Prep basketball: Elkettes 'a little sloppy' in win over Demonettes
12/1/2008
Yes, the undefeated Elkettes won their third straight, a 68-40 dissection of the Demonettes of Santa Fe High School in Ben Lujan Gymnasium.
But amid the frivolity, the lack of fundamentally sound basketball was the focus of one set of eyes — those belonging to Pojoaque Valley head coach Lanse Carter.
"It's my job to be critical," Carter said. "It was a good win, and the girls had fun out there. But I want us to be better."
Pojoaque Valley wasted 17 steals by committing 19 turnovers.
"We got a little sloppy at times," Carter said. "We need to correct some habits."
There's time.
That was the message head coach Bill Dimas delivered to his winless Demonettes, who opened the season against Gallup, one of the elite programs in Class AAAAA, before facing the Elkettes, the reigning state champions from Class AAA.
"Don't hang your heads," Dimas told his team in the locker room.
"It's only the second game of the season. Every game, we just need to get better."
Dimas saw defensive improvements against the Elkettes. He also saw his team miss 40 field goals. The Demonettes made 15, including Marquel Aragon's half-court buzzer-beater at game's end.
"Those are shots we can normally make in practice," Dimas said. "Our confidence level needs to go up a notch."
It should Thursday, when Santa Fe High takes the court against Deming in the first round of the Lady Jaguars Invitational at Capital High.
Deming is not in the same conversation as Gallup and Pojoaque Valley.
"It's tough to get ready for two state contenders with only two full weeks of practice," Dimas said. "That is an excellent team."
The Elkettes showed only glimpses of the team that everyone talks about. In one, they stitched together an 18-2 scoring run to fashion a 33-12 advantage with 3:05 left in the second quarter.
It was 41-14 at halftime.
Ellen Cruz of Pojoaque Valley and Clarissa Garcia of Santa Fe High shared game-high scoring honors with 13 points. Cruz, though, had the support of Dionna Montoya and Jackie Bartleson, who followed with 12 and 11, respectively.
Felisha Acuña complemented Garcia with nine.