The Moriarty High boys basketball team (8-18) fell 72-60 to Valencia in overtime during the District 5-4A Tournament semifinal game at the Jaguars' gym Feb. 25. Pintos senior Marcos Villanueva scored a game high 21 points.

"We missed 14 free throws," Moriarty coach J.C. Batts said. "Valencia had a real good defense. They changed their defense from the last time we played them (a 57-55 Pintos win Feb. 16). At the beginning of the game, we didn't adjust to that. But we were up by four in the last two minutes, and we missed three out of four free throws, and it went into overtime. We didn't play like we had in the previous three games (all wins)."

Batts, however, missed the extra period.

"I didn't see the overtime," the coach said. "My daughter (a Moriarty cheerleader) passed out, and I was in with her with the trainer. She's OK. It was the excitement, and it was hot in there."

Moriarty was not selected for an at-large berth in the state tournament.

The Pintos battled this season despite the adversity of having head coach Steve Brown placed on administrative leave. He later resigned the same week after allegations of inappropriate electronic communications with female students were leveled against him.

"It was tough," said Batts, who had been an assistant coach under Brown. "But we had to do what we had to do. I think the players responded well. The younger ones started to buy into what we were trying to do in the end."

Batts, who is classified as an interim coach, said he'd like to coach the team next season, if the administration approves it. Batts' son, Carlos, was a starting senior guard for the Pintos this season.

"I'd like to stay," he said. "But even if I'm not the head coach (as schools tend to hire teachers as their coaches), some of the other coaches and I will stick around to help. I think these kids need and deserve some continuity."

Pintos Girls Don't Make State Cut

The Moriarty High girls basketball team (8-17) was eliminated in the first round of the district tournament Feb. 23. Moriarty was not selected for an at-large berth in the state tourney.

"I think we started getting better in the latter half of the season," Pintos coach Phil Clark said, referring to his team winning its final three regular-season district games in a row. "We're keeping like nine of the 13 players, and I think they're motivated for next year. I told the girls (Monday) that we need to do it next year, where we're not dependent on someone else to decide whether we're in the state tournament or not."

Clark said he plans on returning for the 2010-11 season.

T'Wolves Girls Have Rough Year

The East Mountain High girls basketball team (4-19) finished the season on an 11-game losing skid. The Timberwolves were eliminated Feb. 23 in the first round of the District 8-2A Tournament.

"We didn't do well in district (0-6 in the regular season)," EMHS coach Roger Abeyta said. "Our district was pretty strong. … When I first took this job, after I had started the first practices, I changed my plans. I started working on their individual skills because if you don't have the individual skills, you can't do much as a team. Their ball handling did get a little better, and their shooting got a lot better. Their defense was always fairly good.

"Now, they need to continue to improve," the coach continued. "I've made it a requirement that they participate in some camps and some summer games in the offseason."

There's always next year. And Kat Pryde, the T'Wolves 6-foot post, will only be a junior.

"But really, our district (a new District 3-2A) will be even tougher (in 2010-11)," Abeyta said. "We drop Jemez (Valley), and we add Magdalena and Laguna-Acoma. Laguna was (in Class) 3A this year, and Magdalena has a good 1A program (ranked second in the season's last poll) this year. But Magdalena does lose like eight seniors."