The Patagonia High girls basketball team shook off some opening-night nerves and opened the 2023-24 season with a 35-31 road victory over Bagdad. Senior Jenny Vasquez led the Lobos with 13 points and had four rebounds, sophomore Brianna Majalca had 11 points and seven rebounds, and sophomore point guard Emma Lewton had five assists.
The Lobos trailed 10-3 after the first quarter, narrowed the deficit to two points by halftime and took control by outscoring Bagdad 11-1 in the third quarter.
Patagonia lost three seniors from last year’s team that finished 12-6, including all-conference guard Elizabeth Urias. The Lobos were ranked 17th in Class 1A, one spot short of qualifying for the state tournament, and coach Ralph Padilla thinks they are equipped to clear that hurdle this season.
“We have some real high expectations,” Padilla said. “There’s no reason we can’t make it to state. If we don’t it’s because something went wrong, someone got injured.”
Padilla said he’s got a “good problem” in filling his five starting positions. In addition to Vasquez, Majalca and Lewton, seniors Janelle Valenzuela and Heaven Day, junior Alexis Fimbres and sophomore Ximena Gonzalez return as key contributors from last year’s team.
“They seem to have picked up right where we left off,” Padilla said. “They’ve been through my system already.
“They’re smart. Their basketball IQ has really improved over the past year.”
Padilla said the post play of Majalca and Fimbres is a strength for the Lobos, and he’s excited by Lewton’s development in taking over for Urias at point guard. “She’s got the mental toughness and dribbling ability that is required for the position,” he said.
Vasquez, a second-team all-region player last year, pointed to the championship banners hanging on the gymnasium wall when asked about her expectations for this year.
“I expect to get a banner on that wall this year,” she said. “I’m really excited. We can make it further than last year if we work as a team and believe in ourselves.”