The first-place showdown in District 5-4A boys basketball was every bit as close as expected.
In what might be the first of a handful of matchups between these two teams between now and mid-March, No. 1-ranked Highland held off No. 4 St. Pius 51-50 at Highland on Tuesday night.
“Great game,” Hive coach Justin Woody said.
For St. Pius (13-7, 3-1), it had a couple of looks at a potential game-winning shot in the final 20 seconds; Brian Kalb, who had 17 points for the Sartans, had two mid-range shots that could have put St. Pius in front.
Alexis Dominguez led the Hornets (15-6, 4-0) with 21 points. The next meeting is Feb. 17 at St. Pius.
From District 1-5A, Cleveland and Volcano Vista won matchups on Tuesday night ahead of their huge meeting later this week.
At Rio Rancho, the third-ranked Storm (17-5, 4-0) beat the 10th-ranked Rams (14-7, 2-2), 85-74.
Junior guard Daniel Steverson led Cleveland with 31 points; freshman Remy Albrecht added 24 points.
The Storm led by double digits for most of the game, save for a third-quarter surge by Rio Rancho.
Cleveland beat Volcano Vista 53-50 in the teams’ first district meeting.
At Volcano Vista, Class 5A’s top-ranked Hawks (20-1, 3-1) pulled away after halftime and beat shorthanded Atrisco Heritage, 63-48. The sixth-ranked Jaguars (17-5, 1-3) continue to be without one of their most important players, senior guard Chris Parra who suffered an ankle injury in the district opener against Rio Rancho and has not returned to the lineup.
Volcano Vista had a 17-15 lead at halftime, but outscored Atrisco Heritage 25-9 in the third quarter behind Sean Alter’s seven points and several 3-pointers.
In District 2-5A girls action Tuesday night, La Cueva beat visiting Eldorado 56-35.
The Bears (15-6, 4-1) remain one game behind Farmington for first place in district. Jordyn Dyer led La Cueva with 23 points. Alexis Ayers added 17 points.
Eagles sophomore guard Bella Hines had 28 points for Eldorado (9-10, 2-3).
At Sandia, the Matadors (15-5x, 3-2) downed West Mesa (11-9, 1-4), 70-55. Sydney Benally had 29 points, 11 rebounds and five steals for Sandia. Audri Wright added eight points, nine boards and five assists.
NOTE: Hope Christian senior center Kathleen Obisike surpassed 1,000 career rebounds on Tuesday night, grabbing 18 (and scoring 21 points), in the Huskies’ 71-25 victory over Del Norte. Obisike is the fourth Hope girl to achieve at least 1,000 career rebounds.
