Magdalena teams return to their winning ways

All of Magdalena’s JV and varsity teams picked up wins at home against Ramah on Jan. 6. Magdalena had given themselves a good challenge for the start of the new year by hosting the powerhouse program of Fort Sumner/House at home on Jan. 1. On the first, the Foxes and Vixens of Fort Sumner/House won both of the JV games as well as both of the varsity games, so the Jan. 6 wins were a good reset for the Magdalena teams before heading into the Jal Tournament.

Girls

The Magdalena girls had already bounced back from their New Year’s Day loss to Fort Sumner/House with a 62-32 win at Tularosa. On Jan. 6, the Magdalena girls fought their way back after a slow third quarter for a 49-40 win over Ramah at home. 

“I thought we played three really good quarters. We have a tendency to let up in that third quarter. And I don't know if it's just we relax or just don't come out focused after halftime. I think we gave up 22 points in that third quarter, which almost came back to bite us, but I was really proud of the way we responded defensively in the fourth.” Olney said.

“Once we get going defensively, everything starts to click. I think our mindset changed, and we finished off strong,” Olney said.

#2 Jema Ganadonegro scored four 3-pointers along the way to 17 points for the night, and #5 Elia Cleveland put 15 points up against Ramah. Olney did not give any specific players shout-outs for the day’s game, but instead said that it was a good team effort.

“I thought everybody contributed well tonight, I thought everybody did their part. We have some people that are sick, which is no excuse at all, but I thought everybody did their job when their job needed to be done, pretty much. I don't think there was anybody that just overtook. I think we all stepped up and helped each other out,” Olney said.

The Magdalena girls kept on rolling straight through the Jal Tournament with three wins and a first place finish: W 49-32 over Eunice on Jan. 8, W 58-41 against a non-varsity team opponent on Jan. 9 and W 50-44 against the home team, Jal, on Jan 10.

The Magdalena JV girls team won their game 29-23 over Ramah.

The Magdalena girls are now 15-2 overall for the season. They beat Capitan 65-31 on Jan. 13.

Boys

The Steers came out really strong in their first game back from the loss on the first. They beat Ramah 59-20 at home that day. The JV Steers team got a solid win against Ramah as well, 64-51.

“Good. I think we're still trying to improve. I see glimpses of what we can do. So that's exciting, I was proud of them for their effort tonight,” Head Coach Jory Mirabal said about how his team performed on Jan. 6.

#21 Kanaan Stephens led the way in scoring for the Steers with 17 points in the game against Ramah.

The Steers varsity team carried that momentum into the Jal Tournament from Jan. 8-10 by winning two games: W 39-29 versus Gateway Christian on Jan. 8, W 49-25 over Jal on Jan. 9, and no results were currently posted for Jan. 10.

The Steers are now 8-7 overall for the season. They won easily at Capitan 53-18 on Jan. 13.

Recent and upcoming games:

1/12 JV girls & boys at home versus Alamo.

1/13 JV, V girls & boys at Capitan, 2 gyms.

1/14 JH (A) girls & boys at home versus Alamo. 

1/16 JH (B) girls & boys 3 & 4 p.m. at home versus Jemez. 

1/19 JH (A&B) girls & boys 4 & 5 p.m. at Capitan, 2 gyms. 

1/19 JV girls & boys 5 & 6:30 p.m. at home versus Socorro.