Boys metro final: Volcano Vista survives another scare, wins another title

Volcano Vista’s Spirit Cook, right, attempts a shot while being defended by Sandia’s Mason Howell during Saturday’s Albuquerque Metro Championships at La Cueva.

James Yodice James Yodice James Yodice Journal Staff Writer

Published January 11, 2025 - 9:47 p.m. Modified January 12, 2025 - 11:12 a.m.

Like Hobbs and Rio Rancho before them this week, the Sandia Matadors pushed Volcano Vista to almost the very limit.

Sandia, like anyone with a New Mexico ZIP code, has been trying to solve the Hawks’ boys basketball program for the better part of three years.

Saturday night at La Cueva, the second-ranked Matadors were within a point with 30 seconds left, and close to what would have been a significant tournament championship.

But a key call didn’t go the Matadors’ way late, and No. 1 Volcano Vista buried several free throws at the end for a tense and exciting 61-57 victory before a large and engaged crowd at La Cueva.

The win marked Volcano Vista’s fourth consecutive Albuquerque Metro Championships title.

“It’s special,” Hawks coach Greg Brown said. “It’s a credit to our guys, and our program and the hard work that we put in.”

Saturday ended what was easily the most strenuous 10 days in the history of the Hawks program.

They played seven games over those 10 days, and no fewer than five of them were hugely competitive matchups. That included three games at a national tournament in Phoenix last weekend and four more games this week at metros.

Hobbs was within a point of the Hawks with 2½ minutes to go Tuesday in the first round before falling. Rio Rancho was leading Volcano Vista in the fourth quarter in Friday’s semifinals before the Rams, too, came up short.

And Sandia was on the fringe of an upset Saturday.

The Hawks (12-2) were up 10 near the end of the third quarter, but the Matadors (12-2; both losses to Volcano Vista) fought back.

Gad Harris, Thomas Adams, Mason Howell and Isaiah Brown all contributed offensively for Sandia, which got within a point (49-48) with just under five minutes remaining.

For Volcano Vista, Kenyon Aguino’s three-point play, and Hudson Brown’s 3-pointer, helped keep Sandia at bay for a bit, but the Matadors persisted.

Harris had a three-point play, and he also dished out a nifty assist to Zaire Ndyabagye, whose layup with 32 seconds left got Sandia again within one, this time 58-57.

As the Hawks inbounded the ball, there appeared to be a ball that went off Aguino’s foot in the backcourt and rolled out of bounds. The ball was awarded to Volcano Vista.

“That was off (the Sandia player’s) foot,” Aguino said with a smile when asked about it.

And this possession led to two Aguino free throws with 17.4 seconds remaining for a 60-57 lead. Harris at the other end didn’t get a clean look at a 3. It missed, and Volcano Vista hit another free throw with under a second to go by David Lunn.

“It’s been a lot of games (these last 10 days), we’re trying to take our days off and enjoy them,” said Lunn, who finished with 20 points. “But it’s been tough. Our legs have been tired, everyone has been a little tired, but now that we we’re here, everyone wanted it.”

Aguino led Volcano Vista with 22 points.

“We knew they were in the game the whole time,” Aguino said of Sandia. “And with their shooting ability, we were never in a comfortable lead.”

Harris scored a team-best 20 points for Sandia.

“Credit to Sandia,” Greg Brown said. “They were resilient, like always. … We found a way. It wasn’t the prettiest defensive effort, but it’s a win and we’ll take it and move on.”