Historic Showdown at the Don: Bel Air vs. Andress
It’s perhaps the biggest high school basketball game ever in El Paso.
Undefeated (32-0) Bel Air takes on Andress (30-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at the Haskins Center with a spot in the State Class 5A Elite Eight on the line.
Bel Air and Andress players will be living out a dream under coaches familiar with the man the arena is named after.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing like on a big stage when you’re smaller,” said Bel Air star senior Jordan Enriquez.”
Added senior guard Josh Gallegos: “It’s always been a dream of mine and it’s finally come true.”
When Coach Rob Dibler’s Bel Air team takes on Andress, coached by former Olympian Jim Forbes in the Haskins Center with a spot in the State Elite Eight up for grabs, many, including El Paso’s own “Joe Fan” believe it will be the biggest matchup ever between two El Paso teams.
“No doubt about it (it’s one of the greatest achievements ever here) when you got two teams ranked 4 and 5 in the state is Class 5A, it has to be considered one of our most outstanding achievements,” said Tom Ciaburri, known as El Paso’s “joe Fan.” “Who’s ever heard of an El Paso basketball team, no losses overall, 32-0, and Andress having only one loss, 30-1? That’s just unheard of in any sport.”
Dibler added: “It’s just an unbelievable accomplishment. Don’t know if its ever been done in boys varsity el paso history.”
It’s fitting this game is being played right here at the Don Haskins Center. Coach Dibler’s Dad, Bobby Dibler, played for Coach Haskins in the 60’s and Coach Forbes, who played at Bel Air in high school, played for Coach Haskins the 1970’s.
“If you look around at the high school coaches across the city, in one way or another Coach Haskins has affected those coaches,” Dibler said. “Coach Haskins’ influence is definitely alive and well in the city.”
Tickets are $3 for students and $4 for adults in advance, available at Bel Air, Andress and the EPISD offices. They will be $5 on gameday at the Haskins Center.
YISD and EPISD are splitting the $6,000 cost for the arena and the gate. They expect to make money since it is such a historic game.
