The Topper girls’ basketball team runs onto the court in Griffith Gym Friday night for a contest against the Belen Eagles. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
GG Romero is closely guarded by Jadarose Wright as she drives into the goal for one of her 29 points scored for the night. She was top scorer for the game. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By Mike Cote
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post
For the first time this season, the Los Alamos Hilltopper girls basketball team got into the win column, and the Hilltoppers did so in impressive fashion.
The Hilltoppers put up by far their biggest point total of the season against a much taller team, the Belen Eagles, Friday night at home.
Behind 29 points from forward GG Romero, Los Alamos dropped Belen 57-44 at Griffith Gymnasium. That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.
Romero and guard Carley Holland both had big showings in the second quarter Friday, combining for 15 points on the offensive end and Holland making some key plays on the defensive end as Los Alamos put some separation between itself and Belen.
The Eagles made a couple of runs at the Hilltoppers, who led 34-24 at the break, in the second half but could never get the lead down beneath 6. The Hilltoppers were able to counter the Belen mini-runs with runs of their own.
Prior to Friday’s game, Los Alamos (1-4) struggled to put points on the board. The team had never scored more than 33 points in any contest – the low offensive outputs were nearly countered by very good defensive showings, as the Hilltoppers had not allowed more than 37 points in any game, either.
Romero, who has been playing varsity for Los Alamos since she was an eighth grader, had perhaps the best game of her career Friday, connecting on several mid-range jumpers, a couple of 3-pointers and even leading several fast-break chances.
Despite Belen (4-4) going into the game with a notable height advantage, Los Alamos held its own both in the paint and on the glass. Belen’s tallest player, 6-foot-1 Maesyn Lopez, did the majority of the Eagles’ point guard duties and didn’t spend much time under the basket.
Lopez grabbed half a dozen boards but was a non-factor when it came to points.
Belen was led by Jaelynn Bob, a forward with good range. Bob had 24 points, hitting well from the outside until she cooled off late in the contest.
Kaitlyn Velarde and Abby Martinez combined for 10 points Friday, mostly penetrating against Belen’s taller front court players, something they did numerous times.
Los Alamos picked up Friday’s win without two of its bigs, Tara McDonald and Michelle Macias, but got good minutes from senior MacKenzie Echave.
The Hilltoppers, who were off for nearly two weeks before Friday’s game, have two more games coming up before Christmas, Tuesday at Valencia and Thursday at home against Escalante, a makeup game from a postponement last month.
Abigail Martinez takes a shot in the 1st quarter as Emma Chaves guards her. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Carley Holland had a bid night on both offense and defense scoring 15 points. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Topper defense was up for the task holding the Eagles to 44 points. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Mackenzie Echave blocks Jaelynn Bob so Sofia Trujillo can get her shot off. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com