Hines posts EHS scoring record 53 in win over Rams

ALBUQUERQUE – Before her team’s game at Eldorado last Saturday, Rio Rancho girls’ coach Lori Mabrey was asked if it would be the over or the under on Eldorado (7-2) junior Bella Hines scoring 30 points.

“Under,” Mabrey replied, and before the first half ended, that prediction went out the window. “I hope she’s in the holiday spirit.” Or tired, as the Eagles had played a game Friday evening.

Hines scored her team’s first 15 points, 31 of the Eagles’ 33 at halftime and 53 by game’s end in Eldorado’s 59-46 victory. Hines was “limited” to 33 points last season when the Eagles beat the Rams; she scored 40 in the Eagles’ win over visiting Cleveland a few weeks ago.

“She’s without a doubt the best player I’ve ever seen,” Mabrey said. “She can score from anywhere and she’s a nightmare for other teams. … That girl works her butt off and she’s an incredibly gifted basketball player.

“I thought Jayme Archuleta did an outstanding job defensively on her, one-on-one,” Mabrey added. “Most people can’t guard her one-on-one.”

Archuleta scored 3 points and fouled out with 1:37 left in the contest.

Mabrey said her team might have had a better showing with sophomore point guard Lilly Martinez, who didn’t play because of a minor injury. Freshman Jemmah Estrada led the Rams (7-3) with 14 points.

“We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well,” Mabrey said. “I know (Hines) is damn good and you have to throw everything at her to try to stop her. … I told our kids I’m very proud of our resiliency and not backing down and our team’s gonna be OK.”

Despite her team’s three-game losing streak, after winning its first seven games, Mabrey said, “We’re gonna bounce back from this and we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with and I’m proud of our kids.”

The Rams get their chance to start bouncing back on Jan. 9 in the first round of the APS Metro Championships, when they meet Highland at 5:30 p.m. in the Sandia High School gym. The next day, depending on how they fare vs. the Hornets, they’ll either face powerful Sandia or their District 1-5A rival, Cibola.

Sandia got the Rams’ skid started with a 77-64 win in a Mel Otero Invite semifinal game on Dec. 15.