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  • Mesa Verde players win Golden Empire League awards, lose playoffs

    Mesa Verde Mavericks sophomore guard Anthony Arguelles pulls up for a mid-range jumper. // Marcus D. Smith

    By Marcus D. Smith–
    Following their victory against Casa Roble last Friday, Mesa Verde took their talents to Rocklin to take on Western Sierra Collegiate Academy in the first round of the CIF Sac-San Joaquin Section Championships – Division IV.

    The game came on the same day as the Golden Empire League awards announcements, where Mesa Verde’s very own student athletes were able to take home some awards.

    From last week: Mesa Verde boys varsity enjoy Senior Night win, playoff berth

    Junior forward Franklin Smith made the 2020 Golden Empire League All-League team.

    “I didn’t think as a junior starting half-way through the season…that I would make an impact on this team the way I did,” said Smith. “To get the rebounds and be a second or first option, it feels great.”

    His teammate, sophomore guard Anthony Arguelles, was named 2020 Golden Empire League Most Valuable Player.

    Arguelles averaged 23 points per game and 4.8 assists per game, while helping lead the Mavericks to the second-best record in the Golden Empire League and obtaining a playoff berth.

    “Coming in, I wanted to win it,” said the newly crowned MVP. “My first game my mindset was: ‘I want to win league MVP as a sophomore in my first year of high school basketball,’ because I didn’t play last year.”

    Three more players from Mesa Verde High School made the Golden Empire League All-League Honorable Mentions list: sophomore Damien Robbins, and seniors, Alex Bufkin and Angel Rubio.

    With a first round matchup awaiting to be played, the two seniors were the only members of the team who have had some previous experience in the playoff atmosphere.

    Blame it on inexperience, as the team all season has allowed teams to jump out in the lead early in the first quarter. Blame it on jitters, it was the majority of the team’s first chance at this brand of basketball. The playoff atmosphere is much different.

    “This [was] a very important game. It gave our sophomores and our freshmen some experience in the playoffs, so we can know what to expect for next year,” said Mesa Verde Varsity Head Coach Anthony Watkins.

    Given the final score resulting in a, 69-51, loss for the Mavericks, the scoreboard does not completely depict the game. There were a lot of learning points for the guys who experienced playoff basketball for the first time tonight.

    It’s win or go home.

    Typically the one who punches first, is the one who has a better chance of becoming the victorious one. However, all season long, the Mavericks have found themselves down in the first quarter, or going into the fourth quarter and somehow finding a way to pull out a victory.

    It was in the beginning of the game’s deficit that handicapped Mesa Verde for the remainder of the game. Western Sierra jumped out to a 10-0 run in three minutes to begin the game. The Mavericks ended with run after a fast break layup from senior Angel Rubio, with 4:55 remaining in the first quarter.

    At the end of the first eight minutes of play, Mesa Verde was down, 21-12. It seemed for the rest of the game, whenever the Mavericks made a push, the Wolves had an answer for them.

    “Everybody was playing to their best ability. We were running our play, we ran motion, [which is] what we were supposed to do — it just wasn’t working,” said Arguelles.

    The game was as close as six points, early on in the third quarter. Western Sierra would soon connect on a barrage of threes and easy second chance buckets if they missed. They took over the game in the end.

    With 2:01 remaining in the game, Arguelles would exit the game after taking a hard foul, landing directly on his knee. The final buzzer would eventually sound, putting an end to the 2020 basketball season.

    “Our team is young, we have sophomores starting. I feel that they’re going to get more mature,” said Smith. “I’m going to get more mature, as a senior, and we’re going to be a force. It’s going to be good.”

    Looking into the next season, they’ll take the lessons they learned from a grit and grind season such as this one. Mesa Verde will be looking to build on the momentum, the culture, and winning attitude that was developed this season and go further next season.

    “I definitely want to further than a play-in game. I want to make it all the way to state, I want to win state. I think we’re definitely going to have the talent to do it,” said Arguelles on his confidence in his team.

    Coach Watkins, plans to begin summer league workouts and tournament play in May. As they reflect on the makings of this season, they intend to come back even better in the winter.

    “I think what we’ll try to do is put together a summer schedule that challenges us. And then we’ll put together a tougher, slightly tougher schedule for the season,” said Watkins, on increasing the level of competition in which the boys will face.

    “We’re going to get together in May, the first Monday in May. We’re going to put a nice summer schedule together, 30 games in 30 days, and we’ll see what happens.”

    Marcus D. Smith
    Marcus D. Smith

    Follow and support local sports coverage with a subscription to The Sentinel for just $4/mo: click here to subscribe.

    Sports Reporter Marcus D. Smith covers high school sports in Citrus Heights. Smith is a Sacramento-area native and earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2017.

  • Mesa Verde boys varsity enjoy Senior Night win, playoff berth

    • 6’4 forward, senior, Alex Bufkin finishes the layup on the fastbreak for an easy two points during a Feb. 11, 2020 game. // MDS

    *Local sports coverage on The Sentinel is made possible by our paid subscribers and generous support from Stones Gambling Hall.

    By Marcus D. Smith–
    Mesa Verde boys basketball held their final regular season league game on Tuesday, Feb. 11, when they hosted Casa Roble High School on the Mavericks’ Senior Night.

