Antonio Margarito comeback

On March 13 in Dallas, Texas, disgraced welterweight Antonio Margarito could return to the ring to fight Carson Jones in a welterweight bout.

You might remember Margarito being suspended for using illegal pads on his hands. The illegal pads were discovered prior to his bout with Shane Mosley last January. Mosley went on to win via KO in the late rounds.

Margarito was on top of the world after being Miguel Cotto in the summer of 2008. Margarito did a very bad thing and he let lots of people down. He was a popular figure with plenty of big wins to his name, but now we all must wonder what he did to deserve those wins.

I guess Margarito deserves a chance to continue with his boxing career, but the argument can be made that he should have been banned for life. What are your thoughts.

- Felix

Prep Scores, Jan. 30

Boys Basketball
Cliff 64, Hot Springs 38
Eldorado 57, Hobbs 51
Escalante 73, Dulce 56
Gallup Catholic 70, Alamo-Navajo 53
Grants 92, Moriarty 63
Hope Christian 67, Sandia Prep 57
Magdalena 58, Menaul 34
Melrose 78, Gateway Christian 51
Pojoaque 54, Raton 26
Tatum 39, Floyd 36
Texico 74, Tucumcari 47
Tularosa 74, Cloudcroft 36
West Mesa 69, Gallup 61
Girls Basketball
Albuquerque High 52, Santa Fe 38
Clovis 71, Goddard 17
Floyd 49, Tatum 37
Gallup 47, Piedra Vista 31
Hope Christian 58, Laguna-Acoma 23
Lovington 82, Ruidoso 39
Magdalena 69, Menaul 36
Melrose 66, Gateway Christian 35
Texico 69, Tucumcari 40

Prep Hoops Scores, Jan. 29

Boys Basketball
Albuquerque Academy 63, Belen 52
Aztec 43, Farmington 34
Bernalillo 100, Taos 98, 4OT
Carlsbad 57, Goddard 53
Chaparral 78, Deming 65
Cliff 81, Quemado 54
Coronado 70, Monte del Sol 39
Des Moines 81, Wagon Mound 67
Desert Academy 48, Jemez Valley 41
Espanola Valley 65, Los Alamos 52
Gallup Catholic 66, Pine Hill 33
Hagerman 80, Loving 53
Hobbs 82, Artesia 65
Lordsburg 74, Cobre 37
Lovington 52, Ruidoso 37
Manzano 56, Eldorado 47
Mayfield 59, Alamogordo 47
Mesa Vista 66, Pecos 52
Mesilla Valley Christian 71, Cloudcroft 22
NMMI 53, Dexter 37
Piedra Vista 40, Durango, Colo. 38
Santa Fe Indian 75, Robertson 61
Santa Teresa 47, Silver 30
St. Pius 58, Capital 37
Tularosa 90, Capitan 25
Valencia 57, Socorro 51
Volcano Vista 60, Del Norte 45

Girls Basketball
Albuquerque Academy 60, Belen 58
Carlsbad 57, Goddard 53
Cleveland 55, Rio Rancho 30
Del Norte 37, Albuquerque High 32
Deming 62, Chaparral 34
Desert Academy 59, Jemez Valley 58
Gallup 80, West Mesa 44
Hagerman 50, Loving 34
Las Cruces 65, Gadsden 42
Piedra Vista 46, Durango, Colo. 44
Rio Grande 66, Highland 55
Sandia 58, La Cueva 44
Silver 53, Santa Teresa 43
Socorro 64, Valencia 42
Valley 66, Santa Fe 32

Prep Hoops Scores, Jan. 26

Belen 57, Moriarty 49
Bloomfield 72, Tohatchi 57
Bosque School 70, Jemez Valley 26
Capital 71, Taos 60
Clovis 78, Artesia 43
Deming 38, EP Cathedral, Texas 15
Eldorado 80, Los Lunas 42
Farmington 50, Kirtland Central 44
Fort Sumner 73, Dora 57
Gallup 49, Cibola 47
Grants 61, Valencia 53
Hagerman 74, Gateway Christian 50
Highland 70, Valley 68
Hobbs 80, Goddard 41
La Cueva 80, Santa Fe 39
Lordsburg 70, Cloudcroft 54
Los Alamos 67, Bernalillo 35
Lovington 44, Portales 33
Manzano 81, Rio Grande 51
Mayfield 50, Las Cruces High 38
McCurdy 53, Monte del Sol 51
Melrose 46, Floyd 30
Menaul 83, Tohajilee 52
Mesilla Valley Christian 63, Tularosa 54
Newcomb 54, Zuni 50
Piedra Vista 64, Aztec 48
Roswell 53, Carlsbad 51
Sandia 53, Albuquerque High 51
Sandia Prep 68, Laguna-Acoma 21
Santa Teresa 60, Socorro 47
St. Pius 65, Del Norte 35
Tatum 48, Jal 41
Thoreau 92, Cuba 52
Girls Basketbal
Clovis JV 47, Clovis Christian 34
Dora 45, Fort Sumner 38
Eldorado 56, Los Lunas 14
Floyd 68, Melrose 45
Hagerman 56, Gateway Christian 24
Hope Christian 64, Sandia Prep 25
Las Cruces High 50, Mayfield 38
Mesa Vista 66, Coronado 33
Moriarty 38, Belen 30
Rio Grande 75, Manzano 35
Roswell 47, Carlsbad 20
Silver 58, Hatch Valley 48
Tatum 43, Jal 37
Thoreau 70, Cuba 53
Tohajilee 47, Menaul 43

Pro fighters Abie Han and David Rodriguez update

Looks like junior middleweight Abie Han and heavyweight David Rodriguez, both of El Paso, will fight next month in Cancun, Mexico.

