2023-24 Game Superlatives (Games I’ve Attended)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(High schools are voting on their senior superlatives, these are my game superlatives)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Game:</strong> <strong>Santa Fe @ Cleveland, 12/8/2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Cleveland 80 Santa Fe 74</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was just an incredible game overall. Both teams went back and forth until the final buzzer, the level of competitiveness was unmatched, and it was some of the cleanest basketball I've seen all season. The head-to-head matchup of [player_tooltip player_id='1158654' first='Daniel' last='Steverson'] versus [player_tooltip player_id='1897845' first='Lukas' last='Turner'] was truly a spectacle, an offensive masterclass on both sides. [player_tooltip player_id='2293834' first='Christian' last='Herrera'] showed what he could do on the glass, and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1897823' first='Isaiah' last='Sandoval'] </strong>hit the game-winning three to put the Storm ahead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Game Atmosphere:</strong> <strong>Volcano Vista @ Cleveland, 12/16/2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Volcano 81 Cleveland 62</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's hard to find a better atmosphere anywhere in New Mexico than when these two teams play each other at either of their schools. In the final of the Phil Griego Invitational, this game started as a shootout but ended with Volcano pulling away slowly but surely. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176300' first='Kenyon' last='Aguino']</strong> had one of the best individual performances of the season with 33 points and 15 rebounds, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2111977' first='David' last='Lunn']</strong> was unstoppable in leading the Hawks to the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Comeback:</strong> <strong>Atrisco vs West Mesa, 1/10/2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Atrisco 66 West Mesa 64</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It would be difficult to ask for a better tournament game than this one. West Mesa was up by as much as 20 in this first half, killing Atrisco on both ends of the floor and not letting up. In typical Atrisco fashion, however, they came back in a big way. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1225905' first='Marquise' last='Renfro']</strong> was pure heart and hustle, continuing to create momentum for the Jaguars with his defensive presence. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687826' first='Kadarious' last='Sims'] </strong>hit the go-ahead shot with 45 seconds left, and that sealed the deal for Atrisco. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Ending: Carlsbad @ Eldorado, 11/28/2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Eldorado 52 Carlsbad 47</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a wonderful game to attend for the first week of the season. Both teams went at it all game until the very end when <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679994' first='Josiah' last='Mitchell']</strong> came through for the Eagles in a big way. After Carlsbad's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1278070' first='Sam' last='Gee']</strong> split a pair of free throws, Mitchell got the go-ahead and-one layup to put the Eagles in front, and next possession made both of his free throws to seal the deal. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276348' first='Josh' last='Jackson']</strong> also came up clutch on the boards down the stretch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Blowout: Deming @ Valencia, 11/27/2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Valencia 60 Deming 20</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I feel like the score pretty much speaks for itself here. Valencia had no problem dominating the Wildcats from tip-off, knocking down their perimeter shots and killing them on the boards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2283972' first='Carin' last='Bustillos']</strong> put himself on the map as one of the best freshman in 4A, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1685516' first='Damian' last='Estrada']</strong> established himself as the leader for the Jaguars with his play on both sides of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Biggest Upset: Eldorado @ Cibola, 1/17/2023</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: Cibola 54 Eldorado 52</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was the best I have seen Cibola play all season. Coming in with only 4 wins on the year, Cibola went shot-for-shot with the high-powered Eagles offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276348' first='Josh' last='Jackson'] </strong>started the game hot for the Eagles, putting up 11 points in the first quarter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1124236' first='Elijah' last='Foster']</strong> kept the Cougars in the game with his aggressiveness on both sides of the ball, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679997' first='Julian' last='Ortiz']</strong> had the hot hand in the 4th quarter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1903316' first='Cole' last='Baca']</strong> finished the game off with a three to put the Cougars ahead, and the game-winning stop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->