Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Carlsbad Cavemen head basketball coach John Zumbrun welcomed the month of January with his team set to be home for a while.

Carlsbad’s last home game was Dec. 10 against Gadsden. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Cavemen host in-county rival Artesia at Carlsbad High School.

Carlsbad is 8-3 and Artesia is 7-4 coming into the contest.

During a telephone interview Monday, Zumbrun said the Cavemen were road warriors during December with the Gadsden game the only one on their home court. After two road games in Las Cruces this Friday and Saturday, he said, Carlsbad can look forward to four home games this month, including Tuesday night’s contest against the Bulldogs.

“We’re happy to play in the front of the home crowd,” he said, noting that home games allow coaches, players and fans to develop a different routine from having to travel to out-of-town venues.

Zumbrun said Tuesday’s rematch against Artesia would prove to be a good test for the Cavemen after the Bulldogs took game one, 64-51, Dec. 20 at the Bulldog Pit.

To avoid a sweep, Zumbrun said, the Cavemen need aggressive rebounding against an Artesia squad that has a height advantage.

“They hurt us on the boards last time,” he said.

Zumbrun said Carlsbad held its own in other aspects of the game and rebounding was the main focus of pregame preparations.

“They want to play fast,” he said of the Bulldogs.

Zumbrun said Carlsbad needs to find a way to stop Bulldog guards Braylon Vega and Charlie Campbell.

The 6-foot-2 juniors both scored in double figures against the Cavemen last month – Vega had 18 points and Campbell had 11.

“They’ve got great guard play,” Zumbrun said.

Artesia head coach Michael Mondragon praised the Bulldogs’ defensive effort in the Dec. 20 game in Artesia.

“Carlsbad’s type of thing is if they hit shots they’re hard to beat,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we put active hands on shooters and make sure we rebound and make sure we dominate the paint. Because that’s one area where we’re a lot bigger than they are.”

At 6-foot-4, Carlsbad’s Shane Sullivan can play either small forward or point guard. Carlsbad’s other forward is 6-2 junior Jonah Moyers.

While Artesia power forward and center Trent Egeland is 6-foot-4, center-power forward Clay Kincaid is 6-8 and forward Steven Williams is 6-5.

“It’s going to be a different game in their gym. We know that. We’ve got to make sure we match their energy and play hard,” Mondragon said.

Girls square off too

At 6 p.m. Tuesday at Carlsbad High School, the Cavegirls look for a sweep against the Lady Bulldogs.

Carlsbad needed an extra period to defeat Artesia 58-49 in the opening game of the rivalry Dec. 20 in Artesia.

The Lady Bulldogs led until the fourth quarter when Carlsbad outscored the home team 25-13. A last-second shot by Cavegirl Abbey Dugan tied the score and forced the overtime period as Carlsbad came away with a victory.

Carlsbad is 11-2 and Artesia is 5-6. The Lady Bulldogs earned a 41-32 victory over Taos Saturday.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.