Both fighters train in Las Cruces.

- Felix

Prospect Danny Garcia added to El Paso card

Looks like Philadelphia junior welterweight prospect Danny Garcia will be on the Feb. 26 card at the Don Haskins Center as part of the ESPN2 broadcast of the Miguel Roman/Antonio Escalante main event.

Garcia is 15-0 with 10 knockouts. He'll take on 25-3 Ashley Theopane in a scheduled 8-rounder.

- Felix

Sunland Park Racetrack top perfomers so far

It's been an interesting few weeks so far at the annual Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino. Trainer Todd Fincher has been one of the top trainers so far, he's won four stakes this months and could finish the meet as one of the top two or three money makers at this point.

Justin Evans came from Turf Paradise and Cantebury Stakes and has proven to be a formidable trainer in his own right.

Horse wise, First Moonflash ended his quarter horse career with a big win in the Championship at Sunland Park. Grand Slam Andre ended his 2-year-old campaign with a very good looking win in the Riley Allison Futurity.

Las Cruces owned horse Outlaw Avenue could be a horse to keep an eye out on for the future. He debuted earlier this month at 6 1/2 furlongs and won. He will run again Friday, Jan. 29. He's super fast and could be tough.

Jockey wise, Luis Contreras, Martin Bourdieu and Isaias Enriquez have come up big at various times, while Ajejandro Medellin continues to be a force on quarter horses and thoroughbreds.

- Felix

Prep Hoops Scores, Jan. 23

Boys Basketball
Artesia 62, Moriarty 56
Clovis 72, Goddard 36
Clovis Christian 52, San Jon 40
Del Norte 51, Sandia 38
Espanola Valley 68, Hobbs 65
Estancia 59, Tucumcari 48
Fort Sumner 58, Dexter 50
Hatch Valley 73, Deming 67
Robertson 65, St. Michael’s 63
Roswell 70, Belen 35
Santa Fe Indian 57, Pojoaque 53
Texico 62, Floyd 51
West Las Vegas 47, Raton 41

Girls Basketball
Clovis Christian 47, San Jon 41
Deming 54, Goddard 19
Desert Academy 70, Monte del Sol 48
Fort Sumner 38, Dexter 28
Magdalena 68, Tohajilee 33
Penasco 70, Santa Fe Prep 25
Robertson 47, St. Michael’s 43
Roswell 39, Rio Rancho 36
Sandia 39, Manzano 26
Santa Teresa 47, Mesilla Valley Christian 29
Shiprock Northwest 80, Navajo Pine 55
Tucumcari 45, Estancia 36
Volcano Vista 48, Del Norte 41

Prep Hoops Scores, Jan. 22

Boys Basketball
Alamogordo 41, Chaparral 39
Belen 64, Artesia 48
Cliff 80, Cobre 38
Dora 49, Elida 43
Eldorado 75, Highland 67
Espanola Valley 71, Clovis 67
Fort Sumner 48, Melrose 46
Hagerman 74, Jal 37
La Cueva 67, Albuquerque Academy 60
Lovington 72, NMMI 39
Mayfield 65, Gadsden 60
Onate 46, Las Cruces High 38
Rio Rancho 67, West Mesa 64
Sandia Prep 57, Socorro 43
Santa Teresa 56, EP Cathedral, Texas 42
Texico 64, Eunice 31
Valley 71, Albuquerque High 48

Girls Basketball
Clovis 53, Rio Rancho 17
Dora 61, Elida 54
Fort Sumner 38, Melrose 26
Hagerman 47, Jal 34
Hobbs 56, Artesia 32
La Cueva 51, Del Norte 42
Las Cruces 49, Onate 32
Mayfield 66, Gadsden 28
Portales 43, Goddard 13
Rio Grande 59, Belen 51
Santa Fe Indian 47, Pojoaque 36
Santa Rosa 63, Cimarron 45
Socorro 67, Sandia Prep 29

Onate High guard Tim Jacobs

Kudos to Onate High School junior guard Tim Jacobs on the Knights boys basketball team. He's a three-year varsity member and he's gotten better with each passing season.

He's had to handle different roles in his time at OHS, sometimes scorer, sometimes running the offense and setting up others. He was a big reason the Knights won a 5A playoff game last year and went to the Pit in Albuquerque and he's a big reason the Knights are a very competitive 10-9 this year.

