Hoops: Girls 4AA capsules
By The New Mexican |Posted: 11/19/2009, 11:00 PM Mountain time
MORA RANGERETTES
Head coach: David Salcido (first season)
2008-09 record: 22-7, lost 70-66 to Lordsburg in Class AA quarterfinals.
Returning starters: Angelica Abeyta, senior, 5-4, guard; Jessica Garcia, senior, 5-7, forward.
Key newcomers: Monique Duran, junior, 5-8, post; Francesca Alexander, junior, 5-8, forward; Andrea Romero, sophomore, 5-6, guard.
Outlook — The Rangerettes have the luxury of a quality program and deep numbers this season, so they are able to field three teams. Mora is blessed with a lot of speed, which Salcido has promised to utilize to its fullest extent.
"We're going to get everything on the break," he said.
Given the program's success, expectations are naturally high, although Salcido tried to temper them to a certain degree.
"I don't want to go too high in expectations," he said. "But I do believe we should be there in the end. I expect to win the district and get into the first round of the state tournament. Then we'll see what happens after that."
Mora's main weakness is a dearth of size.
PECOS LADY PANTHERS
Head coach: Benny Gallegos (sixth season)
2008-09 record: 16-13, lost 69-52 to Peñasco in the first round of the Class AA State Tournament.
Returning starters: Kimberly Armijo, senior, 5-5, guard; Yeshemabet Turner, junior, 5-6, guard; Brianna Gallegos, junior, 5-8, forward; Brittany Gallegos, sophomore, 5-9, forward; Amber Rougemont, junior, 5-5, guard.
Key newcomers: Geneva Rivera, senior, 5-8, forward; Amanda Sanchez, junior, 5-7, forward.
Outlook — With four starters back and some strong interior players coming on, Gallegos has high hopes for the Lady Panthers.
"I expect a lot out of my team this year," he said. "Once I get all my girls back, we should be very good."
The Lady Panthers will be miss two starters for at least a month — one because of an injury, while Turner is on a humanitarian mission. Gallegos expects the guard play to struggle in the early part of the season because of that.
Pecos, however, is the beneficiary of two transfers who will make the team stronger.
"We're going to have one of our biggest teams so we're going to bigger in the paint," Gallegos said. "And we have some good shooters, too. We just have to get our guards seasoned."
MONTE DEL SOL
LADY DRAGONS
Head coach: Nicolas Trouvat
2008-09 record: unavailable
Returning starters: Felicia Anaya, freshman, 5-6, guard; Aisha Herrera, sophomore, 5-6, forward; Alysia Lujan, freshman, 5-6, forward.
Key newcomers: Andrea Lozano, junior, 5-10, forward.
Outlook — There is no where to go up for the Lady Dragons, who are starting over with a new coaching staff.
Trouvat will look to exploit the team's strength, which is its quickness.
"From what I've seen at this point, we have a very fast team," he said. "We work on defense and we try to get the fast break going."
Monte del Sol has to be quick up and down the court because it doesn't have much size outside of Lozano, a Santa Fe High transfer.
"We're not used to getting in the paint and rebounding and that's something we really need to work on," Trouvat said.
SANTA FE PREPARATORY BLUE GRIFFINS
Head coach: Anika Amon (first season)
2008-09 record: 3-20, lost 56-35 to Pecos in the 4AA semifinals.
Returning starters: Dominique Ehrl, sophomore, 6-0, post; Annai Burrola, senior, 5-10, forward.
Key newcomer: Clara Axner, junior, 5-8, guard; Madeline Fort, freshman, 5-7, guard; Jessie Kotsch, freshman, 5-4, guard; Marta Mayarte, sophomore, 5-5, guard.
Outlook — Two exchange students provide an instant influx of talent for the Blue Griffins, who are in their second go-round under Amon. Prep also has some height, which will give it an advantage when district play starts.
"I think we can be competitive in the district," Amon said. "We have some very strong leaders."
The Blue Griffins may struggle at times on the offensive end, but Amon expects to see a strong defensive effort on the court every night.
"I'm trying to get them to believe in themselves," she said. "Offense is so much about confidence. We're going to be strong on defense, we just need them to believe that they can score."
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