He just didn't expect it to happen so soon.
District 1-3A Player of the Year Elithea Domingo picked up 20 kills, and the Bobcats served up 13 aces to beat Wingate 3-0 in the district championship game Saturday night at Bobcat Gymnasium. The victory gave Bloomfield (17-4, 1-0 postseason) its first district title since 1997, when the Bobcats went on to finish third in the state tournament.
"It means everything to these kids," Zamora said. "They have worked and worked and worked. Last year, we were able to get close — we got a sniff of it and just weren't able to finish it off. This year, the girls definitely wanted to get that monkey off their back."
The title-clinching victory wasn't as easy as the 3-0 score would otherwise indicate. Wingate (17-5, 1-1) battled bact from a 17-10 deficit in Game 1 to forge a 17-17 tie before falling 25-23. The Lady Bears held a 13-10 lead in Game 2 before Jessica Mize and Cassady Granado sparked a four-point spurt that gave BHS the lead, with the 'Cats eventually winning 25-22.
The match seemed destined for a fourth game after Wingate rushed out to a 10-2 lead in Game 3, but Domingo took over with several big kills and Destini Armenta's serving kept the Bears off balance during a 10-1 run by the Bobcats.
"We just stayed focused
After Bloomfield took a 12-11 lead in the final game, the teams went back and forth for several points before the Bobcats seized the momentum. Reba Florez served up an ace that put BHS in front 21-18, and came up with an amazing dig that found a hole in the Wingate defense, bringing a smile to Zamora's face on the sidelines.
"The kids have heard me say that one great play can destroy the other side of the net," said Zamora, who was named District 1-3A Coach of the Year. "You never know when it's going to happen. (Florez) was on a nice serving run, and when she dug that ball, you saw every bit of wind come out of (Wingate's) sails. They knew right then and there that they were done. My kids saw it and they fed on it."
Once the Bobcats got to game point with a 24-18 lead, Zamora urged the large crowd at Bobcat Gymnasium to get on its feet. As Wingate's return on Florez' serve sailed wide, pandemonium ensued with the Bobcat players charging the court, some crying tears of joy.
"It means a lot to us," Domingo said. "I had an amazing feeling in my heart. I really wanted to win it for our seniors this year. We're so excited, and we really want to go far in state."
Given Bloomfield's 16-match winning streak, during which the Bobcats have only lost seven games, Zamora was optimistic about his team's chances at a high seed going into next week's state tournament.
"A lot of pieces to the puzzle came together, and you see what happens when kids believe in each other," Zamora said. "We've still got some unfinished business. If we play our cards right, we can definitely end up in the semifinals or finals."
The Second Team includes Zuni's Angel Natewa, Crownpoint's Lynell Eriacho, Miyamura's Talisha Wilson, Tohatchi's Trinity Largie, Newcomb's Jenna Henry, Wingate's Tynisha Bitsui and Bloomfield's Kristin Harrison.
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