Jacobs is a young player, he was 13 as a freshman and if I'm not mistaking is just 15 right now. Got to give him credit for developing various skills and being a leader for the Knights. He's really developed into a player who can score in different ways and he sets up his teammates very well. He was very good in Friday's (Jan. 22) win against Las Cruces High. He was patient after a slow start and still wound up with 23 points.

- Felix

Prep Hoops and Wrestling Polls, Jan. 20

New Mexico High School Coaches Association Polls
Prep Basketball
Class 1A Girls
1. Cliff
2. Des Moines
3. Magdalena
4. Floyd
5. Dora
6. Elida
7. Gallup Catholic
8. Animas
9. Fort Sumner, Tatum
Class 2A
1. Santa Rosa
2. Texico
3. Navajo Pine
4. Clayton
5. Mora
6. Navajo Prep
7. Rehoboth
8. Tularosa
9. Penasco
10. Mesa Vista
Class 3A
1. W. Las Vegas
2. Lovington
3. Santa Fe Indiana
4. Socorro, Portales
6. Hope Christian
7. Thoreau
8. St. Mike’s
9. Hot Springs
10. Robertons
Class 4A
1. Shiprock
2. Kirtland Central
3. Espanola Valley
4. Roswell
5. Los Alamos
6. Del Norte
7. Piedra Vista
8. Artesia
9. Volcano Vista
10. St. Pius
Class 5A
1. Eldorado
2. Sandia
3. Las Cruces High
4. Gallup
5. Cibola
6. La Cueva
7. Clovis
8. Cleveland
9. Hobbs
10. Manzano
Boys
Class 1A
1. Cliff
2. Des Moines
3. Floyd
4. Tatum
5. Springer
6. Quemado
7. Reserve
8. Fort Sumner
9. Magdalena
10. Logan, Gallup Catholic
Class 2A
1. Mesilla Valley Christian
2. Texico
3. Bosque
4. Tularosa
5. Santa Rosa
6. Hagerman
7. Penasco
8. Clayton
9. Lordsburg
10. Monte Del Sol, Coronado
Class 3A
1. Hope Christian
2. Sandia Prep
3. St. Michael’s
4. Lovington
5. Robertson
6. Santa Fe Indian
7. Pojoaque
8. Portales, Socorro
10. Wingate, Bloomfield
Class 4A
1. Roswell
2. Espanola Valley
3. Academy
4. Volcano Vista
5. Belen
6. Los Alamos
7. Grants
8. Santa Teresa
9. Artesia
10. Capital
Class 5A
1. Eldorado
2. La Cueva
3. Highland
4. Hobbs
5. Mayfield
6. Manzano
7. Valley
8. Clovis
9. Rio Grande
10. Gadsden

Wrestling
Class A-3A
1. Bloomfield, St. Mike’s
3. Tucumcari, Robertson
5. Wingate
6. Miyamura
7. Newcomb, Cobre, W. Las Vegas
10. Foothill
Class 4A
1. Volcano Vista
2. Moriarty
3. Silver
4. St. Pius
5. Aztec
6. Kirtland Central
7. Belen
8. Deming
9. Valencia
10. Santa Teresa
Class 5A
1. Rio Rancho
2. Las Cruces High
3. Cibola
4. Carlsbad
5. Cleveland
6. Mayfield
7. Rio Grande, Los Lunas
9. Santa Fe, Valley

Prep Basketball Scores, Jan. 19

Belen 53, Valencia 50
Carlsbad 37, Artesia 32
Des Moines 54, Clayton 52
Eldorado 65, Albuquerque Academy 54
Highland 51, Manzano 37
Melrose 58, Dora 51
Menaul 52, Temple Baptist 49
Mesilla Valley Christian 75, Lordsburg 45
NMMI 53, Portales 50
Piedra Vista 58, Farmington 38
Rio Grande 74, Los Lunas 59
Roswell 68, Hobbs 56
Ruidoso 65, Hot Springs 55
Santa Teresa 46, EP Cathedral, Texas 33
Tatum 73, Hagerman 71, OT
Victory Christian 50, Loving 43
Volcano Vista 64, Bernalillo 42
West Mesa 45, Sandia 37

Girls Basketball
Clint, Texas 34, Santa Teresa 32
Des Moines 46, Clayton 44
Dora 47, Melrose 40
Eldorado 80, St. Pius 24
Gateway Christian 42, Hondo 39
Las Cruces 80, Alamogordo 56
Magdalena 63, Tularosa 52
Manzano 57, Highland 42
Menaul 58, Temple Baptist 20
Miyamura 53, Zuni 40
Moriarty 52, Grants 50
Rio Grande 75, Los Lunas 51
Roswell 45, Hobbs 43
Sandia 61, West Mesa 26
Santa Rosa 63, Fort Sumner 38
Tatum 43, Hagerman 24
Thoreau 58, Laguna-Acoma 41
Valley 68, La Cueva 61, OT

Sunland Park horses earn honors

A pair of horses who I have followed closely over the years recently earned top honors by the American Quarter Horse Association.

First Moonflash was named champion aged stallion, while Gone To The Mountain was named champion distance horse.

