Steers Garner Three Victories

By Nicky Romero
For the Mountain Mail

MAGDALENA -- The Magdalena Steers basketball team won three games this past week increasing its win streak to seven games.
Magdalena improved its record to 17-4 overall and 9-1 in district, with two games remaining on their season schedule.
Magdalena first defeated Temple-Baptist Academy (2-6, 4-11) 61-34 on the road on Feb. 11.
Bryce Milligan had a team high of 23 points. Reg Peralto scored 12 points and Daniel Hand had 11 points.
Scoring for Temple-Baptist was Devin Padilla with 14 points and Trent Webb with 12 points.
Magdalena’s second win was against the Pine-Hill Warriors (1-16, 0-10) on Saturday, Feb. 13 at home. Magdalena took the victory 74-18.
This game featured a number of scoring runs in the first half. After Pine Hill scored the first two points of the game, Magdalena went on a 12-0 run. Then later in the half, the team went on runs of 8-0, 9-0, and ended the half with an 11-0 run. Magdalena scored inside and outside of Pine-Hill's tight 2-1-2 zone defense. Magdalena led 47-11at halftime.
Coach Jory Mirabal talked about his team's scoring runs, “Those start on the defensive end and we talk about getting consecutive defensive stops. These lead to runs on the offensive end. Solid defense leads to easy offense.”
“Super-sub” and sixth man Ryan Alguirre scored 18 of his 22 points in the first half. Alguirre hit three three-point shots, including a three-point buzzer beater at halftime. Milligan also did damage with 10 of his 13 points coming in the first half.
Mirabal said, “Ryan feels better coming off the bench. He has pretty much asked for the 6th man role and has shined in it.
Magdalena opened the second half with a 10-0 scoring run and easily outscoring Pine-Hill 27-7 this half.
Magdalena's Gene Leseberg added 15 points. Pine-Hill's Sheldon Barney scored 14 points.
Magdalena was again at home on Tuesday, Feb. 16. They defeated To'Hajiilee High School 77-33.
Magdalena was on the road Thursday against Menaul High School. They finish their regular season on Saturday, Feb. 20 at home against district leader Gallup Catholic High School at 3:30 p.m. Magdalena's only district loss came against Gallup Catholic, a 43-30 loss.
Magdalena must beat Gallup Catholic by more than 13 points to get the No. 1 seed in the district tournament. During Saturday's game, five players will be honored on “Senior Night.”

Steers Garner Three Victories