The Toppers basketball team takes to the court to play the Capital Jaguars Tuesday night in Griffith Gym. The Topper’s young team was no match for the Jaguar powerhouse. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post

With a mini-run early in the third quarter, the Los Alamos Hilltopper boys basketball team looked like it would be able to keep pace with the Capital Jaguars.

But that run would be the last hurrah for Los Alamos Tuesday night, as the balance of the game was dominated by Capital. Capital won big over Los Alamos at Griffith Gymnasium, taking a 73-41 victory.

That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post YouTube channel.

A big 3-pointer by Josiah Fresquez early in the third quarter, the Hilltoppers (3-8) cut a Jaguar lead down to just two possessions, but immediately after that, Capital went on a lightning-fast 7-0 run, scoring those 7 points in less than a minute.

Los Alamos would never recover, while Capital kept its foot on the accelerator the rest of the way.

Fresquez led Los Alamos with 15 points, but beyond his two 3-pointers in the third quarter, Los Alamos came up with just 3 field goals in the second half. Zach Mauro, who got off to a strong start Tuesday, ended up with 8 points.

For Capital (8-3), the longtime district rival of the Hilltoppers, Nathaniel Ortiz had 19 points, pumping in 12 points in the second quarter, while Isaac Ortega and Izaya Sanchez both finished with 13.

Ortiz did much of his damage near the basket, taking advantage of an extended Hilltopper defense that tried – and for the most part succeeded – to slow down the Jaguars’ outside shooters.

Los Alamos has dropped 6 of its last 7 contests, although it went into Tuesday’s game off an impressive win over Piedra Vista Dec. 29.

The Hilltoppers will take on Goddard and Lovington in a two-game southern swing this coming Friday and Saturday.

Josiah Fresquez goes high to block Elijah Rodriguez’s shot attempt. Josiah was a force on both defense and offense scoring 15 points as the high point man for the Toppers. Photo by Nate Limback/ladiailypost.com

Zach Mauro splits the defenders Eli Dominguez and Isaiah Ortega to score 2 points for the Toppers. He had 8 points for the game. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Kyle Evenhus tries to steal the ball from Izaya Sanchez under the Topper basket in the second period. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Rick Valdez closely guards Isaac Ortega as he tries to bring the ball down court in the third period. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com