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Cleveland upsets top-ranked Volcano Vista in Hobbs Holiday Tournament
Volcano Vista’s Rian Gonzales is defended by Cleveland’s Titus Sutton in a Dec. 16 Volcano Vista win at Cleveland High School. On Friday, the Storm avenged their earlier loss to the Hawks, winning 64-60 in the Hobbs Holiday Tournament.
If there is one boys basketball program that solves the Volcano Vista Hawks more than any other in recent years, it’s the Cleveland Storm.
Less than two weeks after losing to the Hawks on their home floor, the Storm squared the ledger on Friday evening.
Remy Albrecht buried a huge momentum-swinging 3-pointer with about 2 minutes to go and No. 2-ranked Cleveland hit crucial free throws in the waning seconds as it upset No. 1 Volcano Vista 64-60 victory in the semifinals of the Hobbs Holiday Tournament.
Cleveland (9-1) will play Hobbs or Farmington in Saturday’s championship game; the tipoff time was yet to be determined, as Hobbs always plays in the last game of the day at its event even if it is not the championship game.
Volcano Vista (10-1) has only lost two games in the last 2½ seasons, both of them to Cleveland. The Storm was the last team to knock off the Hawks, Jan. 21 of last year. Volcano Vista had won 21 consecutive games prior to Friday.
Senior guard Daniel Steverson scored a team-best 23 points for the Storm. Albrecht added 21 points and Noah Padilla 11 in the victory.
“It’s extremely satisfying,” Cleveland coach Zack Cole said in a phone interview. “We’re still building layers into our program, and the boys are buying in, and they are trusting us.”
Friday’s game was close throughout. The Hawks held a slim lead at halftime, but the Storm led by three going to the final quarter.
Albrecht’s 3 put Cleveland in front, Cole said, Late, with the Storm trying to protect a lead, Padilla hit two free throws with about 15 seconds to go, and Isaiah Sandoval buried two more with 6 seconds remaining.
Volcano Vista and Cleveland were tied at halftime in the final of the Storm’s tournament on Dec. 16 in Rio Rancho, but the Hawks pulled away in the second half for an 81-62 victory.
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“Our shot selection was better (this time),” Cole said. “We didn’t turn the ball over. And our defense was just better.”
Kenyon Aguino of Volcano Vista led all scorers with 28 points. David Lunn III added 23 points.
The teams could next meet up at the Albuquerque Metro Championships the second week of January.
