The Mesa Vista Trojans weren’t unaccustomed to playing intense, physical games.

But what the Texico Wolverines did to them in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A State Girls Basketball Tournament was unlike what they had seen all season. Texico wasn’t just the more physical team, it was the bigger, stronger team, and it wore on the Trojans as the minutes ticked away in a 48-38 loss. It ended the dream of winning the 2A title for second-seeded Mesa Vista, but it also lit the fire to make sure it wasn’t pushed around like that again.

“I think it taught us not to give up right away,” Trojans senior guard Isabella Boies. “After we lost the lead, I kinda felt like we stopped playing a little bit.”

The lesson was harshly learned, but the seven seniors, who endured the deaths of head coach Leonard Torrez Jr. and assistant Leonard Torrez Sr. during the pandemic, helped turn the program around into one of the best in 2A and has one more chance to do something historic — win the program’s first state title.

The Trojans said they believe the path to that journey was not found on the court, but in the weight room. After getting beat up by Texico, the eventual state champion, they began a weight training regimen designed to ensure they can be just as physical.

“I didn’t have to beg them,” said Mesa Vista head coach Jesse Boies, Isabella’s dad. “I would to the gym on the weekend or in the evenings after work, and I would see a few of the girls hitting the weights. I was like, ‘What are you doing here?’ And they were like, ‘Well, this year, we’re not going to get pushed around like that.’ ”

The Trojans showed that in their season opener against Cimarron, a team coach Boies said was similar in size to the Wolverines. They scored the first 15 points, led 30-9 after one quarter and rolled to a 78-29 win at home on Dec. 1.

“I think [the weight training] helped us play through contact better and just play stronger,” Isabella Boies said.

Coach Boies said he doesn’t have to worry about points, as the Trojans return three of their top four scorers from last year’s 23-6 squad. But he pointed to the play of 5-foot-9 junior post Kaelynn Trujillo, 5-6 senior forward Brittni Suazo and 5-3 senior guard Kylie Torrez for setting the

tone on the defensive end.

“It’s just an exciting team where they literally all bring a piece of the pie to the table,” Jesse Boies said. “It’s a blast to coach such a fun and talented team.”

The Trojans are also mature beyond their years, which they say was developed when the Torrezes endured a three-week battle with the coronavirus before they died within hours of each other in January 2021.

Lopez said the team learned how to handle adversity because of that and developed a bond that hasn’t been breached.

“We’ve found a way to cope and move on,” Lopez said. “And we know that we got each other.”

That bond will be tested throughout the season. The Trojans’ schedule has them playing a pair of 4A schools in Española

Valley and Miyamura as well as 5A Roswell in this weekend’s Sundevil Shootout in Española. Mesa Vista also travels to Aztec for the Rumble in the Jungle at the end of the month, then it begins January with the Northern Rio Grande Tournament and Santa Fe Indian School’s Lady Braves Classic.

The Northern Rio Grande Tournament will likely end up being a District 5-2A preview with Peñasco. The teams split the four times they faced off last year, and they are ranked No. 2 (Mesa Vista) and No. 3 (Peñasco) in the first New Mexico Overtime Sports coaches poll.

The SFIS tournament features the Lady Braves, who were the 3A runners-up two years running, and 3A contender Navajo Prep. Coach Boies feels the schedule will have his team ready for March when the playoffs start.

“That’s what gets these girls ready for the long run,” the coach said. “Three months from now, they’ll be battled-tested and know what to expect.”

By then, Mesa Vista might be ready to give opponents a taste of their own medicine.

“It’s just an exciting team where they literally all bring a piece of the pie to the table.” Mesa Vista coach Jesse Boies