Peñasco takes on Cimarron for Homecoming
The Peñasco Lady Panthers beat the Cimarron Lady Rams for the second time this season Saturday (Jan. 19). This week’s victory at La Jicarita Gym came with a wider margin than the single point that separated the two teams in their Dec. 17 matchup that ended 71-70.
The first half wasn’t looking especially good for the Lady Panthers. They were behind and struggling against the size of Cimarron’s team, but the Lady Panthers were able to regroup. They pulled ahead and maintained their lead, at times conservatively, dribbling the ball around the circle to drain time from the clock until the referees instructed them to get a move on.
On the south side of the gym sat a group of students in dresses and slacks. The stands of La Jicarita Gym were packed, the banisters decorated with balloons and streamers of yellow and blue. The band offered support when the ball wasn’t in play and the young spirit squad called out “Sink it, Adrianna! Sink it!” while Adrianna Tafoya stood at the free throw line.
Though Cimarron gained a slight advantage again in the fourth quarter, Peñasco resumed control and finished the game with the 59-53 win.
Before the boys could take the court, there was the presentation of the nominees for homecoming court and the announcement of the winners. Princess Leandra Romero, Prince Donovan Mascareñas, Duchess Rhyen Vigil and Duke Matias Vigil were presented with sashes, and Queen Bianca Contreras and King Dennis Martinez Jr. with sashes, capes, crowns and, for Bianca, flowers.
Indeed, this is the same Bianca who only moments before fought for the 59-53 win with the rest of her team, transformed almost instantaneously from basketball attire to someone who appeared to have taken the afternoon to get ready.
The boys’ game brought a surprise to many – Cimarron not least of all. The Panthers gained an early lead, thanks to four 3-pointers from Elijah Lucero in the first period alone. They maintained their advantage for the whole of the first quarter, which ended 14-12. The Rams eventually puzzled out how to cover Lucero and were
able to tie it up early in the second. The Rams were up by 5 with 2:39 to go in the half, but the Panthers inched closer and the boys headed into the locker room at 23-24 Rams.
In the second half, the Panthers were unable to sustain the pace they’d set against the big and strong team from Cimarron and gradually fell further behind. The final score of the game was 65-41.
TAOS Basketball
Both the Tigers and the Lady Tigers took part in the Hope Christian Invitational Thursday - Saturday (Jan. 17-19).
Boys
The Taos Tigers, now 11-6, went 2-1 in the tournament. They started the tournament with a win 66-56 against Bloomfield Thursday (Jan. 17). Friday (Jan. 18), they lost 70-59 to St. Pius X and then went on to beat Shiprock 91-43 Saturday (Jan. 19) for third place.
Their next game is against the Pojoaque Elks, Saturday (Jan. 26) at home, where they are still unbeaten this season.
Girls
The 2-12 Lady Tigers were seeded against Hope Christian in the first round of the tournament Thursday (Jan. 17). They lost 67-28. In the second they beat Hot Springs 63-43, which put them against Bloomfield. The Lady Bobcats won 46-33.
Swimming
The Taos High School Swim Team competed in the Horseman Invitational at the Genoveva Chavez Center in Santa Fe Saturday (Jan 19). Both the boys’ and the girls’ teams swam fast, with most of the swimmers achieving personal best times throughout the course of the meet.
The girls were led by freshman Grace Goler who placed first in both the 50 Freestyle and the 100 Butterfly. She beat her existing state-qualifying times in both events. Aricela Chavez placed second in the
100 Freestyle and 4th in the
100 Backstroke. Maye Montoya placed sixth in the 100 Breaststroke. The girls 400 Freestyle Relay — consisting of Goler, Chavez, Maye Montoya and Veronica Montoya — placed fifth.
Senior Hunter Griego led the boys with two first-place finishes and personal best times in the 200 Freestyle and the 100 Butterfly. Diego Griego placed second in the 500 Freestyle and fourth in the 100 Breaststroke. Lorenzo Cordova placed sixth in the 100 Freestyle. The boys
400 Freestyle Relay, composed of Hunter Griego, Diego Griego, Cordova and newcomer Uriel Chavez, took second.
The boys’ and the girls’ teams next compete in the Griffen Invitational hosted by Santa Fe Prep on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Genoveva Chavez Center in Santa Fe.
Wrestling
The Taos Tiger Wrestling team took fourth place in the Gene Gagliardi Invitational in Trinidad, Colorado, Saturday ( Jan. 19).
Estevan Valerio seized first place in the 182 pound division, beating all three of his opponents by fall. Dominic Lopez took second place in the 285 pound division. Thomas Clarkson (113 pound), Christopher Valencia (126 pound) and Tyler Valencia (138 pound) each won third place in their divisions, while Clayton Demas won fourth in the 220 pound division and Justin Good placed sixth in the 170 pound division.
Hockey
The hockey team had the week off from traveling and competing. Their next games are Jan. 26 and 27 in Albuquerque, where they play La Cueva at 9:15 a.m. and then Cibola at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 26); they then play La Cueva again Sunday at 9:45 a.m.