Fowler won the rebound statistics with a total 42 boards compared the Panthers’ 22. John Mall had only one offensive board which helped contribute to the lack of offensive scoring.
The Panthers will travel to Swink Friday to begin a three game league schedule. Tipoff is at 4 pm (JV), Saturday against Swallows Charter 2pm (JV) and on Tuesday at Crowley County with JV games beginning at 4 pm.
John Mall 2 2 12 5 31 – Rocky Ford 25 22 22 6 75
Fowler 12 12 14 12 50 – John Mall 5 6 9 8 28
RPI Rankings
by David Tesitor
The local teams continue to show in the latest RPI rankings. The Kim Lady Mustangs remained #1 with a RPI of .846 and 11-2 record in 1A.
The La Veta Lady Redskins are #11 (.510- 11-2). In 1A men’s basketball, the Primero Bulldogs are the highest ranked local team at #15 with a RPI of .523 (8-3 record)
