Big Time Hoops

Patience Benally

More great news on local New Mexico talent. Farmington’s Patience Benally has signed her letter of intent to play basketball at Kansas Wesleyan University.

Benally’s athletic and academic achievements are numerous; 2X All-District Selection in 1-4A, 3X Team MVP, Navajo Times All-Star 09-10, Scholar Athlete Award winner, Fighting Heart Award 09-10, and making the All-Academic Team her entire high school career. She ends her prep career having tallied over 1,100 points.

Kansas Wesleyan University, located in Salina, KS, plays in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Lady Coyotes are lead by Gordon Reimer, who took the Lady Coyotes from 5-24 in the 2004-05 season to a 27-6 season in 2008-09 to advance to the NAIA Divsion II National Championships.

Congratulations, Patience!

Related Links:

Kansas Wesleyan University Women’s Basketball

Class 5A

First Team

Second Team

Class 4A

First Team

Second Team

Class 3A

First Team

Second Team

Class 2A

First Team

Second Team

Class 1A

First Team

Second Team

Andrea Aragon, the prolific Las Cruces High shooting guard, has signed to play for New Mexico Junior College in the 2010-11 campaign.

Aragon lead the Lady Bulldawgs in 3-point field goal percentage, assists, deflections and steals over the last two years. She also finished up her prep career with a total of 1,060 points, second in state history, according to the NMAA.

Good luck, and congrats, Andrea!

Written by Tana Holtorf, Western New Mexico University Athletic Department

Peralta, a guard from nearby Cliff, New Mexico, will bring leadership to the squad next season. At Cliff High School, Peralta led the team to a 30-1 record during her senior season and a district championship. Last month her team played in the New Mexico Class 1A championship game.

In 2010, Peralta was named to the District 5 All-District First Team, New Mexico High School Coaches Association South All-Star Basketball Team, District 1A All-State First Team, and All-Tournament Team at the Cowgirl Invite. This season she averaged 20 points and six rebounds per game. She also received the Heart and Hustle award for her performance on the court.

As a junior, Peralta was named to the District 1A All-State Second Team. She also was placed on the all-tournament teams at the Mountain Top Tournament, Lady Maverick Fiesta, and Cowgirl Invite. In 2008, Peralta was named to the Mountain Top Tournament and Lady Maverick Fiesta All-Tournament teams. Also in 2008, she was named an All-District Honorable Mention selection.

Throughout her four years at Cliff, Peralta maintained an impressive 4.15 GPA while participating in athletics. In 2010, she received the US Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award and placed first in the Regional Science Fair. She is a proud member of the National Honors Society and has continually been placed on the Honor Roll.

“Mariah will bring a tough-minded approach that our team needs. She is a natural leader, and I see her contributing in a lot of ways, both on and off the court,” states Adams. “She will develop into a solid and consistent player over the next few years.”

Surrounded by family, Jade Brown signs her letter of intent to play for Eastern.

Congratulations to Jade Brown for signing to play for Eastern New Mexico.

Brown, a transfer to Las Cruces High from Oñate two seasons ago, made her mark as a gritty and smart player helping the Lady ‘Dawgs to a final four appearance in the 2009-10 state tournament.

Learn more about Brown’s signing in the Las Cruces Sun News

Check out the Eastern New Mexico Women’s basketball web site.