Niko Garcia takes a shot under the Topper basket; he scored 19 points for the game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

Josiah Fresquez gets a shot away as Cade tries to block. He had 14 points for the night. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

By Mike Cote
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post

The top-scoring Los Alamos tandem of Niko Garcia and Josiah Fresquez combined for 13 points in the second quarter as the Hilltopper boys basketball team routed Moriarty in the opening round of the District 2-4A tournament.

Garcia hit a pair of 3-pointers and Fresquez added another one as the Hilltoppers rolled up 25 points in that quarter, taking a commanding lead before the break.

Los Alamos cruised to a 70-36 victory in the first round of the 2-4A tournament Monday night and advance to play Pojoaque Valley tonight.

Garcia led all scorers with 19 points, while Fresquez and Rick Valdez each added 14.

On the defensive end, Ethan Mondragon had a huge night, coming up with 4 steals and numerous deflections to help stymie the fifth-seeded Moriarty Pinto offense. The Pintos won just one district game all season, but came within 2 minutes of pulling off an upset over Los Alamos in the teams’ previous meeting.

Los Alamos (11-16) also dominated on the boards Monday, limiting the Pintos (8-19) to only one shot on most of their trips down the floor.

The Hilltoppers still have their work cut out for them this week. They will have to win tonight at Jacona – game time is 6 p.m. – then Thursday night at Espanola Valley to get to the 2-4A tournament championship game at Taos Friday.

Rick Valdez gets in Jonathan Beukelman’s face as he passes the ball. Valdez had 14 points for the game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

Rick Valdez grabs for a loose ball under the Pinto basket. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Ethan Mondragon brings the ball down court. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

Eddie Gartz dribbles the ball toward the basket between defenders. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com