San Diego, California – Montgomery High School’s boys basketball team is navigating a challenging stretch as the regular season nears its end, grappling with injuries and a recent losing streak following the departure of key players who have moved on to the collegiate level. The Aztecs, once a dominant force in the San Diego Section, are currently 16-10, having lost five consecutive games, including a narrow 57-56 defeat to Steele Canyon on .
Head Coach Ed Martin, reflecting on the past four seasons, acknowledged a shift in dynamics. “I was living a dream,” he said, referring to the team’s consistent success – four consecutive seasons with at least 24 wins and three straight appearances in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division championship game. That success was largely built around a core of players who have now moved on to college basketball: JJ Sanchez, Alek Sanchez, Devin Hamilton, and Xair Mendez.
Saturday’s game at Mission Bay High School exemplified the team’s current struggles. Montgomery rallied from a 17-point deficit, briefly taking the lead, only to lose at the buzzer. “This one hurts,” Martin commented, highlighting the frustrating nature of the defeat. “You get behind by 17, go on a great run, then lose at the buzzer. The key, I guess, is not getting behind by 17.”
The Aztecs’ recent downturn coincides with a series of setbacks on the injury front. Xavier Guerrero, a key contributor averaging 10.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, has missed the last five contests with a concussion. Starting guard Marcos Heredia was sidelined due to illness during Saturday’s game. Martin noted the impact of Guerrero’s absence, stating, “We were 16-5 and playing well…Then Guerrero got undercut, landed on his head and got a concussion. And we’ve lost every game with him out.” Guerrero is progressing through the concussion protocol and participated in warm-ups before Saturday’s game, indicating he is nearing a return to play.
Adding to the team’s woes, Nick Villa sustained a shoulder injury during Saturday’s game. The team is also contending with a flu outbreak, further depleting their roster. “Then the flu hit us hard,” Martin said. “I’ve got two kids home in bed. I know every team goes through the flu, so my hope is that we get it out of the way now and are healthy for the playoffs.”
Despite the challenges, Montgomery remains a Division 1 team in the postseason bracket, currently seeded ninth. They are projected to face Mission Hills in the first round, a scenario Martin doesn’t anticipate changing. The top four seeds in the 16-team field are currently Cathedral Catholic, Torrey Pines, St. Augustine, and Carlsbad.
DJ Montgomery led the Aztecs in scoring on Saturday with 21 points, including five three-pointers. Chayse Miles of Steele Canyon led all scorers with 18 points and 11 rebounds, with his team dominating inside. Montgomery’s DK Montgomery, who averages 20.6 points per game, emphasized the need for a fully healthy squad. “We need to get well, get all our full squad back. When we’re all together, we’re hard to beat.”
The departure of the Sanchez twins – JJ and Alek – to Citrus College, along with Devin Hamilton, represents a significant loss for Montgomery. JJ Sanchez, last season’s San Diego Section Player of the Year, is averaging 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists at Citrus. Alek Sanchez contributes 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while Hamilton averages 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. Coach Martin expressed satisfaction with their collegiate progress, noting that Citrus College actively recruited all three players, offering them a favorable opportunity.
Xair Mendez is currently a redshirt freshman at Cal State San Marcos.
In other local high school basketball action on , Christian High School defeated Mira Mesa 69-67, with Julian Lebel scoring 27 points for Christian. Cathedral Catholic edged Carlsbad 54-51, with Sei’Mir Roberson scoring the go-ahead basket in the final seconds. Mater Dei Catholic beat Del Norte 52-48, and Lincoln High School dominated Foothills Christian 71-31.
Guerrero, reflecting on his role within the team, expressed optimism about Montgomery’s potential. “I was a role player last year, learned a lot,” he said. “I’ve added scoring to my game this season. I’ve become a leader, something I embrace. We’ve got a lot of young players and new guys, so they need a leader. I think You can win it all. We have good players. And Coach Ed is the best.”
