Demons Await Selection as State Tournament Hopes Hang in Balance

The possibility of a postseason appearance for the Santa Fe High School boys’ basketball team now lies in the hands of a selection committee. Following a 78-65 loss to Sandia in the District 2-5A tournament semifinals, the Demons must wait until the pairings for the Class 5A state basketball tournament are announced on March 3, 2024, to determine if they will secure a spot in the 16-team field that kicks off on March 7.

Santa Fe High’s defeat at the hands of the Matadors—who are currently 20-8—prevented the team from earning an automatic bid. Sandia will face La Cueva, boasting a record of 21-6, in the district championship game on Saturday. The winner will automatically qualify for the state tournament, leaving the remaining teams to rely on a selection process based on coaches’ feedback and the MaxPreps power rankings.

Demons’ Position in Rankings and Playoff Prospects

As it stands, the Demons (record: 16-13) are ranked 16th in the latest MaxPreps rankings, just ahead of Cibola and Eldorado. The margin between Santa Fe High and Cibola is notably slim. Despite a less-than-stellar record of 11-16, the Cougars remain just a fraction of a point behind the Demons in the rankings.

“I think they get in,” said Sandia coach Danny Brown. “I’ve had a couple of people tell me you can’t have an 11-win team in there over a bunch of kids who won 16 games and played us tough when we saw them.”

Santa Fe High coach Francisco Rivera believes the team has a solid case for inclusion. The Demons secured victories against two 20-win teams—Taos and Santa Fe Indian—and notched a win against playoff contender Farmington, along with two wins over Eldorado. Their record against teams above .500 stands at 5-8. The only defeats deemed “bad” losses come from matchups against West Mesa and Clovis, both of which are not in the playoff picture.

Challenges and Uncertainties Ahead of Selection Day

Rivera is optimistic yet recognizes the uncertainty of the selection process. Coaches are required to submit input forms to the New Mexico Activities Association before selections are made, which has led to some concerns about potential lobbying influencing the process. “I don’t leave it up to coaches,” Rivera stated. “We’ll have to see if this loss drops us in MaxPreps, but there’s a lot of things to deal with.”

The game against Sandia presented significant challenges for the Demons from the outset. With the return of starters Gad Harris and George Smith, who combined for 21 points, Sandia established a commanding lead of 42-25 by halftime. The Matadors’ scoring ability was evident as they surpassed 60 points with just under a minute remaining in the third quarter.

Rivera plans to host the team for a pizza watch party on Sunday during the selection process. He encouraged his players to seek comfort through personal rituals, quipping, “I told them to go to church on Sunday, maybe go twice if they have to.” Rivera remains confident but acknowledges the missed opportunities throughout the season.

If the Demons qualify, they are likely to receive a 16th or 15th seed, leading to a challenging first-round matchup against top contenders such as the four-time defending champion Volcano Vista or current number one Cleveland. The championship games on Saturday will ultimately determine these seeding outcomes.

While awaiting the outcome, Rivera has opted to take the team bowling as a means to relax before the selection day drama unfolds. The anticipation surrounding Sunday promises to add an exciting twist to an already intense basketball season.