McKinley County teams split results in Jan. 6 metro basketball slate

On Friday, Jan. 6, McKinley County teams were active across the metro basketball schedule, producing several close contests and clear wins that will shape local programs’ trajectories as district play approaches. Crownpoint’s boys team secured a 56-48 victory over Moriarty, and Pine Hill edged Navajo Hill 53-51 in another tight boys matchup. The county’s other boys results included Rehoboth Christian falling to Sandia Prep 68-40.

In girls action, Gallup High was defeated by Sandia, 74-49, while Zuni lost a competitive game to Menaul, 50-44. Those results reflect the challenge local girls teams face when matched with larger Albuquerque-area programs and private schools that draw deeper rosters.

The scores underscore a familiar pattern for McKinley County: competitiveness in closely contested local matchups with uneven outcomes when facing better-resourced metro programs. Crownpoint’s eight-point win and Pine Hill’s two-point margin show local teams can hold their own, while the larger deficits for Rehoboth and Gallup highlight roster depth and travel strain as recurring constraints for rural programs.

Beyond wins and losses, these games have practical implications for families and school budgets. Metro trips increase transportation and chaperone costs for district athletic departments, and results influence game attendance back home, which affects booster fundraising and concessions revenue. For student-athletes, performances in these matchups matter for confidence and exposure; narrow victories and competitive losses alike can shape playing time, coaching decisions and offseason recruiting conversations.

Local coaches now head into the middle of January with a clearer picture of roster needs and matchup priorities. For communities in McKinley County, Friday’s scoreboard offers talking points for booster groups and school boards weighing investments in facilities, travel support and coaching resources. With the winter season still unfolding, each result feeds into seeding for district tournaments and the broader athletic calendar.

Fans in Gallup, Crownpoint, Zuni and surrounding communities can expect continued travel to metro sites and a steady stream of midweek and weekend games that will determine postseason positioning. The mixed results from Jan. 6 emphasize both the resilience of McKinley County teams in tight contests and the resource gaps they must navigate against larger Albuquerque-area rivals.