Freshman Gad Harris paves the way for No. 2 Sandia against La Cueva

The Sandia Matadors did not survive the first scare against La Cueva.

They did manage to survive the second scare.

But just barely.

Only 13 days after blowing a 22-point lead to the Bears in what eventually became a double-overtime victory for La Cueva, Class 5A’s second-ranked boys basketball team led for all but three seconds — the first three seconds — and held off visiting La Cueva 67-64 in a crucial District 2-5A matchup on Friday night.

“I mean, that first game was rough,” Sandia senior forward Thomas Adams said. He had 14 points Friday in the win. “Coming into this one, we really wanted to win, make a statement. We just needed to win, by any means necessary.”

The Bears had two looks at a 3-pointer in the final several seconds, the first a decent look, the second less of one. Neither fell, and Sandia (19-3, 5-1) inched in front of No. 9-ranked La Cueva (13-9, 4-2) in the 2-5A standings.

“The last five seconds was a culmination of the whole game,” Sandia coach Danny Brown said. “They just out-physicaled us on the glass, that’s what it was. That’s why they had a chance to win the game.”

When La Cueva won in two overtimes two weeks ago, it was a late 3 that forced overtime.

“This time,” Brown said, “the basketball gods were on our side.”

So was freshman point guard Gad Harris, who was brilliant for Sandia. He scored 21 of his game-high (and season high) 31 points in the first half, the final 10 in the fourth quarter, including all four of his free-throw attempts in the final 40 seconds.

“I wanted to get my get-back,” Harris said, referencing the first loss to La Cueva. “So I was eager to win. Playing for so much, playing for first place, we wanted to get that win.”

Sandia is now tied with Santa Fe for first place in district; the Demons had a close game of their own Friday night, holding off Capital 59-58.

Harris scored three seconds into the game off the opening tip. Sandia’s lead bounced around the rest of the night.

It was six at the end of the first quarter, but up to 13 (29-16) just a couple of minutes into the second quarter. The Bears chipped away, and were within eight, 34-26, at halftime.

Early 3s in the third quarter by Adams and Sandia’s other outstanding freshman guard, Isaiah Brown, restored a double-digit lead at 40-30.

“Both of our freshmen, but really Gad, they don’t look like freshmen,” Adams said. “They’re a different breed.”

Led by Hunter Butler and Tony Trujillo, La Cueva scratched back and trailed by only four at 49-45 entering the fourth quarter.

Harris sat most of the third quarter after getting his third foul; he returned in the fourth and was immediately impactful. Harris scored on two impressive reverse layups on drives to the hoop as Sandia led 61-51 with 3:40 remaining.

The Bears pulled within three late on Tre Cowles’ tip-in, a play in which he was also fouled with 7.2 seconds to go. He missed the free throw, but La Cueva rebounded, setting the stage for the two late long-distance attempts that failed.

Brown said Harris was “due” for a breakout game like this. Harris was 4-of-5 from the arc and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.

“I don’t want to say he’s been struggling lately, he just hasn’t been the guy we know he is,” Brown added.

Said Harris with a smile after being asked if he, too, felt like he was due: “I don’t want to sound cocky, but a little bit, I guess.”

Take a look at Sandia's close game against La Cueva: Photos

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