WEEK IN REVIEW

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

FOR JOURNAL NORTH BASKETBALL FRIDAY LOS ALAMOS 55, MORIARTY 42:

It’s been a long battle toward the breakeven mark for the Hilltoppers, but thanks to a strong run in District 2-4A, a .500 record is just one win away.

Thanks to an odd twist in the schedule, Los Alamos played four district games in an eightday span, but the Hilltoppers are now off until Feb. 16. But it was good for the team because it came at a time when it was playing well.

It worked out well Friday when after falling behind early, the visiting Hilltoppers (11-12, 5-0) took control in the third quarter, turning a twopoint halftime lead into a 42-32 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

“I think the difference after the first quarter, we started to establish our inside and the outside also started to establish themselves,” said Los Alamos coach Lance(CQ) Carter. “We hit three 3s in the second quarter and our defensive pressure picked up a little bit.”

The halftime advantage would have been even greater, Carter said, if Los Alamos had not given a couple of cherrypicking baskets in the closing seconds.

But that did help to fire up the Hilltoppers for the third quarter.

“We really established out dominance to start the third quarter, going 14-6,” Carter said. “That’s where we really started to kick in. We established our inside that much more and took care of the basketball.”

The quarter was marked by a splendid buck from back-up post Maddie Ruminer, Carter said, which kept the team going.

“She had a really great basket during that third quarter and that’s another example of team play,” he said. “We’re not focusing on one kid. Every single kid on the board has the green light to take shots.”

Becca Green scored 14 to lead the offensive effort and Alex Calderon and Jenee Montoya each added 11.

“When I talked to them about this game, I told them it was a chance to improve and I think we did that,” Carter said. “We weren’t just trying to win, we were trying to get better and I really like that.”

IN OTHER GAMES FRIDAY: BOYS

Rio Grande 68, Capital 56; Albuquerque High 62, Santa Fe 58; NM School for the Deaf 64, Oklahoma 41 (Great Plains Schools for the Deaf Tournament).

GIRLS

Pojoaque Valley 53, Española Valley 52.

THURSDAY BOYS NM SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 69, IOWA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 15:

The Roadrunners (155) advanced to the semifinals of the Great Plains Schools for the Deaf Tournament, at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf in Faribault, Minn.

PECOS 66, WEST LAS VEGAS 47:

Ismael Villegas scored 25 points to lead visiting Pecos (18-3) in the romp, while Omar Dominguez added 12 points. John Balizan scored 17 for the Dons (9-12).

In other games Thursday:

Española Valley 74, Taos 59; Academy for Technology and The Classics 52, Desert Academy 40, McCurdy 69, Tierra Encantada 24; Mora 72, Mesa Vista 37; Penasco 82, Questa 53; Pojoaque Valley 45, Los Alamos 35;

GIRLS CAPITAL 53, RIO GRANDE 20:

Miranda Cortez scored 10 of her 13 points in the third quarter as the host Jaguars (9-12, 3-3 in District 5-5A) went on a decisive 21-5 run. Heaven Arciniega added 12 points and Ethena Silva scored 10.

ALBUQUERQUE HIGH 63, SANTA FE 21:

It was a rough night for the Demonettes (8-14, 2-4 in District 5-5A) as Heaven Martinez hit their only 3-pointer and lead in scoring with five. Santa Fe trailed 14-3 after one quarter and 24-11 at the half.

In other games Thursday:

Escalante 49, Coronado 44; McCurdy 47, Tierra Encantada 12; Mesa Vista 41, Mora 38; Peñasco 64, Questa 42.

WEDNESDAY BOYS ST. MICHAEL’S 72, WEST LAS VEGAS 54:

Devon Flores had 12 points as the host Horsemen (14-7, 5-0 in 2-3A) won their sixth straight as the Dons (9-11, 2-3) struggled.

SANTA FE HIGH 89, RIO GRANDE 65:

Since the inside presence of the Demons (16-5 overall, 3-2 in 5-5A) is all in street clothes with injuries, the team has had to adjust to hitting from the outside and made a schoolrecord 16 3-pointers against the Ravens. Antonio Lovato hit four of those 3-pointers and finished with 20 points. Christian Kavanaugh scored 17 and Dove Hernandez and Cruz Martinez added 11 each.

MANZANO 52, CAPITAL 49:

T.J. Sanchez scored 23 points and Dominic Luna added 11 for the visiting Jaguars (15-5, 2-3 in 5-5A). Capital took a 39-34 into the fourth quarter but could not hold onto the advantage.

In other games Wednesday:

Robertson 78, Raton 58.

TUESDAY GIRLS CAPITAL 51, MANZANO 40:

Jaci Cole scored 12 points and Miranda Cortez added 10 as the host Jaguars (8-12, 2-3 in 5-5A) won each quarter.

