No. 1 VV tops No. 2 Cleveland to take Phil Griego Invite

RIO RANCHO – No. 1. And looking quite solidified atop Class 5A boys basketball.

In one of the season’s early showdown games, No. 1 Volcano Vista broke loose from a tie game at halftime, and beat No. 2 Cleveland 81-62 in the championship game Saturday afternoon of the Phil Griego Invitational at Cleveland.

Junior forward Kenyon Aguino had 33 points, freshman guard David Lunn III 24 for the Hawks (8-0), who continue to stack notable wins in the first month of the season, following earlier victories over the likes of Organ Mountain and La Cueva, among others.

“You always want to play the best of the best,” said Aguino, who was 14-of-21 from the floor. “Test us early and get us ready for state.”

This was the first of many games between the two District 1-5A rivals this season. They could meet seven more times if things fall right. They’re both entered at the Hobbs holiday tournament in two weeks.

And they looked evenly matched in what proved to be a close and exciting — nearly playoff-esque — first half. In the second quarter alone, there were eight lead changes and two ties with great back-and-forth action.

The game was tied at 32 at halftime.

The Hawks turned the defensive screws in the second half, Volcano Vista coach Greg Brown said.

“We defended, we got after it,” Brown said. “We knew what we needed to do, and we have a bunch of guys who’ve been there before and they were ready for the second half.”

Most notably, Volcano Vista limited Cleveland’s brilliant senior guard, Daniel Steverson, to just nine points in the second half. Steverson fouled out (on a technical) with 3:09 to go, having scored 22 points.

“In the second half … we were talking about picking it up on defense and shutting down some players,” said Lunn, the Hawks’ mightily impressive 6-foot-4 freshman. “So we came out here and we did that.”

It was Lunn who supplied the game’s most spectacular moment as he sailed high for a fierce one-handed dunk midway through the third quarter. He was also fouled and completed the three-point play.

It was roughly at this stage that the Hawks began to grually adwiden the gap against the Storm (5-1). Lunn’s dunk and free throw put Volcano Vista up six (44-38). A three-point play from Aguino stretched the lead to nine (49-40) a minute later. Another Lunn slam put the Hawks in front by 11 (53.42).

The lead was 13 going to the fourth quarter, and Volcano Vista increased the advantage to 19 (66-47) just 2½ minutes into the quarter, and the Hawks effectively drained all the suspense from the outcome.

Now both teams wait for the next encounter, wherever that might be. Could be Hobbs, could be next month’s metro tournament.

“We know that we’re gonna see them a few more times this year and it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” Brown said.

The Hawks were incredibly efficient around the basket Saturday. Volcano Vista shot a gaudy 19-for-25 (76%) from the floor in the second half, and 34-51 (66.7%) for the game.

“It was a good win,” Lunn said. As good as Aguino was from the field, Lunn was even better, making 11 out of 13 tries. “Cleveland is one of the teams that is up there to beat. It’s a nice win to have. We’re all feeling good about it.”

The Storm, meanwhile was just 9 of 28 (32.1%) from the field after halftime.

“We made a few adjustments, and we guarded different people different ways,” Aguino said. “And (we were) just tougher.”

Remy Albrecht finished with 20 points for Cleveland.

MEL OTERO: At Rio Rancho High School, No. 2-ranked Sandia (8-0) overcame a nine-point deficit at halftime and rallied past district rival Eldorado 64-50 in the title game Saturday afternoon of the Mel Otero Invitational.

For the Eagles (5-2), junior guard Bella Hines, the state’s best player, left in the second half of this game with a leg injury. She scored 21 points before departing. Eldorado coach Gary Ellis said he did not believe Hines’ issue was a serious one.

Sandia had overcome all of the halftime deficit and was leading the game when Hines left. Hope Giddings led the Matadors with 17 points. Sydney Benally added 12 in the victory. Sandia outscored Eldorado 43-20 in the final two quarters, and pulled away after Hines went out.