Gavin Coy going up for the tip off to start the game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Wesley Stanfield drives the basket. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post
In the first half of Friday evening’s game, the Los Alamos Hilltopper boys basketball team was able to keep up with the fast-paced Bernalillo Spartans.
But at the start of the second half, the Spartans took over and cruised to a hefty victory at Griffith Gymnasium. That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.
Bernalillo started off the third quarter red hot, going on a 12-0 run in the first 4-1/2 minutes before Los Alamos got on the board. Los Alamos was never able to recover and Bernalillo won going away, 69-48.
Shooting guard Chase Darnell hit 6 3-pointers for the Spartans (9-9), 3 of those coming in the third quarter, to spearhead the big win. Darnell had a whopping 28 points for the game, one of three Spartans who ended up in double figures.
Friday’s game was played without fans in attendance. Los Alamos’ athletic department announced that sporting events would be closed off to fans during a pandemic surge at the high school – fans are expected to be allowed back this week.
For Los Alamos on Friday, it survived the first big punch from Bernalillo. Los Alamos had an early 2-0 lead – its only lead of the game – before Bernalillo reeled off 11 straight points. Before the end of the first quarter, however, the Hilltoppers (8-7) mounted a comeback, outscoring Bernalillo 13-4 for the remainder of the quarter.
Forward Roland Esch provided a spark coming off the bench with a pair of buckets. Los Alamos got good production from its bench Friday. The bench players combined for 32 points, with Mark Cleland (9 points) and Rick Valdez (7 points) leading the way. Niko Garcia led Los Alamos with 11 points. He had 9 in the first half but was kept largely under wraps by the Spartan defense in the second half.
Los Alamos trailed by just a bucket at the break before the big Spartan offensive onslaught, which the Hilltoppers would never recover from. Raymond Aragon finished with 12 for Bernalillo, while Jason Lovato chipped in 11.
The win for the Spartans snapped a 3-game skid, while the Hilltoppers lost their second straight outing following a Jan. 11 defeat at Albuquerque Academy. The Hilltoppers have lost three of their last four.
Los Alamos was scheduled to open its District 2-4A season last week against Moriarty, but that game was pushed back to Feb. 15.
The team will now open district play Tuesday when it travels to Espanola Valley to meet the preseason favorite Sundevils.
Ryan Zeik dribbles around a Spartan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Niko Garcia makes a layup in the second quarter. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Rick Valdez shows some nice moves under the basket. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
