Class 5A boys hoop title: The score won’t change, but the inside info is a prep fan’s fantasy

By Mark Smith

Enchantment Sports

Editor in Chief

It was a game — and day — many will remember for 50 years:
Atrisco Heritage took an electrifying 61-58 win over Santa Fe to grab their second straight state big-school basketball title.

It was flat-out incredible, with estimates of 14,000 fans, seldom sitting — and many in standing room only — at the title game. And they cheering stopped only briefly at halftime, when everyone had to catch their breath (see: https://ticktalksports.wordpress.com/2019/03/17/the-great-state-west-mesa-girls-pull-upset-atrisco-and-valley-boys-take-thrillers-and-jim-coleman-lives-on-through-brother-joe/

Fans are still catching their breaths more than a week later, and will get to relive the experience with a special twist. My man, ProView’s Sebastian Noel, one of the state’s top prep gurus and the inside man for New Mexico hoop, had a great idea for fans of the game — and of Land of Enchantment sports.

Hereeeeeee’s Sea-Bass and two other classy guys:

Thanks Ticky.

Weeknights at 10 p.m., I am usually interviewing some of our state’s finest student-athletes.

This week that all changed as coaches Zack Cole (Santa Fe) and Adrian Ortega (AHA) broke down game film of their epic 5A championship.

It was an idea that all came about during a phone call with my good friend Brian O’Neill of ESPN Radio 101.7 The Team. Well, 24 hours later, with a pizza and a few brews by our side, we were breaking down game film and scripting questions.

There isn’t anyone’s basketball opinion and knowledge I value more than Brian’s. His contribution to this project, and his unique perspective as a former D1 coach (Baylor) was a treat for me.

Local Focus w/Sebastian Noel can be seen locally on ProView Networks Comcast Channel 26, weeknights at 10:00 p.m. or on demand, on ProView Networks YouTube channel. Past interviews include: Jordan Byrd, Amaya Brown, David Cormier, Marlon Cunningham and more.

Inside the 5A Championship can be seen here: https://youtu.be/SDQKd27NhVc

Preview YouTube video Proview Local Focus: Coach’s 5A Boys State Breakdown

Sebastian Noel does play-by-play for ProView Networks and is one of the state’s premier prep basketball experts. If you have information for Sebastian about high school sports, email him at EnchantmentSportsNM@gmail.com.