Vail, Grants looking eyeing state title run

GRANTS, N.M.

At this time last year, Grants point guard Matt Vail Jr. exploded onto the scene during the state playoffs.

The then-sophomore guard scored 27 points and carried the Pirates to a nail-biting 55-53 win over Piedra Vista in the opening round of the 2015 Class 5A state boys basketball tournament.

In the next round, Vail was instrumental in leading Grants to an upset victory over Roswell in the state quarterfinals, leading the team with 26 points in their 76-71 win.

“Matt stepped it up for us last year and since then he’s grown so much,” Grants coach Joseph Sanchez said.

Fast-forward 12 months, Vail will play a significant role in Sanchez’s team this week as the Pirates are considered one of the top teams to contend for a state title.

“There is so much parity and any team can win,” Sanchez said. “From now on the teams that are left need to be prepared and be ready because the Class 5A field is stack.”

Sanchez said his team is playing at an elite level with Vail manning the offense.

“Matt is the quarterback of the team and he’s always looking to get people involved,” he said.

With four scorers averaging double figures and a fifth one at 7.4 points per game, Sanchez said his junior guard does not have to force the issue like he did last season when the Pirates were short two starters during the state playoffs.”

“That’s one thing that is so special about this team is that everyone is looking for each other,” Sanchez said. “Matt knows that he has other scorers to his left and to his right. When the opportunity is there he’ll score but he always wants to give an assist and that is the role he’s accepted.”

Vail said he likes getting his team involved and so far it has paid wonders for the Grants team as they entered yesterday’s game with Gallup with a sparkling 24-3 record.

“We have a good solid team,” Vail said. “We have some good players coming off the bench so I think we’re going to have a good state title run.”

So far this season, Vail is averaging 10.0 points per game and 2.8 assists per clip in the 24 games he’s played in.

In addition to Vail, other teams have to key on Mikey Chambers, Grants’ other guard. Chambers, who averages 12.8 ppg, was named the district player of the year two weeks ago. But they have a lot more, such as 6-5 Richie Lucero and 6-6 Bradley Hatten.

The two frontcourt players are force in the middle with Lucero leading the Pirates with 13.6 ppg while hauling in 7.7 rebounds per game. Hatten, meanwhile, is helping out with 11.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg.
“I look out for my team first but overall I think I’m a well-rounded player,” Vail said. “Everyone does their part on this team so I really don’t have to do too much.”

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