GG Romero heads past defender Madelyn Mossman on her way to the basket for one of her 9 points for the night. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Abigail Martinez drives past Carman Pacheco on her way for a layup in the 2nd quarter. She scores 6 points for the game. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post
In its 2022 season opener on the road, the Los Alamos Hilltopper girls basketball team got off to a good start on offense but wouldn’t be able to sustain it in the second half.
Los Alamos took on the St. Michael’s Horsemen in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night. Los Alamos put up 25 points in the opening half but were held to just 8 points in the second half by the Horsemen at Perez-Shelley Gymnasium in Santa Fe.
The Horsemen would nip the Hilltoppers 34-33. That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.
The Hilltoppers led by 8 points early in the second quarter against the Horsemen, a traditional opponent in the early season. The Hilltoppers hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second half and got a 3-point play from sophomore GG Romero as the offense looked solid throughout the half.
But both teams put the clamps down on the other defensively. The two teams combined for just 18 points after the half.
Despite getting off to a slow start in the game, St. Michael’s put up 18 points in the second quarter to cut the Los Alamos lead to just 1 at the break. St. Michael’s Lauren Pecos put up 9 of her game-high 12 points in that quarter.
Pecos, who had just 1 point in the second half, came up big on the defensive end after the half, with her and teammate Jacquelyn Gorman cutting off access to the lane for the Hilltopper guards. Sofia Trujillo, the Hilltoppers’ point guard, found some openings in the first half going to the paint but those weren’t there for her in the second half.
Due to both injury and illness, Los Alamos played Tuesday’s game short-handed. Both Michelle Macias and Carley Holland, two veteran players who are expected to be big contributors for the Hilltoppers this winter, were out for the season opener.
Los Alamos did get some nice contributions from its reserves Tuesday, notably freshman Olivia Martinez, who came up big on the defensive end, forcing 3 second half turnovers to help keep St. Michael’s mostly in check while the Hilltopper offense struggled.
The Hilltoppers came up with just 3 field goals after the break and made it to the foul line just twice in the third quarter. They gave up just 4 field goals to the Horsemen in the second half.
Romero finished with 9 points to lead Los Alamos Tuesday night, while Trujillo had 8, including a pair of 3-pointers. Guard Abigail Martinez had 6 points.
Los Alamos will have its home opener Nov. 29 when it entertains Escalante.
Sofia Trujillo turns the corner past Jaquelyn Pacheco in the 2nd quarter. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Tara McDonald blocks Carmen Pacheco as she looks to pass the ball. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com