    This wasn’t any ordinary game as the boys were playing for much more.

    For starters, this was Senior Night and that meant the seniors needed to go out with a victory as they were honored on their last high school varsity basketball game ever being played in the Mesa Verde large gymnasium.

    Victory, check.

    “I remember I had some senior friends last year, and it didn’t really hit me. I was like ‘ahh, it’s just another game,’” said Angel Rubio, reflecting on his Senior Night pre-game ceremony and playing his final game. “Then I came here [and] I was under the arch and the balloons with my mom and girlfriend… It was just like, ‘I don’t know, wow.’”

    “After four years, I’ve given this program everything I had…it’s all coming to an end,” added Rubio, the 6’2, senior guard. “I stepped off the court for the last time today, and it just felt surreal.”

    A win would protect their playoff berth. Last season the Mavericks sent their class of 2019 off with a win on Senior Night and a play-in game in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section 2020 Boys’ Basketball Championships’ – Division IV playoffs.

    So with this season coming to a conclusion, it was only right that the seniors went out with as victory, defeating Casa Roble, 56-42, also giving the Rams their 27th loss of the season.

    Playoffs, check.

    Rubio also recalled telling his then-senior friends who made playoffs last year that he knew the team would make playoffs again the following year: “It’s just crazy because they got a playoff send-off last year, now me and the other seniors get it too.”

    The boys started the season 0-13, and playoffs were way far fetched and not on the minds of the “Verde and orange.” It seemed more or less attainable at the time.

    The Mavericks played a bunch of playoff-tested competition in the non-conference games early on in the season, giving the team time to build chemistry, grow together, and fully prepare for the level of talent they would be facing in the Golden Empire League.

    • Alex Bufkin (middle) with his mom (left) and dad (right) looking on proudly, as the final high school game approached. // MDS
    • Angel Rubio (middle) sharing a moment on Senior Night with his mother (left) and girlfriend, Audrina Espino of Mesa Verde varsity girls basketball team (right). // MDS

    “There’s a lot of good things from this team. I think the chemistry we have together, most of the moments we’ve made together as a team,” said 6’4 senior big-man, Alex Bufkin. “Going from starting off like [0-13] to now, making playoffs. I think that’s incredible as a team going forward. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that really, but, here we are and I’m happy to be here.”

    At first, Mesa Verde was waiting patiently for their full team to blossom as they were awaiting for athletes coming from other sports and physicals for other students to be cleared.

    Once the New Year ball dropped, it seemed it all came together for the Mavericks.

    “We started off rough: we were a whole new club, with a whole new offense. But we got through, we got used to it,” said Bufkin. “We started to trust it now, and it’s working out for us. And I can’t wait to see where this goes.”

    After notoriously going winless to start the season, they won 10 games in 2020. It included a win streak of five games from Jan. 11 to Jan. 24, where the team began to gel and chemistry started to show on the hardwood. The Mavericks only lost five games in 2020.

    “We just hit a moment where everything was clicking…everything was flowing,” said Rubio regarding that streak, which was his most memorable moment from this team.

    The seniors of the team were ecstatic about how the season ended and look forward to accomplishing more milestones in the playoffs. This year they are shooting for better results and look to advance further in the playoffs than last year, as they add to a memorable high school career.

    Bufkin said transferring to Mesa Verde and “making playoffs both of the years that I’ve been here,” were among his most memorable high school career moments. After being cut from the hoop team at Bella Vista High School his freshman and sophomore years, Bufkin transferred to Mesa Verde.

    Last season, the Mavericks season had a first round exit of the playoffs, losing, 77-61, to the Mountain House Mustangs.

    In the loss, then junior, Bufkin grabbed four rebounds and blocked a shot, while Angel Rubio scored two points, also a junior at the time. Now, their second chance at playoff success stands right around the corner.

    On Feb. 18, Mesa Verde will travel to Rocklin to face Western Sierra Collegiate Academy. The Wolves finished 13-1 in their respective Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League, and 24-2 overall. Tip-off is scheduled to occur at 7 p.m.

    “I expect it to be tough. I expect the crowd to be wild…we just [have to] bring our A-game,” said Bufkin. Bufkin scored six points and pulled down 11 rebounds on his Senior Night against Casa Roble.

    Three seniors were honored for Mesa Verde High School senior night, Angel Rubio, Alex Bufkin, and Jaden Burger.

    Burger declined to speak on basketball matters following the game. The 6’4 senior says he’s excited to prepare for baseball, following the conclusion of basketball season. Burger was also the starting quarterback for the Mesa Verde varsity football team, making him a three-sport athlete.

    Mesa Verde High School varsity basketball ended its league season winning back-to-back games, by an average of deficit of 12.5 points. The Mavericks won three of their last five games, looking ahead to Western Sierra, who average 55.3 team points per game. As a team, Mesa Verde averages 50.1 points per game on 48% field goal shooting.

    Marcus D. Smith
    Marcus D. Smith

    Follow and support local sports coverage with a subscription to The Sentinel for just $4/mo: click here to subscribe.

    Sports Reporter Marcus D. Smith covers high school sports in Citrus Heights. Smith is a Sacramento-area native and earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2017.