Crosstown on the Court: Rams-Storm ready for next rivalry chapter

"I think if people look at this and compare Hobbs-Clovis, Academy-St. Pius, you look at the tradition that those schools have, I know this will have it.”

Former Rio Rancho boys basketball head coach Wally Salata foreshadowed the rivalry to come between the Rams and Storm on the basketball court, talking to the Observer after the first-ever Cleveland-Rio boys game, just over 16 years to the day.

While many may view the cross-town clash as a football-heavy feud or maybe a different playing field, these teams have quite a history in hoops. It all started on Jan. 30, 2010, in a competitive 90-85 Rams win at the brand new V. Sue Cleveland High School.

“I had somebody come up afterward and say, ‘Hey, that was probably the best high school game I’ve ever seen,’” Former Storm boys head coach Brian Smith told the Observer in 2010. 

What makes this hardwood hatred special is the big-time games on both the boys' and girls' sides, with the girls' teams being the first to ever meet in a December 2009 tournament.

The two would meet again at a rocking Rio Rancho gym a month later on Jan. 29, 2010, as it would be the Storm who would end up rocking the Rams 55-30. Former Rams, now turned Storm, led the way to give Cleveland the early rivalry edge.

Rio Rancho swept the 2010 season on the boys' side, with Cleveland doing the same for the girls. From that point on, the rivalry was born.

The Rams and Storm boys and girls have faced off a combined 96 times. Cleveland leads the boys' side 31-18, while the Rio girls have overtaken the series lead 25-22 in 47 meetings by taking the last seven.

The schools have met in district or state tournaments 24 times, along with seven overtime meetings.

You can just about throw the records and stats out the window when these teams meet. A prime example? The Cleveland girls, 8-20 on the year, stunning the Rams in the 2014 district tournament 67-66 in overtime.

“The kids wanted to work tonight, and they worked hard together,” former Storm girls head coach Felicia Boatman told the Observer, 12 years ago, “that’s what it was about. They just wanted to play as a family, and they did.”

This matchup has taken on different stakes and venues. From the Ram Athletic Center, to the Thunderdome, to metro/district tourney venues, to even the Rio Rancho Events Center.

“It’s cold out there on the floor,”  former Storm coach Smith said after the 2011 matchup at the formerly named Santa Ana Star Center, referencing the ice below the hardwood for the New Mexico Scorpions.

Basketball, not hockey, may not be returning to the Events Center, but the Rams and Storm could have their sights both set on a different arena this season.

The Pit.

The Cleveland girls will have to try to knock down a Rams team that has been dominant, looking to get to the finish line for a state tourney bid and join Rio in the bracket. 

For the boys, both are legitimate threats in 1-5A and in the state title picture overall, battling in what is a northwest-metro hoops power alley with Volcano Vista.

The boys met at The Pit a decade ago in the 2016 state semifinals, while the girls have never crossed paths at the Lobo den. Could this be a season where they check that box?

Rio Rancho and Cleveland boys will face off on Feb. 4 at Rio and Feb. 19 at Cleveland, while the Rams and Storm girls battle on Feb. 3 at the Thunderdome and Feb. 20 at the RAC.