Piedra Vista beats West Mesa again
Manzano boys now have the lead to itself in District 5-5A
Make it a sweep for Piedra Vista’s girls.
The Panthers shot 60 percent in the second half Tuesday night at West Mesa, and almost 65 percent in the fourth quarter as Class 5A’s No. 3-ranked team beat the secondranked Mustangs 52-50 in a District 2-5A showdown.
Piedra Vista (21-3, 5-1 in 2-5A) is the only team to beat West Mesa (19-2, 3-2) this season.
“To get a sweep of West Mesa, who is just an outstanding basketball club … I believe we’re mirror images of each other,” Panthers coach Joe Reed said. “We were fortunate to get away with a win here tonight.”
Freshman guard Lanae Billy scored all 10 of her points in the fourth quarter for Piedra Vista, and during one stretch, the Panthers nailed four consecutive 3-pointers — two from Billy and a fortuitous, banked-in 3 from the top of the key by Elaina Watson, to seize a 50-43 lead with 1:40 remaining.
But West Mesa fought back and even had the ball in its hands at the end with a chance to win the game. This, after Watson was at the line with 4.1 seconds left, but missed the front end of a one-and-one.
The Mustangs worked the ball into the Panthers’ half of the floor, but were unable to get a shot off.
“It’s not necessarily the matchup,” West Mesa coach Manny Otero said, “it’s that we haven’t played a fourth quarter against this team.”
The game was tied at 34 after three quarters before Piedra Vista made 7 of 11 field-goal attempts in the final eight minutes.
The second half was in stark contrast to an uneventful first half that had the Panthers leading 16-12 at the break.
Piedra Vista made 15 out of 25 shots from the field in the second half. West Mesa was sharp as well, going 15-of-27 (55.6 percent).
Hallie Blackie had 11 points to lead Piedra Vista — all in the second half.
Cece Barela led West Mesa with 12 points. The Mustangs, one of 5A’s best 3-point shooting teams, didn’t get their first 3 until the final minute of the third quarter.
Farmington jumped over West Mesa into second place in 2-5A on Tuesday night after the Scorpions (19-5, 4-2) won 71-64 in overtime at Eldorado.