First Moonflash was very good in his career, he's now retired. He won 7 of 8 in his championship season, including the Jess Burner Memorial and the Championship at Sunland Park. First Moonflash simply got better and better with each showing.

Gone To the Mountain was oh so consistent in 2009 and earned more than $175,000. Gone To The Mountain won five of six starts and is always a dependable horse.

Just had to add that trainer Paul Jones won his eighth straight training honor. Not bad considering there are so many good trainers out there. Jones is consistently strong each year and his horses are a force at several tracks around the nation.

- Felix

Roman/Escalante column

Awaited matchup to finally happen
By Felix Chavez
El Paso Times
EL PASO - In 2003 both Antonio Escalante and Miguel “Mickey” Roman made their professional debuts and both had world championship thoughts on their minds.
Along the way, both fighters have won a lot of matches and]beat some pretty good. Their notable performances led to] talk of matching the two took out 'fighters' up in the ring at some point.
Finally, it will happen and there could be plenty of fireworks when Escalante and Roman step into the ring on Feb. 26 in the Don Haskins Center in a battle between two borderland fighters. Escalante lives in El Paso, but has Juarez ties, while Roman is Juarez-born and [remains] a resident in the Mexican city.
Escalante will be the favorite on Feb. 26. He's got title hopes on his mind at either 122 or 126 pounds and he has plenty at stake against Roman.
There is speculation that Escalante (22-2) could get a title fight this year and a win against Roman may very well secure that title fight. Meanwhile, the 28-6 Roman has had ups and downs in his career, particularly in the past 2 years.
Those involved in boxing know there is only so much time in a boxer's career and for Roman, the Feb. 26 matchup could very well be his last big shot in the sport. A win by Roman could position him for bigger and brighter things. A loss could mean curtains for his career or he could thrust himself into the position of being an opponent for primarily up and coming fighters.
If Roman is to beat Escalante, he is going to have to outwork and outhustle him. He can't let Escalante dictate the pace of the fight, otherwise Escalante will simply wear him down.
On the other hand, Escalante has to be careful in this fight too. There will be plenty of emotion in both camps and both fighters will want to look good in front of [knowledgable] Mexican and Mexican-American boxing fans. Also, both fighters want border area bragging rights and a reputation as the area's best featherweight.
Escalante must stay within his game plan and remain focused against a dangerous fighter.
This fight has the potential to be an exciting [match] with plenty of ebb and flow. Both fighters respect each other and as well they should. This is a solid matchup between two good talents and expect both fighters to engage early and often.
But, in the end, the bottom line is that Escalante has the better overall skill level and should have enough to win via late-round stoppage and take the next step to earning a world title shot.
Felix Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; (915) 546-6374.

Prep Basketball Scores, Jan. 16

Boys Basketball
Artesia 57, Deming 43
Belen 65, West Mesa 56
Bernalillo 44, Valencia 40
Cliff 76, Hondo 35
Clovis 65, Cleveland 51
Del Norte 50, Farmington 47
Eldorado 67, Santa Fe 47
Gallup Catholic 43, Magdalena 30
Highland 55, Sandia 44
La Cueva 91, Cibola 81, OT
Lovington 54, Eunice 32
Mayfield 80, Rio Rancho 72
Mesilla Valley Christian 63, Texico 50
Penasco 49, Clayton 45, OT
Quemado 89, Mountainair 57
Roswell 86, Silver 34
Sandia Prep 54, Pojoaque 25
Springer 50, Santa Fe Prep 30
St. Michael’s 67, Taos 62
:Tohajilee 81, Temple Baptist 58
Tucumcari 64, Fort Sumner 53
Valley 88, Rio Grande 61
Dexter Invitational Tournament
Hagerman 68, Tularosa 65
Hot Springs 59, Gateway Christian 44
NMMI 51, Dexter 32
West Las Vegas 51, Cloudcroft 42
Reserve Tournament
Seventh Place
JV 39, Cobre JV 22
Fifth Place
Cobre 82, Clifton, Ariz. 51
Third Place
Animas 75, Santa Fe Waldorf School 42
Championship
Reserve 65, Juarez 51

Girls Basketball
Portales 48, Goddard 65
Cibola 47, St. Pius 22
Desert Academy 41, East Mountain 36
Fort Sumner 44, Tucumcari 26
Grady 48, Clovis Christian 42
Las Cruces 57, Hobbs 46
Magdalena 66, Gallup Catholic 48
Manzano 63, West Mesa 48
Miyamura 42, Grants 28
Penasco 49, Clayton 45, OT
Pojoaque 62, Sandia Prep 18
Rio Grande 81, Albuquerque Academy 27
Sandia 58, Rio Rancho 16
Springer 66, Santa Fe Prep 28

