The Pit was packed and the excitement level was as high as it has been in years. The strange thing is that the Lobos were out of town, and it wasn't a championship level game. But, it was an early round meeting between teams that represent the best high school basketball rivalry in the state of New Mexico.
The Pit was once again donning the gold and black colored banners of the Hobbs Eagles on one end, while the Albuquerque High School green and white was gallantly being displayed on the opposite end of the court.
The 5A quarterfinals round game would be won by this year's eventual state champions, the Hobbs Eagles by the score of 75-68. It wasn't an easy victory, by any means for the Eagles; nor did the game have the drama of a nail biting finish as in so many meetings between these two basketball giants, something these two teams are accustomed to when they get together.
The winner wouldn't be crowned the champion at the conclusion of this game as in years past but what this game did represent was the resurgence of Bulldog spirit in the Pit. The Hobbs Eagles basketball program has maintained a regular presence in state basketball tournaments, but the Dogs, as they are affectionately known, have had a 10 year recess from the tournament.
The atmosphere in the Pit was like going to a basketball game and having a school reunion break out. The place was filled with old Dogs with even older stories being told. The Dogs were back and their fans, as in the past, were in a frenzy.
Although the two teams this year represented their schools well, the matchups in the past have been legendary. They were padded with greatness even before the game would be played. You had two legendary coaches sitting across from each other in Coach Jim Hulsman; whose hard-working bulldogs provided an excellent match up for the quick and relentless Ralph Tasker coached Hobbs Eagles. These two coaches have had outstanding success and have posted remarkable and probably, untouchable records. Ralph Tasker's Hobbs Eagles. won an amazing 1,122 games and 11 state titles, while Jim Hulsman led the Bulldogs to 660 wins and seven state titles.
Not to diminish the accomplishment of this year's champion, the Hobbs Eagles team by any means, but what this year's dogs accomplished was to revitalize the spirit of an entire century of classmates. Albuquerque High fans at the game represented the cross generation of many years and many visits to the Pit, to witness the dogs challenge for glory. This year's team gave them an opportunity to relive their past and hold high hopes of requesting a seat in the Pit next year.
Congratulations go out to coach Ron Garcia and his 2008 Albuquerque High basketball team, for you not only provided excitement for current bulldogs, but you resurrected the spirits for over a century of dogs who preceded them.
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