WEEK IN REVIEW

A LOOK BACK AT THE TOP SPORTS STORIES IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO

BASKETBALL FRIDAY

Española Valley used its pre-district season just the way good do, playing tough teams and growing through the experience.

Those Sundevils continued their run Friday as Ryan Trujillo scored 33 points, leading to a 81-63 win over visiting Los Alamos.

“They cut it to four midway through the third quarter, but then we really had a run in the fourth quarter,” said Sundevils coach James Branch. “We got away from pressuring the ball and played to their tempo. We had a significant boost when Jordan Duda came off the bench. He came in and helped put the pressure on. He gave us a spark off the bench.”

Brian Martinez added 16 points and Christian Aizpuro had 10 for Española (16-8, 7-0 2-4A).

“I like where we’re at, at the moment,” Branch said. “We’re going to be in Taos next Saturday, my old stomping ground. I know they’re going not going pull out the red carpet for me.”

That game will likely decide the district championship as the Tigers are currently 6-1 in district after beating Moriarty 80-38 on Friday.

As for the Hilltoppers (6-17, 1-5), they tried to make a game of it, but just lacked the firepower to keep up with the Sundevils, especially with Trujillo connecting.

“He’s been tremendous all season,” Branch said of his point guard. “He’s the only returning starter that played in the state championship. One thing is he’s not deferring. I felt like he was deferring too much last year.”

With Trujillo teaming with Martinez as shooting guard, it’s turned into a potent duo.

“He has been significant one-two punch with Ryan all season,” Branch said. “And everybody else has chipped in all season.”

THURSDAY BOYS MCCURDY 69, MONTE DEL SOL 59:

Kemmer Croff scored 18 points with 12 rebounds and Ubaldo Barela had 12 points and 13 boards to lead the Bobcats (18-5, 5-0 in 2-2A) in a first-place battle with the Dragons (16-9, 5-1).

CAPITAL 58, SANDIA 46:

T.J. Sanchez had 17 points Seth Arroyos contributed 10 to help the visiting Jaguars (16-7, 4-4 in 5-5A) cling to potential state tournament berth.

SANTA FE 65, MANZANO 52:

Carlos Dassaro scored 17 points to lead the visiting Demons (17-7, 4-4 in 5-5A) past the Monarchs. Cruz Martinez kicked in 16 points for Santa Fe and Christian Kavanaugh added 10.

DESERT ACADEMY/SANTA FE WALDORF 43, TIERRA ENCANTADA 39:

Liam Otero scored 29 points to lead the Wild Wolves (5-15, 1-4 2-2A) past the Alacranes (1-15, 1-4), who nearly recovered from a large deficit before coming up short.

PECOS 55, SANTA ROSA 51:

The visiting Panthers (20-3, 4-0 in 7-2A) pulled away late, breaking a 42-42 tie with the Lions in the fourth quarter. Xavier Padilla scored 22 points for Pecos and Anthony Armijo had 10.

ESCALANTE 48, MESA VISTA 45:

Trailing 38-34 entering the fourth quarter, the visiting Lobos (15-8, 6-1 5-2A) came back by owning the final period over the Trojans (6-17, 3-4).

GIRLS NM SCOOL FOR THE DEAF 51, EVANGEL CHRISTIAN 20:

Lindsay Hand scored 20 points for the host Roadrunners (8-13, 1-7) and Mya Malone added 11 in the win over the Eagles.

PECOS 50, SANTA ROSA 23:

The Panthers (18-4, 3-1 2-2A) got 21 points from Brittney Martinez and Cassie Muller had 19 in the large win.

POJOAQUE VALLEY 55, TAOS 22:

The visiting Elkettes (20-4, 5-1 2-4A) wasted little time in building a large margin over the Tigers (2-18, 0-5) as Adrianna Quintana scored 12 points.

TIERRA ENCANTADA 39, DESERT ACADEMY/SANTA FE WALDORF 35:

The visiting Alacranes (3-15, 2-3 2-2A) recovered from a 17-12 halftime deficit to outscore the Wild Wolves (3-9, 1-3) 27-18 in the second half.

ESPAÑOLA VALLEY 59, MORIARTY 52:

Kaylinn Martinez scored 17 points and Kaylee Chavez added 14 for the host Sundevils (12-10, 3-3 2-4A) in the win over the Pintos.

ESCALANTE 52, MESA VISTA 23:

The Lobos (7-14, 4-3 5-2A) used a big second quarter to jump out to a 24-9 halftime lead over the host Trojans (8-13, 4-3). Mora 34; Peñasco 84, Coronado 20; McCurdy 83, Monte del Sol 9.

