Chukuka Emili gets fouled on a move to the hoop, getting both the basket and the free throw to put the Broncos up 16-6 early in the first half. Photo by Laura Brown
NMMI Sports Press
Marlon Alcindor finishes with the one-hand jam after a great inside pass by Jake Valero. Photo by Laura Brown
The Broncos made it three in a row at home and two in a row over the Northern New Mexico College JV with a 93-64 victory over the Eagles Thursday.
“We got another win,” said coach Ralph Davis. “We think it’s important to protect our home court, of course. We didn’t shoot the ball as well as we would have liked to. I think we shot 4-for-23 from behind the arc in our gym. So we’ve got to get that better for our next few home games, starting on Thursday and then when we come back from the break against New Mexico Junior College. But we had some strong showings from guys who haven’t been playing as well as they could have, so we’re excited about that.”
NMMI’s Lenny Kadisha sinks the inside shot, closely guarded by a pair of Eagles. Photo by Laura Brown
The Broncos never trailed in the game, going up by as much as 16 points in the first half. But NNMC rallied behind the outside shooting of Austin Darnell, who tallied all of his 18 points on treys in the first half, cutting the lead to 45-36 heading into the locker room. Early in the second, that edge slipped to 45-41 on a trey by Larry Morina III.
But that was as close as the Eagles would get, as NMMI slowly pulled father ahead, stretching the lead to 31 points before NNMC added a few points from the line as the clock ran down.
The players Davis was pleased with were Chukuku Emili and Jake Valero, both who had “a nice night. So those are two guys who need to continue to play better if we’re going to have a successful season this year. But obviously we’re happy to have the W more than anything. We’ve played our share of difficult opponents on the road, so it’s nice to have a home game and take care of business with a little bit of ease, if you will.”
Stop-and-pop by James Walsh for two of his five points in the game. Photo by Laura Brown
Emili led the NMMI scoring with 17 points and picked up 10 rebounds for a double double. Lenny Kadisha had 14 points and Marlon Alcindor 10. Valero only notched eight points, but led the Broncos in steals (3) and assists (6.)
The Institute closes out the 2016 season at home Thursday vs. Ranger College, a team that topped the Broncos at their place earlier in the season. Davis knows it’s going to be a bigger challenge.
“We’re going to have to come out and play hard,” he said. “It’s going to be a grueling battle. Both teams are defensive minded. So we’re just happy to be at home playing this game and hopefully get another W. That’s the goal.”
Jalan Horne from the outside. Photo by Laura Brown
