No. 8 Mescalero Apache is in final

Third-seeded Pecos awaits in title game

RIO RANCHO — The giant-killer of New Mexico high school basketball, at least through Thursday afternoon, has been the Mescalero Apache girls.

The Chiefs came to Albuquerque seeded eighth in Class 2A, but they will play in today’s 5 p.m. championship game at Dreamstyle Arena — the Pit.

Thursday at the Santa Ana Star Center, the Chiefs rode the gamehigh 28-point, nine-rebound performance of junior Fallon Velasquez to knock off fourth-seeded Dulce 46-40 in semifinal play.

Brooke Vigil scored 18 points for Dulce (23-7), which had hit three 3-pointers and led after one quarter, 17-7. But the Hawks went 3-of-15 from the field in the middle two stanzas, as the Chiefs took control.

And when Dulce tried to make a move in the fourth quarter, Mescalero Apache kept the Hawks at arm’s distance with a 5-of-6 performance from the free-throw line.

Add this fun fact from the semifinal: Alyn Kazhe-Kirgan, who was scoreless in 11 minutes, 40 seconds of action, had a plus-minus figure of plus-19, by far the best of anyone in the game. She had two rebounds and three assists during her playing time.

Next up today is third-seeded Pecos.

The Chiefs entered state tournament play on a downswing, losing in district to Lordsburg 69-55. But since then, they’ve dispatched ninth-seeded Magdalena 55-43, busted the bracket with a 47-46 upset of No. 1 Texico, and then Thursday’s victory.

No. 3 PECOS 62, No. 2 PEÑASCO 44: Trinity Herrera scored 25 points and added 10 rebounds to help Pecos knock off Peñasco and advance to Saturday’s title game.

Carly Gonzales had 18 points and 17 rebounds for Peñasco.