Walsenburg squads play last games in the old gym
by Mark Craddock
WALSENBURG — On Dec. 11, 1977, the Panthers basketball squad stepped onto the hardwood of the newly minted John Mall High School to inaugurate the gym with a 93-65 shellacking of the Antonito Trojans.
Last Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, that era came to an end.
When the Panthers squads stepped off the hardwood that night, it was for the last time.
The boys’ and girls’ matchups against Crowley County marked the final games hosted at the old John Mall High School gymnasium.
The start of the new year will mark the start of a new semester, the first in a new school building, Walsenburg Jr./Sr. High School, and the resumption of the winter sports season in the school’s bright, shiny new gym.
For those who are counting, that’s almost 46 years to the day.
For those really counting, it’s 16,798 days, or nearly 2,399 weeks.
But today’s Panthers did not do quite as well as their 1977 counterparts. The boys lost their outing to the Chargers, 68-18. The Lady Panthers fared little better, dropping their game 42-16.
Ugolini-Craddock
Boys’ standouts Elton Chavez and Nino Cisneros continued their trademark aerial acrobatics under the rim, despite the presence of Crowley’s big man, Elijah McNell, clogging up the paint.
On the ladies’ side, Adrianna Bobian seemed to do everything, everywhere, all at once, to keep the small six-person Lady Panthers squad in the hunt. But the Lady Trojans just proved overwhelming.
The loss puts the Panthers at 2-2 overall, and 0-1 in league play. They are currently ranked 5th in the 3A/2A Santa Fe League.
The Lady Panthers are 1-3 overall and 0-1 in league play. They are currently ranked 6th in 3A/2A Santa Fe League standings.
Things went better for the Panthers back in 1977.
Rod Elisha, writing for the Huerfano World, told the story this way:
“The Panthers entertained Antonito Saturday night, and came back from their opening season loss, blasting the Trojans 93-65.
“The Cats started slow, and were shaky in the early going, allowing Antonito to move up on top at the end of one quarter, 13-11. They rebounded in the second stanza, and ripped the nets for 23 points, to move up at the half, to 34-29.
“After intermission, the Panthers exploded, and controlled the ball game. Mark Vialpando, hot on the outside, teamed with (Jim) DeVan underneath, for a 26-point third quarter…
“Coach Dee Betts then went to the pines, and substituted freely enroute to a final score of 93-65.”
The Walsenburg Panthers, circa 2023, will travel to Hoehne Dec. 19 for a conference showdown with the Farmers.
The games begin at 4:30.
