It was a relatively light schedule as the local basketball teams cruised through the New Year’s period in preparation for the spring semester and the downhill rush to district play.
Boys
Dec. 26
Kirtland Central 66, Coronado 41
Dec. 27
Capital 55, Española Valley 52
Dec. 30
Escalante 80, Navajo Pine 39
The visiting Lobos (5-2) had four players in double figures, led by Mateo Torrez with 21, while RJ Atencio added 17 and Charlie Ferrell and Julio Lujan each had 10 against the Warriors. Richard Glover added 14 rebounds and Braylon Emery had six steals for Escalante.
Dec. 31
Escalante 70, Academy for Technology and the Classics 37
Richard Glover had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and RJ Atencio had 14 points with nine rebounds for the host Lobos (6-2) in a rout of the Phoenix. Braylon Emery and Julio Lujan each added 10 for Escalante.
Jan. 2
Española Valley 71, Kirtland Central 54
The host Sundevils (3-9) got out to a strong start leading 19-7 after the first quarter, then building on that advantage in the second half against the Broncos.
Jan. 3
Alamogordo 63, Española Valley 49
The host Sundevils (3-10) lost for the second time this season to the Tigers, but battled tough, trailing just 31-27 at halftime, before getting worn down in the third quarter, still, Española showed significant improvement from the first meeting between the teams.
Artesia 72, Pojoaque Valley 34
The road was a rough one for the Elks (4-8), who fell behind 18-5 in the first quarter, then were blitzed 24-9 in the second quarter to trail 42-14 at halftime against the Class 4A top-ranked Bulldogs.
Dulce 74, Monte del Sol 59
The host Hawks (5-3) got out to a big 21-8 lead in the first quarter, then rode that advantage to the victory over the Dragons.
Escalante 70, Bernalillo 43
The visiting Lobos (6-2) overcame a slow start to win their fifth consecutive game after leading just 14-12 after the first quarter against the Spartans. Escalante extended the lead to 34-26 at halftime and pulled away in the second half.
Mesa Vista 74, Cimarron 56
Girls
Dec. 27
Mesa Vista 56, Academy for Technology and the Classics 38
Aubrey Maestas scored 18 points with six rebounds and five assists, while Isabella Gallegos contributed 12 points and Jordyn Serrano had 12 rebounds to power the host Lady Trojans (9-2), who had to overcome a 17-16 first-quarter deficit. But a healthy 9-1 scoring advantage in the second quarter turned the game around in a game in which MV was missing four starters because of illness. “We pulled that one with just heart with the illness situation,” Trojans coach Jesse Boies said.
Dec. 29
Pojoaque Valley 43, St. Michael’s 27
Dec. 30
Escalante 45, Navajo Pine 18
Rosa Talamante nailed a double-double with 18 points and 14 steals, while adding eight rebounds and Natalie Aguilar had 14 points with five steals to lead the visiting Lady Lobos (2-6) to a strong win over the Lady Warriors. Escalante’s impressive defensive effort, which limited NP to 15% shooting, included 38 steals, with Abryanna Baca adding six and Danica Ulibarri five.
Jan. 1
Grants 49, Española Valley 37
Jan. 2
St. Pius 46, Española Valley 42
Clovis 46, Pojoaque Valley 40
Escalante 40, Academy for Technology and the Classics 30
Jan. 3
Española Valley 56, Atrisco Heritage 27
East Mountain 56, Coronado 35
Mesa Vista 55, Cimarron 42
Aaliyah Boies had 17 points, nine steals and five assists to lead the host Lady Trojans (10-2) past the Lady Rams, as Jordyn Serrano added eight rebounds and Valery Martinez seven.
Jan. 3
McCurdy 40, Rehoboth Christian 36
The host Lady Bobcats (7-2) rallied back from a 21-14 halftime deficit, making up most of that in the third quarter with a 14-9 run, then polishing off the comeback with a 12-6 fourth-quarter advantage against the Lady Lynx.