Rio Rancho's Rode California bound

Brio Rode has done almost everything she can at Rio Ranch, except win a Class 5A girls state basketball title.

Surrounded by perhaps the best team in the school’s seven-year existence, her chances this year look to be pretty good.

“As a team, we’ve gone into every year wanting to win it,” the 5-foot-11 senior guard said. “A state championship would be a good note to go out on.

“But if it doesn’t happen, I try to take the positive things. As long as we go out there and give it our all, I think we have a chance to win it.”

Rode’s services weren’t much needed in Monday’s 63-25 pounding of Amarillo Tascosa in the quarterfinals of the Plateau Holiday Classic at Rock Staubus Gym. With coach Bob McIntyre substituting liberally, Rode finished with a quiet 11 points, including three 3-pointers.

The Lady Rams figure to get more strenuous competition the rest of this tournament, facing Portales (10-2) in today’s semifinals and possibly host Clovis in the finals. They beat both earlier this season in a tournament at Rio Rancho in competitive games.

Rode is averaging around 19 points, five rebounds and five assists for this year’s 8-0 squad. She is the school’s all-time leader with nearly 1,600 points and more than 200 3-pointers, and ranks second in school history in assists.

McIntyre, who has coached the program since the start, knows a big change is in store next year when Rode moves on to the University of California.

“Bri started for us as an eighth grader; I figured she’d be a good JV player for us (that year),” McIntyre said. “She tells me to this day her goal was not only to make the varsity, but to start.

A two-time 5A all-state selection, Rode says she’s ready to move on.

“I’m excited,” she said. “It’s going to be a change, but Cal’s an awesome program. If I do it right, I think I have an opportunity to be a leader for them.”