2024-25 Team Preview: Rio Rancho Rams

2024-25 TEAM PREVIEW: RIO RANCHO RAMS   OVERVIEW   For one of the few times in head coach Wally Salata's 15-year tenure at Rio Rancho, the Rams failed to make the state tournament last winter, finishing a disappointing 13-15 overall, 1-7 in a district featuring powerhouse Volcano Vista (three-time state champions), rival Cleveland and Atrisco Heritage. The Rams lost twice to the Storm by lopsided margins. As a result, Salata's message this offseason to his 2024-25 team has been blunt.   “I told this year's group that we're not going to miss state again,” Salata told Prep Hoops New Mexico. “We lost six seniors, but we have a good crop of kids coming up. Only three have substantial varsity experience, so we have a lot of new kids coming up. We have had a very good summer. Our guys played hard. The mentality and chemistry this year seem to be  a lot better. I'm excited for the year to get going and see how we do.”   Rio Rancho's new district  (5A-1) for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons now includes Cibola, Cleveland, Farmington, Piedra Vista and Volcano Vista. In eight of the past nine seasons, a team from Rio Rancho's district has won the state title.   “The chemistry is key for us,” Salata said. “If we play as a group and the kids keep their egos outside the gym and don't care who gets the credit, we can do well. We don't have somebody who can score 20 points per game. We have blur collar guys. If they can get six to 10 points, and we have a lot of those guys, we'll be fine.”   One key change Salata has made over the summer concerns the Rams' defense. They're going to employ an aggressive, full-court pressing style and force teams to work their way up the floor.   “We pressed the whole summer and we had a lot of success,” Salata said. “We were holding teams to the 50's. Not many teams scored in the 60s on us. If we can play that style and pick people up 94 feet, we can force teams into mistakes. I want the opponent to think for 94 feet instead of just 45 feet. The press is coming.”                              PLAYERS TO WATCH   [player_tooltip player_id='1176308' first='Kevin' last='Archuleta'] (G, 6-0, Sr.): Archuleta goes into his third full season with the Rams varsity. He averaged about 21 minutes per game in 2023-24, contributing as a scorer (7.5 ppg), rebounder (3.3 rpg) and assists (2.1 apg).   [player_tooltip player_id='2402350' first='Kayden' last='Decker'] (F, 6-4, Jr.): As a sophomore in 2023-24, Decker averaged about 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while playing about 16 minutes per contest. He made 55 percent of his shots. He'll be counted on more this season. “If Kayden breaks his shell, he can be somebody who is a very good player for us, “ Salata said. “He can shoot outside, play inside.”     [player_tooltip player_id='1698813' first='Chris' last='Lucero'] (G, 6-1, Jr.): He averaged 5.3 points while playing about 18 minutes per game in 2023-24 as a sophomore. He played varsity as a freshman two seasons ago, so he's entering his third year with the Rams.   NAMES TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='2706557' first='Noah' last='Lovato'] (F, 6-3, So.): Just a sophomore, Lovato will compete for a starting job after playing mostly JV last season. He has excellent ball skills around the basket. He's also a DE for the Rams football team, so he'll start playing hoops when their season is done. Salata is counting on him to be a major contributor in January and February.      [player_tooltip player_id='2694572' first='Cayden' last='Richardson'] (G, 6-3, Jr.): Richardson brings a lot of athleticism to the floor. Averaged about 8 minutes per game in 2023-24. He could become a key component to Rio Rancho's pressing defense. “We're counting on his athleticism, especially in the press,” Salata said. “He has an opportunity.”   Tyshawn Williams (G, 5-6, Sr.): Williams didn't play last season after suffering a broken leg in the preseason. Instead, he served as the team manager. He brings speed and keen ball handling abilities to the Rams. He'll be in the mix for a starting job.   Aidan Wood (G, 6-3, Sr.): Wood averaged about 11 minutes per game last season. He'll be counted on to provide outside shooting, especially from 3-point range. Salata wants him to improve his rebounding because of his size.   KEY NEWCOMER   [player_tooltip player_id='1717218' first='Wyatt' last='Rodriguez'] (G, 6-1, Jr.): Another football player, Rodriguez is a wing player. He played JV last season and looks to move up to varsity.     FINAL THOUGHTS   Rio Rancho has definitely made changes following last season's frustrations and appears to have adopted an ‘All For One, One For All' mentality for the upcoming season.   “I tell our guys that I don't care who starts, what's important is who finishes the game,” Salata said. “Everybody wants to start, but who wants to be in the game when the game is on the line at the end. The pieces are there. Can we come together and play together as a team?”   Rio Rancho opens the 2024-25 season on Sat., Nov. 30 with a non-district home game against Clovis. The Rams will also compete in Artesia's annual tournament, as they have done nearly every year for the past decade. Salata likes to travel, so expect to see Rio Rancho playing at different venues around the state.   Some improved players, a few newcomers, better chemistry and camaraderie and a revised defensive strategy has Salata hopeful the Rams, who won the Class 5A state championship in 2016, can return to play in the Pit in the Class 5A tournament in March. Last time they played there? 2019.   “We have a group this year and next year that I think can make some noise around the state,” Salata said.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RioRamsHoops/status/1764106938407657789 </div></figure>     <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_RRHSathletics/status/1494890390138327042 </div></figure>

2024-25 TEAM PREVIEW: RIO RANCHO RAMS