Valencia, Capital collect district-altering wins

La Cueva girls earn victory over Sadia

There was some disruption, and some clarity, in two boys basketball districts on Friday night.

The Jaguars from Valencia and the Jaguars from Capital both posted key wins on the penultimate Friday night of the regular season.

At St. Pius, Damian Estrada nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Valencia — down 12 at halftime — upset No. 4-ranked St. Pius 54-51 in District 5-4A.

Brian Kalb had tied the game for the Sartans (15-8, 5-2 in 5-4A) at 51-all with 2 seconds to go.

Valencia (11-13, 4-2) inbounded from the baseline following a timeout. Fernando Enriquez threw a baseball pass to the opposite 3-point line. Estrada caught it, took one dribble, and turned and around and fired in the game-winner from the top of the key.

Estrada finished with 20 points and six rebounds. Ali Abdullah added 16 points and nine rebounds.

Valencia’s win was great news for district-leading, and secondranked Highland (17-6, 6-0), which now owns a two-game lead over St. Pius headed into the final week of the season. The Hornets routed Grants 89-51 on Friday.

In Santa Fe, last-place Capital upset Class 5A’s fourth-ranked — and league-leading — Los Lunas, 47-45, putting a dent in the Tigers’ (19-5, 6-2) hopes of an outright District 5-5A championship.

With victories by Rio Grande and Santa Fe on Friday, there is a three-way deadlock for first place in 5-5A.

The Ravens (13-8, 6-2) defeated Albuquerque High 73-58, while the Demons (14-9, 6-2) downed Manzano 66-57.

At Atrisco Heritage, No. 3-ranked Cleveland edged the sixth-ranked Jaguars, 50-48, as the Storm (18-6, 5-1) kept pace with idle Volcano Vista for first place in District 1-5A.Daniel Steverson had 24 points for Cleveland, and freshman Remy Albrecht hit two free throws with 15 seconds remaining for the Storm victory.

GIRLS: At La Cueva, the sixthranked Bears (18-6, 7-1) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 73-59 victory over No. 5 Sandia (17-7, 4-4).

Jordyn Dyer’s buzzer-beating 3 to end the third quarter put La Cueva in front 48-45 headed to the final eight minutes. Eva Love had seven points in the fourth quarter to help the Bears put away the Matadors.

Dyer finished with a teambest 23 points. Alexis Ayers and Olivia Haddock each scored 13 points, and Love finished with 12.

La Cueva has a huge road game Tuesday night at Farmington (22-2, 7-1) which is tied with the Bears for first place in district. The Scorpions beat Eldorado (11-11, 4-4) by an 83-59 count on Friday night.

At Valencia, St. Pius (18-5, 7-0 in 5-A) won convincingly, 49-28 over the Jaguars as the Sartans remain just in front of Highland (13-11, 5-1) in the district standings.

St. Pius has one game remaining, next Friday against Highland. The Hornets also face Valencia next week.