SHS boys basketball team’s win streak snapped

The Socorro High School boys basketball team fell to the second-ranked Sandia Prep on Tuesday, Jan 11, breaking a four game win streak with the 65-57 loss.
With an impressive 10-4 record and a lot of size, SHS head coach Lawrence Baca said he knew it would be a tough match up for the Warriors (7-6).

“We went to our small game — quicker and athletic,” said Baca. “We had chances to win, but the breaks didn’t fall our way. But it was a great all around effort.”
Despite the loss, the Warriors proved they could run with a Class 3A’s top-ranked team.
“We have the confidence we need to win. We know we can play and they understand that these are the teams we have to go through,” Baca said. “We just have to play our style of basketball and do everything right.”
With the Prep defense focusing on shutting down Jared Marquez, the Warriors’ top scorer, he was limited to just five points — his lowest of the season.
However, the rest of the team stepped up. Zach Esquivel scored a season-high 26 points and Ibrahim Maiga put up 19 points.
“That is part of the reason for our success,” Baca said, emphasizing the team concept. “This isn’t a one man show. They are capable of putting up big numbers.”
The Warriors played Rehoboth (13-2) on Thursday, Jan. 13, in the first round of the Hope Christian Invitational in Albuquerque and lost 80-60.
The loss sent Socorro to the consolation bracket where they met Tohatchi on Friday (no results were available at El Defensor Chieftain press time).
The Socorro boys open the all-important District 3-3A season at Hatch Valley on Tuesday, Jan. 18.