Prep basketball: Mesa Vista tested, tried and ready for NRG tournament

Defending champion Trojans open as top seed

Pancho Morris | The New Mexican

1/5/2009 - 1/6/09

The Trojans of Mesa Vista High School are tournament tested.

First place, Grizzly Shoot Out.

Runner-up, Tularosa Basin Classic.

Consolation champ, Ben Luján Tournament.

Don't be fooled by the slide. The Trojans were seven points shy of a second title in Tularosa and five points short of a semifinal spot in the Ben Luján. Of their three losses this season, exactly one is against teams in their classification.

So, why all the tournament talk in early January and not March, the month of the Class AA State Basketball Tournament?

Because on Wednesday, Mesa Vista enters the 61st annual Northern Rio Grande Tournament in Ben Luján Gymnasium as top seed and defending champion.

The NRG showcases the Who's Who of Northern New Mexico in AA. Well, most of them. A year ago, Monte del Sol was worthy of an invitation. This season, it's Santa Fe Preparatory.

Neither is a member of the NRG and the tournament is steeped in tradition, though only McCurdy School is the lone survivor from the original cast of Santa Cruz, El Rito, Los Alamos, Taos, Espanola, St. Catherine Indian School and Pojoaque.

Past performances, though, have zero impact on the present. But it can portend the future.

"We have three out of four district teams in the tournament," Joe Gurule, Peñasco head coach, says. "We also have two other teams — Pecos and Mora — that we could meet in the first round of state if we get out of district. You like to get a feel of what's going to happen down the line."

Mesa Vista (11-3) and Peñasco (8-6) are placed in opposite brackets. The District 3AA rivals already met in the Ben Luján Tournament, with the Trojans winning 73-54.

"Potentially, we could play them three or four more times," Gurule says.

There are two regular-season district games scheduled. Their paths also could cross in the postseason district tournament, the state tournament and the NRG.

Gurule says the Trojans' seeding is deserved.

"Their guards are real tough," he says. "They have the big man, but their outside shooting is what killed us. When we played them we were without one of our guards, Michael Visarraga, who broke his hand."

Visarraga isn't expected back for three more weeks. Others stepped forward. So much so that the Panthers upset Santa Rosa, 68-60, for the title at the Tri City Tournament in Santa Rosa.

Why does that win matter?

Because Santa Rosa pinned a 67-61 loss on Mesa Vista in the championship game in Tularosa and the Lions will be part of the state tournament picture.

"I think we can be just as competitive," Gurule says of his third-seeded Panthers.

Nothing like another tournament to test that theory.

QUARTERFINALS

Wednesday

• Escalante vs. McCurdy School, 6 p.m.

• Mesa Vista vs. Dulce, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday

• Peñasco vs. Coronado, 6 p.m.

• Pecos vs. Mora, 7:30 p.m.

* Games played in Ben Luján Gymnasium