LOS ALAMOS 55, POJOAQUE VALLEY 48:

The host Hilltoppers (10-12, 4-0 in 2-4A) scored the game’s final 17 points to rally for the win as Becca Green scored 16 points. Taylor Roybal and Ashten Martinez each scored 11 for the Elkettes (18-4, 3-1).

ST. MICHAEL’S 57, WEST LAS VEGAS 48:

It was double trouble for the host Horsemen (10-10, 2-2 in 2-3A) as Joelyn Fernandez (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Stella Valencia (10, 10) each had double-doubles to back the 15 points from Cia Alvarez. The Dons (13-8, 1-3) started off slow, failing to score in the first quarter, and could never recover.

SANTA FE PREP 28, DESERT ACADEMY/S.F. WALDORF 16:

In a defensive battle, the host Blue Griffins (5-5) got just enough offense from Anna Knight with 19 points to hold off the Wild Wolves (2-6).

ESPAÑOLA VALLEY 65, TAOS 29:

Kaylinn Martinez scored 12 points for the visiting Sundevils (11-9, 2-2 in District 2-4A) and the trio of Kaylee Chavez, Destiny Valdez and Jasmine Baca each added 10, while the Tigers (2-17, 0-4) got 10 from Amiree Olivas.

SANTA FE HIGH 61, ABQ. RIO GRANDE 40:

Taylor Salazar scored 14 points for the Demonettes (8-13, 2-3 in District 5-5A), while Kiara Kauka and Alexis Espinosa each contributed 10.

TIERRA ENCANTADA 34, MONTE DEL SOL 33:

Ida Contreras scored 17 points for the Lady Alacranes (2-13, 1-1), which was enough to outdo the 18 points Daisy Ortiz scored for Dragons (2-16, 2-1).

In other games Tuesday:

McCurdy 67, Academy for Technology and Classics 14; Jemez Valley 60, NM School for the Deaf 23; Robertson 62, Raton 26.

BOYS MCCURDY 82, ACADEMY FOR TECHNOLOGY AND THE CLASSICS 41:

The host Bobcats (14-5, 1-0 in 2-2A) finally got to play a district game and wasted no time in doubling up the Phoenix (4-8, 0-1). McCurdy led 50-23 at half and were never threatened.

MONTE DEL SOL 77, TIERRA ENCANTADA 33:

Santi Archuleta scored 26 points and Peter Lujan added 22 to power the Dragons (13-8, 3-0 in 2-2A) past the Alacranes (0-14, 0-3), who got 21 from George Salazar.

NM SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 69, JEMEZ VALLEY 31:

Deven Thompson ruled the Roadrunners’ (14-5, 1-0 in 7-1A) roost with 33 points and 25 rebounds, while Luis Villalobos had 14 points and Bruce Brewer Jr. had a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.

In other games Tuesday:

Santa Fe Indian School 70, Santa Fe Prep 23; Santa Rosa 51, Mora 48.

MONDAY BOYS ESCALANTE 72, NORTHWEST 29:

The Lobos (12-8) got off to a big 26-5 lead after the first quarter, expanded that to 44-11 at halftime and cruised to the victory.

WRESTLING

Santa Fe wrapped an undefeated District 5-5A slate by taking care of Capital 69-6 on Wednesday. In individual matches, 106: Jeremiah Padilla, SF, over Avelino Trujillo , C, (Fall 4:44); 113: Izaak Martinez, SF (For.); 120: Adam Peña , SF, (For.); 126: Miguel Padilla, SF, over Daniel Roybal, C, (Fall 0:43); 132: Angelo Padilla, SF, over Val Ornelas, C, (Fall 1:02); 138: Abran Mendiola, SF, over Isaiah Baldonado, C, (Dec 14-7); 145: Jaden Schliening, SF, over D`Andre Martinez , C, (Fall 2:43); 152: Sammy Martinez, SF, over Adrian Aragon, C, (Fall 0:35); 160: Kobe Romero, SF, over Brian Gutierrez, C, (Fall 0:19); 170: Isaiah Vargas , SF, over Andres Alvarado, C, (Fall 2:24); 182: Elijah Martinez , SF, (For.); 195: Alvin Sosa, SF, (For.); 220: Double Forfeit; 285: Julian Sanchez, C, over Deonte Tenorio, SF, (Fall 3:28).

SIGNED

Santa Fe guard Taylor Salazar signed to play basketball at Cochise College, a junior college in Sierra Vista, Ariz. McCurdy tight end/defensive end Santiago Garcia signed to play at the College of the Desert, a junior college in Palm Springs, Calif. St. Michael quarterback/linebacker Dominic Morgan signed to play football at Ave Maria University, an NAIA school in southern Florida.

HIRED

Robertson football coach Leroy Gonzalez, who has led the Cardinals to four consecutive state championship games, is taking on some new duties as he was recently hired to coach the Robertson baseball team.