By MORRIE PONGRATZ
Voice of the Hilltoppers

Faced with the loss of two of his team’s upperclassmen, Hilltopper basketball coach Mike Kluk, turned to his sophomores to carry the day in two games this past weekend. With 6’5” junior Adam Paulson out with a knee injury and 6’2” senior Isiah Espinosa out sick, the Toppers rallied behind their super sophomores. 

Friday night against district foe, Bernalillo, Michael Naranjo led in scoring with 17 points, 15 of them coming in the second half. Jack Stewart had 15 points and Troy Hammock and Antonio Trujillo each had 13 points. These four sophomores accounted for 58 of the Toppers 76 points. 

Antonio Trujillo had four steals and at least three assists in the game won by the Toppers 76 to 63 over the Bernalillo Spartans. Troy Hammock led the starters with five rebounds, but 6’7” Cade Gasway eclipsed that with six rebounds in only two quarters of play. Gasway is improving rapidly and now getting significant varsity playing time.  His shot blocking ability totally disrupts opponents’ offenses.

Saturday afternoon the Toppers routed the Aztec Tigers 85 to 51 in a non-district game. The score was 28 to 9 after one quarter! Coach Kluk got to clear his bench and let everyone get plenty of playing time. The Toppers were led in scoring again by the super sophomores – Stewart with 21, Trujillo with 14, Naranjo with 12 and Hammock with 11 points.

Trujillo had seven assists; Stewart had four. Big and burly Isaac Fason led in rebounding with 10; Naranjo had 7. Gasway continued his progress with seven points and six rebounds.

Next home action for the boys is next Saturday, Feb. 5, when they host the Capital Jaguars.