Prep Basketball Scores, Jan. 15

Boys Basketball
Alamogordo 60, Goddard 58
Artesia 53, Silver 46
Bosque School 59, Tucumcari 44
Cliff 60, Lordsburg 49
Del Norte 61, Los Alamos 57
Escalante 77, Santa Fe Prep 44
Floyd 52, Jal 28
Highland 60, Clovis 52
Hobbs 60, Plainview, Texas 52
Manzano 52, Santa Fe 46
Menaul 52, Pine Hill 41
Moriarty 69, Kirtland Central 67
Newcomb 67, Crownpoint 41
Onate 63, Rio Rancho 55
Penasco 50, Pecos 47
Questa 58, Dulce 46
Roswell 79, Deming 45
Tatum 61, Dora 43
Texico 82, Elida 49
Valencia 55, Estancia 31
Volcano Vista 56, Farmington 36
Wagon Mound 67, Springer 66
Cuba Invitational Tournament
Semifinal
Cuba 58, Walatowa Charter 50
Dexter Invitational Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Cloudcroft 42, Gateway Christian 41
West Las Vegas 64, Hot Springs 52
Semifinal
Hagerman 75, Dexter 66
Tularosa 79, NMMI 51
Hope Christian Tournament
Semifinal
Hope Christian 76, Mora 21

Girls Basketball
Floyd 49, Jal 33
Gadsden 39, Santa Teresa 34
Lovington 70, Eunice 16
Mayfield 53, Hobbs 51
Pojoaque 49, Taos 42
West Mesa 58, Farmington 54
Aztec Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Robertson 47, Bernalillo 34
Hope Christian Tournament
Semifinal
Hatch Valley 50, Hope Christian 47

Clottey vs. Pacquiao

Instead of Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather on March 13, boxing fans will get to see Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Dallas, Texas.

While not as explosive, the Clottey vs. Pacquiao mathup is interesting. Clottey has been competitive in losses to Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, the latter lost to Pacquiao in November.

Clottey is a game fighter with a good skill level and he'll bring his best to the fight against Pacquiao. But he can be hit as witnessed by the Cotto and Margarito fights and with the way Pacquiao is going right now, I'd expect a hard-fought fight, but a win by Pacquiao around the 8th round.

Felix

Prep Hoops, wrestling rankings Jan. 13

New Mexico High School Coaches Association Polls
Basketball
Girls
Class A
1. Cliff
2. Des Moines
3. Floyd
4. Magdalena
5. Dora
6. Elida
7. Fort Sumner
8. Cimarron
9. Animas
10. Gallup Catholic
Class 2A
1. Santa Rosa
2. Texico
3. Navajo Pine
4. Clayton
5. Mora, Rehoboth
7. Navajo Prep
8. Tularosa
9. Mesa Vista
10. Penasco
Class 3A
1. W. Las Vegas
2. Lovington
3. Socorro
4. Santa Fe Indian
5. Portales
6. Hope Christian
7. Thoreau
8. Robertson
9. St. Mike’s
10. Pojoaque, Ruidoso
Class 4A
1. Shiprock
2. Kirtland Central
3. Roswell
4. Espanola Valley
5. Del Norte
6. Piedra Vista
7. Los Alamos
8. Volcano Vista
9. St. Pius, Chaparral
Class 5A
1. Eldorado
2. Sandia
3. Las Cruces High
4. Gallup
5. Clovis
6. Cibola
7. La Cueva
8. Hobbs
9. Valley
10 Manzano
Boys
Class A
1. Cliff
2. Floyd
3. Des Moines
4. Springer
5. Tatum
6. Quemado
7. Fort Sumner
8. Reserve
9. Magdalena
10. Cimarron
Class 2A
1. Mesilla Valley Christian
2. Bosque
3. Texico
4. Tularosa
5. Santa Rosa
6. Penasco
7. Coronado
8. Hagerman
9. Clayton
10. Rehoboth, Mesa Vista
Class 3A
1. Hope Christian
2. Sandia Prep
3. St. Mike’s
4. Robertson
5. Santa Fe Indian
6. Lovington
7. Pojoaque
8. Socorro
9. Bloomfield
10. Wingate
Class 4A
1. Roswell
2. Espanola Valley
3. Academy
4. Los Alamos
5. Volcano Vista
6. Belen
7. Santa Teresa
8. Grants
9. Artesia
10. Capital
Class 5A
1. Eldorado
2. La Cueva
3. Hobbs
4. Highland, Mayfield
6. Manzano
7. Clovis
8. Rio Grande
9. Valley
10. Cleveland

Wrestling
Class A-3A
1. St. Mike’s, Robertson
3. Bloomfield
4. Cobre, Tucumcari
6. W. Las Vegas
7. Wingate, Newcomb, Ruidoso
10. Pecos, Foothill
Class 4A
1. Volcano Vista
2. Silver
3. St. Pius, Moriarty
5. Belen
6. Kirtland Central
7 Aztec
8. Farmington, Piedra Vista
10. Deming
Class 5A
1. Rio Rancho
2. Las Cruces High
3. Cibola
4. Carlsbad
5. Cleveland
6. Mayfield
7. Rio Grande, Los Lunas
9. Santa Fe, Valley

