The Pojoaque Elkettes extended their winning streak to 36 games Nov. 28 with a 41-36 home victory over Los Alamos in both teams’ season-opener.
The Elkettes started the game slowly, scoring just four points in the first quarter and trailing Los Alamos by six points. The Elkettes’ pressure defense turned things around in the second quarter, outscoring the Hilltoppers 14-7 and Pojoaque led 18-17 at halftime.
Los Alamos took a 27-25 lead going into the fourth quarter. With 3:11 left in the game Pojoaque took a 36-34 lead after a three-pointer by Marissa Romero and held off the Hilltoppers the rest of the way.
“I think the girls played with a lot of pride and confidence against a really tall team,” Pojoaque coach Lanse Carter said. “At nearly every position they had a height advantage.”
The last loss for Pojoaque was a 48-46 defeat at the hands of Santa Fe Indian School Feb. 27, 2008, in the District 2AAA tournament. Pojoaque went on to win its next four games in the Class AAA state tournament and win the 2008 Class AAA state championship. Last season, the Elkettes finished 31-0 and won their second consecutive Class AAA state title.
The winning streak is something that the media focuses on more than the team does, according to Carter.
“We don’t even talk about it,” he said. “We deal with it by focusing day-in and day-out on getting better and becoming closer as a team.”
Romero and senior guard Dionna Montoya are the Elkettes’ lone returning starters. Romero led the Elkettes with 11 points, including two three-pointers in the second half. Montoya contributed six points and had eight of Pojoaque’s 18 steals. The Elkettes forced 25 turnovers.
“(Montoya) really created a lot of havoc,” Carter said.
The new starters are junior guard Kiana Vigil, senior forward Audrey Smith and junior post Liz Gomez. Vigil had nine points, while Smith tied Montoya for the team-high in rebounds with six and added seven points. Gomez at 6 feet, 1 inch was the only Elkette tall enough to compete on the boards with Los Alamos.
“In particular, Audrey played extremely well,” Carter said. “Kiana hit big shots when we needed them and Liz battled ferociously all game long.”
The Hilltoppers were led by Taylor Ealey, who scored 13 points.
The Hilltoppers kept the game close by making more trips to the foul line than the Elkettes. Los Alamos was 17 of 24 from the charity stripe, while Pojoaque was just 11 of 18 shooting their free throws.
Pojoaque’s aggressive defense likely contributed to the Hilltoppers’ free-throw advantage, but that’s the style Carter likes to play.
“Just to exert your will on your opponent and get them to play your style,” Carter said. “(Los Alamos) had a hard time getting into their offense because they had a hard time getting the ball up the floor.”
The Elkettes faced Santa Fe High School Tuesday and travel to Farmington Saturday to play Piedra Vista.