WEDNESDAY BOYS NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 82, JEMEZ VALLEY 64:

Deven Thompson was an enormous presence for the Roadrunners (19-5, 3-0 7-1A), scoring 42 points with 17 rebounds and four blocks, while teammates Bruce Brewer Jr. had 19 points and 12 assists and Luis Villalobos had 17 points.

GIRLS ROBERTSON 58, SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL:

Despite 11 points from Leanna Lewis, the Braves (19-4, 3-2 2-3A) were unable to handle the host Cardinals (22-1, 5-0).

ALBUQUERUQE HIGH 53, CAPITAL 39:

Despite 12 from Rebecca Sorenson, the visiting Jaguars (9-13, 3-4 5-5A) could not overcome an early deficit against the Bulldogs, who built a 27-16 halftime lead.

SANDIA 77, SANTA FE HIGH 22:

It was a no contest from the outset for the Demonettes (8-14, 2-5), which trailed the host Matadors 22-2 after one quarter. Mari Fernandez score nine for Santa Fe.

QUESTA 67, ANTONITO (COLO) 45:

The Wildcats (9-12) recovered from an early 19-11 first-quarter deficit by outscoring the Trojans 44-17 in the second half.

In other games Wednesday:

Jemez Valley 63, NM School for the Deaf 22; West Las Vegas 66, Raton 34.

TUESDAY GIRLS ACADEMY FOR TECHNOLOGY AND THE CLASSICS 41, TIERRA ENCANTADA 36:

The visiting Phoenix 4-15, 3-1 2-2A) got 12 points from Valerie Cera and held off a fourth-quarter run from the Alacranes (2-3, 3-15). In other games Tuesday: Walatowa 68, NM School for the Deaf 21.

BOYS CAPITAL 69, ALBUQUERQUE HIGH 62:

T.J. Sanchez scored 28 points to lead the host Jaguars to a clutch win over the Bulldogs.

SANDIA 54, SANTA FE 53:

Lucas Jordan’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer turned victory into defeat for the host Demons (16-7, 3-4 5-5A), who rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit before falling.

MICHAEL’S 79, SANTA FE PREP 41:

Thomas Wood scored 18 points while Connor Glatz had 12 and Hayden Lee 10 for the visiting Horsemen (16-7, 7-0 2-3A). The Blue Griffins (7-13, 0-7) fell behind early despite 14 points from Sean Coles.

ESPAÑOLA VALLEY 86, MORIARTY 57:

Thanks to 24 points each from Ryan Trujillo and Brian Martinez, the visiting Sundevils (15-8, 6-0 in 2-4A) easily handed the Pintos.

NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 65, WALATOWA 51:

Fresh off their second straight championship in the Great Plains Schools for the Deaf tournament, the Roadrunners took out the Cougars (19-5, 3-0 7-1A) behind 25 points and 26 rebounds from Deven Thompson.

SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL 59, ROBERTSON 50:

Anders Pecos scored 17 points and Jaden Aguino added 15 to lead the Braves (13-9, 6-1 2-3A) to a victory over the Cardinals (12-10, 4-3). In other games Tuesday: West Las Vegas 74, Raton 49; Tierra Encantada 57, Academy for Technology and the Classics 50; Taos 61, Pojoaque Valley 40.

MONDAY GIRLS DESERT ACADEMY/SANTA FE WALDORF 34, MONTE DEL SOL 21:

The Wild Wolves (3-8, 1-2 2-2A) took control in the second and third quarters, building a 27-15 lead going into the fourth against the Dragons (2-19, 2-4).

BOYS MONTE DEL SOL 81, DESERT ACADEMY/SANTA FE WALDORF 55:

Peter Lujan scored 34 points with 12 rebounds for the host Dragons (15-9, 4-1 2-2A), Santa Archuleta added 16 and Alex Lopez 15. Monte del Sol pulled away late from the Wild Wolves (5-14, 1-3), with a 22-6 fourthquarter outburst.

HIRED

New Mexico Highlands University has elevated Bianca Contreras from assistant coach to head coach for the women’s soccer team. Contreras, a Highlands alum, has been the assistant coach for four years before being named the replacement for Oscar Medrano. She played one season as goalkeeper with the Cowgirls, leading them to a 10-8-1 record, including 8-5-1 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play before injuries curtailed the rest of her playing career.

WRESTLING

The high school state wrestling tournament is set for Friday and Saturday at the Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. Matches begin at 9 a.m. both days.