Prep Basketball Scores, Jan. 12

Boys Basketball
Aztec 58, Bernalillo 54
Bosque School 84, Penasco 66
Cibola 58, Los Lunas 33
Cleveland 67, Piedra Vista 65
Clovis JV 74, Clovis Christian 44
Deming 77, Cobre 36
Dora 55, Gateway Christian 46
Evangel Christian 43, NMSD 27
Fort Sumner 78, Elida 69
Hagerman 87, NMMI 59
Highland 66, Albuquerque High 52
Los Alamos 73, St. Pius 65
Magdalena 71, Alamo-Navajo 41
Manzano 58, Albuquerque Academy 50
Mayfield 60, Santa Teresa 47
McCurdy 50, Santa Fe Prep 48
Mesilla Valley Christian 72, Chaparral 60
Navajo Pine 68, Many Farms, Ariz. 60
Rio Grande 98, Belen 62
Roswell 97, Dexter 12
Sandia Prep 59, Santa Fe Indian 53
Tatum 59, Loving 42
Texico 79, Melrose 55
Thoreau 76, Laguna-Acoma 59
Tularosa 63, Santa Rosa 45
Valley 66, West Mesa 35
Zuni 55, Crownpoint 38

Girls Basketball
Bernalillo 46, Sandia Prep 42
Carlsbad 42, Alamogordo 39
Cleveland 62, Capital 44
Dora 66, Gateway Christian 34
Eldorado 51, La Cueva 43
Elida 43, Fort Sumner 33
Espanola Valley 55, Pojoaque 48
Evangel Christian 19, NMSD 18
Grants 54, Aztec 50
Highland 51, Rio Rancho 46
Kirtland Central 66, Durango, Colo. 53
Las Cruces 52, Los Lunas 26
Lovington 63, Goddard 29
Magdalena 79, Alamo-Navajo 23
Manzano 48, Hope Christian 34
Miyamura 52, Bloomfield 39
Mora 52, Coronado 46
Piedra Vista 42, Navajo Prep 25
Rehoboth 70, Zuni 37
Santa Fe Prep 46, McCurdy 36
Shiprock 68, Wingate 33
Socorro 50, Ruidoso 41
Texico 68, Melrose 33
Tularosa 62, Dexter 35
Valley 52, Albuquerque Academy 41
Volcano Vista 57, Valencia 34
West Mesa 40, Moriarty 34

Howe Morales done at Cobre

While I didn't know now former Cobre High head baseball coach Howie Morales very well, I only covered a handful of his team's games over the years, it was sad to him go as the team's head coach. He did a great job at his job at Cobre and the team became one of the top programs in Class 3A in his time. The team played smart, fundamental baseball and he laid a foundation for the future of the program.

- Felix

Monday's Prep Hoops Scores, Jan. 11

Boys Basketball
Farmington 73, Newcomb 42
Gallup Catholic 53, Ramah 33
Portales 56, Tucumcari 41
Ruidoso 68, West Las Vegas 67
Girls Basketball
Dexter 59, Eunice 52
Hagerman 52, Roswell JV 37

Escalante vs. Roman

Looks like an El Paso vs. Juarez showdown on Feb. 26 at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso. Junior featherweight/featherweight prospect Antonio Escalante of El Paso will face Miguel "Mickey" Roman of Juarez. Stay tuned.

Felix

Prep Basketball Scores, Jan. 9

Boys Basketball
Belen 60, Silver 40
Cliff 73, Lordsburg 69, OT
East Mountain 69, Santa Fe Waldorf School 39
Mayfield 62, West Mesa 51
Newcomb 54, Rehoboth 41
Pojoaque 49, Chaparral 46
Socorro 61, Portales 58
Gallup Invitational
Gallup 60, Sandia Prep 51
Seventh Place
Farmington 62, Deming 56
Fifth Place
Shiprock 71, Montrose, Colo. 60
New Mexico/Arizona Tournament
Goodyear Estrella Foothills, Ariz. 76, Roswell 53
Pojaque Tournament
Escalante 62, Dulce 55
Mesa Vista 57, McCurdy 40
Pecos 46, Mora 34
Penasco 68, Coronado 61
Portales Tournament
Santa Teresa 46, Artesia 42
Santa Rosa Tournament
Mesilla Valley Christian 53, Bosque School 50
NMMI 61, Wagon Mound 56
Tucumcari 75, Monte del Sol 43
Tularosa 64, Santa Rosa 59
Girls Basketball
Animas 78, Lordsburg 69
Chaparral 68, Mesilla Valley Christian 24
Cliff 53, Gallup Catholic 49
Cobre 47, Academia Juarez, Mexico 28
Eldorado 66, Onate 38
Fort Defiance Window Rock, Ariz. 65, Grants 46
Gallup 73, Farmington 40
Kirtland Central 71, Belen 27
Las Cruces 59, Albuquerque High 37
Ramah 46, Quemado 19
Sandia 65, Highland 35
Valley 51, Mayfield 48
Goddard Tournament
Santa Teresa 62, Goddard 49

Prep Hoops Scores, Jan. 8

Boys Basketball
Artesia 66, Socorro 50
Desert Academy 67, Tse Yi Gai 63
Eldorado 67, Las Cruces 47
Hobbs 84, Rio Rancho 74
Lovington 54, Goddard 32
Manzano 63, Albuquerque High 45
Mayfield 75, Highland 71
Pojoaque 45, Silver 43
Portales 41, Santa Teresa 34, OT
Rio Grande 85, Alamogordo 77
Ruidoso 73, Cobre 32
Santa Fe 58, Capital 47
Santa Fe Prep 64, Santa Fe Waldorf School 29
Volcano Vista 35, Valencia 28
West Mesa 42, Onate 34

