LADY BLUE LOOKING FOR 3RD BLUE TROPHY IN 4 YEARS
Roy and Mosquero are two of the smaller communities in New Mexico, but together they are putting their names back on the basketball map. “I feel like you have eyes on you everywhere you go being the defending state champs because everyone wants to beat you,” said junior Sylviana Baca.
Roy/Mosquero has won two of the last three Class A state championships. “My freshman year, we won that year, and going into the sophomore year there was a lot of pressure, but we just have to play our game and play together as a team,” said Arantza Covarrubias, the only senior on this year’s roster.
“We have a target on our back for the number one seed,” said junior Natalie Smith. “But it’s ok, we just have to handle it.”
This group has six returners from last year’s title team. “It gave them a lot of confidence,” said head coach Blair Clavel. “When you can get to the Pit and go deep into state in March, it does a lot mentally for them. You still have to work hard. There’s a big difference between confidence and arrogance and we try not to be on the other side.”
Roy High School holds the girls basketball New Mexico record for most points scored in a state tournament game when they put up 104 points back in 1996. “Roy was a powerhouse 25-30 years ago, and I’m not saying we’re a powerhouse now, but we started to do good and started to win more and it brings the community together,” explained Clavel. “Our boys won a football championship this year and that was exciting and brought everyone together even more. We’re gaining momentum all across the board and I hope we can keep it that way.”
For those not familiar with both villages, Roy and Mosquero are located in the northeastern corner of the state, making travel sometimes a challenge. “We’ll travel 20 miles once or twice a week just to practice,” said Clavel. “A lot of these kids come 30 or 40 miles outside of Mosquero or Roy. It takes a lot, a commitment from bus drivers, administration, coaches, players, to make all this work.”
“Traveling is probably the toughest part of being in a small community,” said Baca. “But being in a small community, you know everyone. You’re close. It’s really nice.”
“In Roy, everyone has to play every sport and be in every organization if we want to have a team or program,” explained Smith. “Our community is very supportive and, I think, with all of us being so well rounded, it helps us, not only in basketball, but in everything else and will make us better people in life.”
The Roy/Mosquero co-op that goes by the name of Lady Blue hopes to lift the blue trophy once again in March.
