Niko Garcia steals the ball from Santiago Sandoval in the second quarter. Garcia had 10 points for the game including 1 three pointer. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Enrique Tafoya looks to pass the ball as Josh Sanchez guards him. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post
The season opener for the Los Alamos Hilltopper boys basketball team was a bit of a mixed bag.
The Hilltoppers opened the season Tuesday night at St. Michael’s. While the defense was very good throughout Tuesday’s contest, the Hilltoppers couldn’t slow down the Horsemen on the boards and couldn’t generate points on the other end.
Los Alamos fell to St. Michael’s 40-24 at Perez-Shelley Gymnasium. That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.
Neither team got much going in the first half – the two teams combined for just 21 points – but St. Michael’s guard Adam Montoya got on track in the third quarter, dropping in 10 of his game-high 24 points to give his team some breathing room.
Los Alamos, meanwhile, never scored more than 8 points in any quarter and was held to just four field goals in the first half.
This season, Los Alamos has 7 sophomores on the roster after losing 9 seniors to graduation off the 2021-22 team.
Despite most of the sophomores playing in their first varsity game, they were mostly up to the challenge on the defensive end. Newcomers Ben McBride, Enrique Tafoya and Ethan Mondragon made some big plays as the Hilltoppers forced 3 turnovers early in the contest.
Neither team had much success going inside, and the perimeter shooting was non-existent Tuesday. The only 3-pointer of the game was hit in the fourth quarter by Los Alamos’ Niko Garcia, who led the team with 10 points.
Apart from Garcia and Montoya, no other player finished with more than 6 points.
Los Alamos will play another tough Class 3A opponent Thursday, Santa Fe Indian School, which has picked up wins in its first two games of the season.
Kyle Evenhus is called for blocking Lucas Gurule in the third quatrer. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Ben McBride blocks Josh ‘Sanchez’s shot attempt late in the game. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com