B.V.C. Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Mountainair 46, Menaul 35
Semifinal
Cuba 55, Estancia JV 24
Estancia 63, Temple Baptist 40

EPAC Tournament
Semifinal
Floyd 42, Tatum 33
Texico 64, Fort Sumner 29

EPAC Tournament
Seventh Place
San Jon 59, King’s Gate Academy 23

Gallup Invitational
Consolation Semifinal
Shiprock 49, Farmington 41
Semifinal
Sandia Prep 53, Sandia 45, OT

New Mexico/Arizona Tournament
Roswell 78, North, Ariz. 76

NRG Tournament
Mora 67, Dulce 47
Consolation Semifinal
Pecos 41, Escalante 39
Semifinal
Coronado 70, Mesa Vista 56
Penasco 71, McCurdy 52
Santa Rosa Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
NMMI 76, Tucumcari 73, OT
Wagon Mound 81, Monte del Sol 57
Semifinal
@Agate:Bosque School 53, Santa Rosa 48
Mesilla Valley Christian 48, Tularosa 37

Girl’s Basketball
Desert Academy 47, Tse Yi Gai 41
Piedra Vista 52, Wingate 42
St. Pius 33, Albuquerque Academy 22

BVC Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Menaul 58, Mountainair 19
Semifinal
Cuba 42, Tucumcari 29
Estancia 69, Alamo-Navajo 19

Cliff Tournament
Consolation
Quemado 49, Academia Juarez, Mexico 48
Ramah 59, Cobre 38
Semifinal
Cliff 60, Lordsburg 35
Gallup Catholic 40, Animas 37

EPAC Tournament
San Jon 37, Clovis Christian 34
Semifinal
Floyd 45, Elida 29
Texico 63, Dora 17
Seventh Place
Grady 60, House 7

Boxing Column, Jan. 6

2010 shaping up to be a big year for boxing in the area
By Felix Chavez
El Paso Times
New Mexico and El Paso have a storied history in the sport of boxing. There have been great champions, plenty of contenders, top-notch amateurs and big-time fights.
But it's the future that could be bright for the local boxing scene.
Several fighters, including Las Cruces junior middleweight Austin Trout and El Paso junior featherweight Antonio Escalante, are gearing up for a big year in boxing on the borderland.
Trout is ranked No. 1 at 154 pounds by the World Boxing Association and could be in line for a fight with interim champ Nobuhiro Ishida or perhaps the recognized champion, Yuri Foreman.
Either way, Trout's next fight will likely be the biggest of his career and he's going to have to step up on that night, which could be in the first quarter of this year. There's no denying Trout's ability, but now the 21-0 left-hander will have to have his 'A' game because there will be no easy opponents the rest of the way.
Trout has long talked about becoming a champion and he's on the verge of joining the likes of Bob Foster, Danny Romero and Johnny Tapia as the elite of New Mexico boxing.
There may be some who question how Trout could be ranked No. 1 by the WBA because Trout has just one notable win against top-notch competition and that came in September against Nilson Tapia in Panama. Tapia is ranked No. 8 by the WBA.
But the fact is that Trout is No. 1 and if he beats Ishida, Foreman or another legit junior middleweight such as Vanes Martirosyn, Alfredo Angulo or Sergio Martinez, then he can erase all questions and doubt.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old El Pas-based Escalante is ranked No. 1 at 122 by the WBA and is line for a title shot at some point this year. Escalante, who could also be eyeing a move to 126, is gaining steam on a worldwide stage. The Ring Magazine, long known as the Bible of [b]oxing, ranks him and he seems to be maturing in the ring as he gains more experience.
Escalante has never backed down from strong opponents and seems to be willing to fight anyone, anywhere for a crack at the title.
El Paso has come close to having a world champion with Juan Lazcano and Fernie Morales just missing out.
Escalante has shored up some holes defensively, but still has some improvement to go in that area. His offensive game is solid and depending on which champion he gets in the ring, he could become a world champ this year.
•••
As for other area fighters, El Paso heavyweight David Rodriguez remains unbeaten and is ranked by the WBA, but he must step up this year and fight someone with equal credentials. The public deserves to see him step up against elite competition.
Las Cruces bantamweight prospect Sammy Di Pace had a tough year in 2009 dealing with injuries and cancellation of a fight in El Paso. Hopefully, for the former amateur star, he can catch a break or two this year.
Two interesting prospects could have breakout years in 2010. El Paso junior middleweight Abie Han carries some dynamite in his fists and is as exciting a prospect as any in the area. Meanwhile, Albuquerque super featherweight Archie Ray Marquez is garnering some national attention. Marquez is 7-0, has fought on television and will be in action Jan. 29 in Albuquerque on a Showtime card against a fighter with 20 wins. Han, DiPace and Marquez are part of the big picture in the borderland. As the future shapes up in 2010, the area and state boxing scene might just provide many years of memorable bouts to come.

