Laguna Acoma is riding a 16-game winning streak

No team in Class 2A girls basketball can boast a winning tradition like the Texico Wolverines.

The defending champions have won seven state titles since 2000, including four of the last six.

But, for the first time since 2008, the Wolverines can’t stake claim to the No. 1 seed.

While that honor belongs to Laguna Acoma this season, No. 2 Texico may still be the favorite to bring home another blue trophy.

“I think the association is showing disrespect towards Texico. Nothing against Laguna, but Texico’s program speaks for itself,” Mora coach Mark Cassidy said. “My pick would be Texico. Until somebody can knock that team out, they’re still the champions and they’ve proven it year after year.”

Laguna Acoma is led by a triumvirate of seniors — Raquel Aguino, Randi Romero and Aubree Carr — and leading scorer Lacy Natseway, a junior who is averaging 16.3 points per game.

“We were just so happy to get the one seed,” Laguna Acoma coach Randy Hunt said. “We were happy that people think we have a good game and had a good season. But it means nothing right now. That just puts a target on our backs and it causes other coaches to take notice of what we’re doing.”

The Hawks, who finished the regular season with a 25-3 record and a 16 game-winning streak, advanced to the second round with a 77-15 win over Mesa Vista on Friday.

“We really like our chances, but we have to put it on the court,” Hunt said. “We have to really put a good game together.”

No, 3 Navajo Pine, which beat Santa Fe Prep 53-27 in the first round, has reached the 2A title game three straight years, beating Texico in 2011 and losing to the Wolverines in 2010 and last year.

The Warriors (24-4) ride an 18-game winning streak into the state tournament and are led by senior guard Demetria Clichee, who scores 16.2 points per game.

No. 4 Mora is led by do-it-all guard Chantel Rivera, who averages 18.2 points per game, and post Destiny Pacheco, who scores 11.6 points and grabs 7.5 rebounds per game. The Rangers won a tough battle against Rehoboth 47-37 in the first round.

Mora has won 17 games in a row and finished the season with a 26-2 record, the best record in 2A, but was seeded only fourth.

“We got a four seed because the knock on us is that our district is weak and we played a weak schedule,” Cassidy said. “I guess we have to prove ourselves. If we don’t win, then the critics are right and I have to change our schedule next year to make it tougher.”

Today, the race to unseat Texico from atop 2A begins at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Laguna Acoma plays No. 9 Hatch Valley (13-14), No. 12 Clayton (15-13) plays Mora, and Navajo Pine battles No. 6 Zuni (20-9). Texico plays No. 10 Navajo Prep (14-12).

“Texico just keeps on reloading and (Texico head coach Richard) Luscombe does a good job,” Hunt said. “I think they’re the team to beat. I expect them to be in at least the semifinals if not the final. If we can take care of our half of the bracket, we’ll be staring down the barrel and I like our chances.”
— This article appeared on page C9 of the Albuquerque Journal