GG Romero takes a short jump shot; she scored 15 points for the game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Abigail Martinez shoots for 2 points; she had 8 points for the game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post
It was a tough contest, but the Los Alamos Hilltopper girls basketball team picked up a big road win Tuesday.
Los Alamos didn’t put up the big numbers as it had in recent contests, but found a way to battle through against a motivated Española Valley Sundevils team, winning 52-39 at Edward Medina Gymnasium.
That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.
The Sundevils, who needed the victory to stay competitive with the top teams in District 2-4A after a loss to Moriarty, played a modified box-and-1, trying to take away the Hilltoppers’ best offensive player, GG Romero.
Romero didn’t get much going in the first half, but got hot in the third quarter, putting in 9 of her game-high 15 points in that quarter. Romero’s rally in the third quarter sparked Los Alamos’ victory as the team took control of the game for good in that frame.
Los Alamos put up 16 points in the third quarter, nearly equaling its output in the first half, to take an 8-point edge over Española Valley.
Española Valley’s Rhianna Padilla hit some big shots late, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Los Alamos – Carley Holland had a big showing in the fourth quarter for the Hilltoppers to help seal away the victory.
Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Hilltoppers (11-6 overall, 2-0 in district) picked up huge wins over Aztec, Penasco and Moriarty to put themselves in position to establish themselves as the team to beat in 2-4A.
With Tuesday’s win, Los Alamos takes early control of the district standings ahead of a Friday contest against Taos and perhaps its biggest game of the season Feb. 2 against Pojoaque Valley.
Holland finished with 13 points and Abby Martinez finished with 9, hitting just one field goal but connecting on 6 trips to the free throw line.
Padilla had 14 for the Sundevils (9-11 overall, 1-2 in district), the only one on her team to finish with more than 7.
The Los Alamos defense was solid again throughout the contest, holding Española Valley to just 11 points in the first half – the Sundevils had just one field goal in the first quarter.
Should the Hilltoppers get by Taos and Pojoaque Valley – Los Alamos is favored in both contests – they will have a straight shot at this year’s district regular season title.
Kaitlyn Velarde scrambles for a rebound under the Topper basket in the 4th quarter. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Sofia Trujillo battles her way down court in the 2nd quarter. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com