Felix Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; (915) 546-6374.

Basketball Polls, NM Prep Hoops, Jan. 6

New Mexico High School Coaches Association Basketball Polls
Boys
Class A
1. Cliff
2. Des Moines
3. Tatum
4. Quemado
5. Floyd
6. Springer
7. Reserve
8. Fort Sumner
9. Magdalena
10. Cimarron, Valley Christian Academy
Class 2A
1. Mesilla Valley Christian
2. Texico
3. Santa Rosa
4. Bosque
5. Tularosa
6. Penasco
7. Coronado
8. Hagerman
9. Mesa Vista
10. Clayton
Class 3A
1. Hope Christian
2. Sandia Prep
3. St. Mike’s
4. Robertson
5. Lovington
6. Pojoaque
7. Santa Fe Indian
8. Bloomfield
9. Socorro
10. Ruidoso, Portales
Class 4A
1. Roswell
2. Espanola Valley
3. Academy
4. Los Alamos
5. Santa Teresa
6. Belen
7. Volcano Vista
8. Artesia
9. Capital
10. Grants
Class 5A
1. Eldorado
2. La Cueva
3. Highland
4. Hobbs
5. Manzano
6. Clovis
7. Mayfield
8. Cleveland
9. Rio Grande
10. Valley
Girls
Class A
1. Cliff
2. Des Moines
3. Magdalena
4. Elida
5. Floyd
6. Dora
7. Fort Sumner
8. Tatum
9. Grady
10. Animas
Class 2A
1. Texico
2. Santa Rosa
3. Navajo Pine
4. Clayton
5. Navajo Prep
6. Tularosa
7. Mora, Lordsburg
9. Capitan, Rehoboth
Class 3A
1. Lovington, W. Las Vegas
3. Santa Fe Indian
4. Socorro
5. Hope Christian
6. Portales
7. Pojoaque
8. Robertson, St. Mike’s, Thoreau
Class 4A
1. Kirtland Central
2. Shiprock
3. Roswell
4. Espanola
5. Del Norte
6. Volcano Vista
7. Los Alamos
8. Piedra Vista
9. Capital
10. Silver, Valencia
Class 5A
1. Eldorado
2. Sandia
3. Las Cruces High
4. Gallup
5. La Cueva
6. Clovis
7. Cibola
8. Hobbs
9. Valley
10. Manzano

Prep Hoops Scores, Jan. 5

Boys Basketball
Alamogordo 67, Goddard 60
Albuquerque Academy 48, Sandia 37
Albuquerque High 70, Los Lunas 54
Del Norte 64, Bernalillo 60
Gadsden 46, Santa Teresa 40
Gallup 74, Kirtland Central 48
Hagerman 59, Dexter 47
Manzano 53, Cibola 47
Newcomb 49, Thoreau 44
Rio Grande 98, Moriarty 91
Roswell 85, Carlsbad 63
Socorro 65, Ruidoso 51
Tularosa 83, Hot Springs 23
Volcano Vista 56, Los Alamos 49
West Mesa 45, Valencia 39

Girls Basketball
Bloomfield 59, Dulce 50
Capitan 52, Hondo 35
Carlsbad 42, Roswell 36
Del Norte 43, Capital 35
Hagerman 40, Dexter 38
Hobbs 70, Goddard 21
Kirtland Central 75, Gallup 66
Lovington 57, Artesia 56
Miyamura 68, Farmington 41
Rio Grande 67, Hope Christian 61
Rio Rancho 55, Santa Teresa 10
Sandia 63, Albuquerque Academy 34
Santa Rosa 63, Estancia 18
Tohajilee 50, East Mountain 14
Valley 75, Los Lunas 45
West Las Vegas 54, Mora 43
West Mesa 48, Valencia 38
Wingate 72, Grants 38

Upcoming bout in El Paso

Looks like there could be a Feb. 26 fight card in El Paso featuring El Paso junior featherweight/featherweight prospect Antonio Escalante. ESPN2 could televise. Stay tuned.

Felix

Austin Trout update

Las Cruces junior middleweight Austin Trout, ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Association, could face Japan's Nobuhiro Ishida sometime in 2010. Ishida is the current interim WBA junior middleweight champ and is coming off a win against Colombia's Oney Valdez. Stay tuned.

- Felix

Prep Hoops Scores, Jan. 3

Boys Basketball
Artesia 52, Lovington 44
Cliff 81, Hot Springs 55
Clovis 59, Bushland, Texas 57
Gadsden 74, Deming 40
Hobbs 72, Alamogordo 49
Hope Christian 63, Del Norte 57
La Cueva 59, Volcano Vista 55
Pojoaque 75, Ruidoso 66
Texico 81, Hagerman 58

Girls Basketball
Artesia 45, Albuquerque Academy 37
Clovis 63, Mayfield 51
Dora 65, Jal 38
Eldorado 75, West Mesa 23
Magdalena 47, Hot Springs 24
Sandia 52, Volcano Vista 31