Boys basketball
What happened: The Jaguars had a familiar pattern against the Elks in both teams’ final nondistrict game Saturday in Ben Lujan Gymnasium: slow starts that led to fast finishes. Capital used a 25-point second quarter to turn a tight 11-7 lead after a quarter into a 37-16 lead at the half. Pojoaque rode Jordan Lopez’s hot hand in the third quarter as he scored 11 of his team’s 23 points to pull within 49-39 entering the fourth. The run didn’t last as Capital held the Elks to just nine points the rest of the way.
Top players: Nathanial Ortiz and Elijah Rodriguez-Montaño each had 15 points to lead the Jaguars’ offensive attack, while Santiago Bencomo added 13 and Eli Dominuez scored 10. Lopez finished with 15 points for Pojoaque, but no other player reached double figures.
What’s next: Capital (11-5) opens District 5-5A play Tuesday at Albuquerque Rio Grande. Pojoaque Valley (9-8) travels to Española Valley the same day.
What happened: The Blue Griffins showed what they can do in spurts as they held the Warriors to just nine points in the final quarter to erase a 55-51 deficit. Their 2-3 zone was able to slow down Socorro’s Jake Robinson, who ended up with 27, over that last stretch, but Prep head coach Joe Vigil would prefer a more consistent intensity level on defense, though. Socorro led by as much as 12 points in the third quarter. “We played flat defense for three-quarters of the game,” Vigil said. “Then for about the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, we really picked up the defensive intensity like we needed to and we pulled out a win.”
Top players: Mitch Grover led the Blue Griffins with 22 points, while Van Anderson added 16 and Morgan Field scored 14.
What’s next: Prep (9-6) starts District 2-3A play Thursday at St. Michael’s.
What happened: The Cardinals continued to roll, winning their 11th straight game in resounding fashion in Albuquerque. They only led 31-20 at the half but exploded for 46 points after the break. Freshman Nathan Gonzales made his presence felt in the third quarter, scoring 11 of Robertson’s 22 points in the quarter for a 53-32 lead. Top players: Gonzales led all Cardinals with 17 points, while Mateo Contreras added 14 and George Smith scored 12. Miles Manzanares led the Sundevils with 17 points.
What’s next: Robertson (13-1) takes on Santa Fe Indian School in its District 2-3A opener Wednesday.