Jaguars avenge loss to Bernalillo

The Capital Jaguars apparently loved the number nine.

The Bernalillo Spartans hit the number three times in a quarter in a District 2-4A boys basketball game on Tuesday night in Edward A. Ortiz Memorial Gymnasium. It was more than good enough for the Jaguars to fashion a 53-34 win, avenging their lone loss this season in district play.

While Capital (21-3 overall, 4-1 in 2-5A) prides itself on working the ball inside for points, it hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter to grab an early 15-9 lead. It was still just a 24-18 lead at the half when the Jaguars outscored the Spartans 12-7 in the third quarter for a 36-25 lead. They then finished the win with a 17-9 scoring spurt in the fourth quarter.

While Isaiah Brooks led the way for Capital with 12 points, Eric Coca scored 11 points as he made up for his ejection in the first half of Bernalillo’s 51-46 win at home on Jan. 23. Jerome Arroyos added 10 for the Jaguars.

Ty Darnell, who peppered Capital for 26 points in the Spartans’ win, scored just five points and hit only one 3-pointer. Diego Sedillo led Bernalillo (11-12, 3-3) with seven points.

ESPAÑOLA VALLEY 54, ABQ. DEL NORTE 49

The visiting Sundevils picked up a key road win in 2-5A as Marcos Flores led both teams with 23 points for Española.

Leading 11-4 after one quarter, the Sundevils (16-7, 3-2) found themselves tied in the third quarter before pulling away in the final period. James Archuleta had 12 points and Uriah Arellano eight to back up Flores.

Held to nine points in the second quarter, Española had 20 in the fourth to keep the Knights (9-13, 2-4) at bay.

The win moved the Sundevils into sole possession of second place in 2-5A, a half game in front of Bernalillo.

ABQ. SANDIA PREPARATORY 51, ST. MICHAEL’S 49

Jack Henderson was fouled on a 3-point try in the waning seconds and then converted all three free throws to lift the Sundevils to a 5-4A win over the visiting Horsemen.

Prep completed the regular season sweep of St. Michael’s, which dropped three full games behind district leader Hope Christian with just three games remaining before the 5-4A Tournament. The Horsemen will host the Huskies on Friday night.

Cameron Conway had a team-high 14 points for St. Michael’s. Alex Garcia had 10 as the Horsemen (8-12, 2-3) outscored Prep 19-16 in the final quarter but gave up the final four points in the last eight seconds.

Henderson had a game-high 21 for the Sundevils (11-12, 4-2).

SANTA FE PREP 75, MONTE DEL SOL 43

The Blue Griffins (8-15, 5-2) needed a half to adjust to Monte del Sol’s defense, and scored 27 points in the third quarter to take a 53-28 lead into the fourth quarter of a 2-3A game in Prep Gymnasium.

While Francis Castillo y Mulert did his usual part with 30 points and Jeremy Portillo added 17, Prep head coach Clyde Sanchez felt the rest of the players are learning how valuable their contributions are.

“They are understanding they are a part of this, they are a part of this team,” Sanchez said. “We got a lot more scoring from other kids, even if it’s eight [points] or seven or four. They’re coming around.”

Monte del Sol (3-16, 0-7) had Johnny Martinez score 23 points, while Peter Lujan added 11.

SANTA FE WALDORF 64, CORONADO 41

The Wolves outscored the Leopards 20-10 in the second quarter of a 1-1A game at Gallina to take a 37-21 lead at the half and improved to 5-0 in district play.

Ivan Davila and Sean Ramsey each had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Waldorf (135), while Augie Ciofalo added 17 points and 10 assists. The Wolves hit seven 3-pointers in the first half and 10 overall.

GIRLS ABQ. SANDIA PREPARATORY 52, ST. MICHAEL’S 49

A dismal defensive effort in the third quarter doomed the Lady Horsemen in a 5-4A loss to the visiting Lady Sundevils in Perez-Shelley Memorial Gymnasium.

Trailing 23-22 at halftime, St. Michael’s (14-9, 2-3) was playing at the pace it preferred. But in the third quarter, Prep (10-13, 2-4) erupted for 21 points, extending its lead to 11 heading into the final eight minutes.

“It kind of got away from us defensively in the second half,” said Martin Romero, Lady Horsemen head coach. “We called a timeout late in the third quarter and got a little more disciplined.”

It worked as St. Michael’s rallied to take a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, but it was short-lived as Prep’s Maya Perez was 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute to seal the Lady Sundevils’ win.

It offset a career-high 26 points from Lady Horsemen guard Latysha Archuleta. Jocelyn Fernandez added 14.