Missed opportunities in crunch time cost the Pojoaque Elks a victory in their District 2AAA open.
The Elks lost 57-53 to Santa Fe Indian School Jan. 23 in Pojoaque. The Elks had pounded the Braves by 17 points Dec. 11 in Grants, but in the third quarter it was the Braves that pounded Pojoaque.
“I told the team they were kicking our tails on the boards in the first half,” Indian School coach Ernie Rodriguez said.
The Braves started the third quarter with a 7-0 run to overcome a five-point deficit and eventually took a 45-39 lead into the fourth quarter. Indian School corralled eight offensive rebounds and finished the game with a 32-19 advantage on the boards.
“Indian School came out more physical and more determined in the third quarter,” Pojoaque coach Joey Trujillo said. “I felt we didn’t match their intensity.”
Pojoaque made a determined run at the Braves in the fourth quarter, but Jamaal Anderson kept the Elks at bay. After being held scoreless in the first half, the Braves’ forward scored six of his 10 points in the fourth quarter to help keep his team in front.
“In the second half he brought solid energy to us,” Rodriguez said.
Down by five points, Pojoaque began to force Braves turnovers and cut the lead to 51-50 with less than two minutes left after baskets by Brian Montoya and Josh Valdez. The Braves scored on a basket inside by Darren Pedro to take a three-point lead, But Chris Ortiz scored underneath the basket for Pojoaque with 57 second left.
With his team trailing by just a point 51-50, Pojoaque’s Josh Catanach stole the ball at midcourt and drove down for the go-ahead basket, but 6-foot-3-inch Stevan Rodgriguez blocked his shot. Pojoaque produced a second turnover moments later, but again failed to capitalize. With 25 seconds left Santa Clara Pueblo’s Trevor Merhege gave the Braves a 55-52 lead with a pair of free throws.
Ortiz was fouled behind the arc with 6.8 seconds left to play. With a chance to tie the game, he made just 1-of-3 free throws. The Elks still had a chance to tie after Rodriguez sank just 1-of-2 free throws with five seconds left, but Montoya was called for stepping out of bounds, effectively ending the Elks’ chances for winning.
“It’s a long way from being decided, but right now we’re in the worst position because we lost at home,” Trujillo said. “We’re going to have to win at Robertson because an 0-2 start in district would put us in a big hole.”
The Elks beat Robertson 61-53 Monday in Las Vegas in a game that was rescheduled after being cancelled Jan. 20 because of snow.
Robertson had defeated St. Michaels 65-63 Jan. 22 in Las Vegas. The Braves improved to 2-0 in District 2AAA.