Rick Valdez controls the tip off to start the game against the Española Sundevils Thursday night in Griffith Gymnasiun. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Niko Garcia had a big night scoring 17 points making him high point man for the game. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By Mike Cote
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post
All the Los Alamos Hilltopper boys basketball team needed to do was hang on for just about half-a-second more to pick up a big win over the Espanola Valley Sundevils.
But at the buzzer, Española Valley’s Jaydn Martinez hit a catch-and-turn 3-pointer to pull off an improbable comeback, giving the Sundevils a 49-48 victory at Griffith Gymnasium Thursday.
Los Alamos led for much of the second half following an early third quarter surge, but Española Valley chipped away late in the contest to set up Martinez’s dramatic 3-pointer.
That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.
With under 10 seconds to go Thursday and Los Alamos clinging to a 2-point lead, Hilltopper guard Zach Mauro got fouled and had a 1-and-1 chance at the free throw line.
Instead of trying for a potential rebound, Los Alamos elected to send its other four players down to the other side of the court. Mauro missed his first attempt from the line, giving Española Valley a free grab at the rebound and enough time to get the ball down for the buzzer-beating attempt.
In the first half, the Sundevils, who won just two nondistrict games this season but are a perfect 3-0 in District 2-4A play, led most of the way, although Los Alamos was able to keep the score close until the break.
In the third quarter, after a sluggish offensive first half, Los Alamos cranked things up. Josiah Fresquez and Ethan Mondragon, who both were quiet in that first half, came up with some big buckets, with Mondragon burying two key 3-pointers and Fresquez driving through traffic for three layups in the quarter.
In the first half, Niko Garcia came up with 16 points, keeping Los Alamos in the ballgame through the first two quarters. The Sundevils keyed on him defensively in the second half, but that opened things up for some of the other Hilltoppers.
Garcia did lead Los Alamos (7-12 overall, 1-1 in 2-4A) with 17 points, but ended up as the only Hilltopper in double-figures. Rick Valdez had 7 points and Mondragon and Fresquez finished with 6.
Martinez had a game-high 15 points for Española Valley, while Marques Martinez scored 11. Española Valley connected on 8 3-pointers Thursday.
While there’s still a long way to go in the district race, Thursday’s loss made things trickier for Los Alamos, which already sits 1-1/2 games behind the Sundevils. The Sundevils have a big contest this coming Tuesday with Taos and a win there would give them a perfect 4-0 record at the halfway mark of the district season.
Los Alamos will need wins over a solid Taos squad and Pojoaque Valley next week to keep pace, and could well be in a position where it would have to steal the rematch with Española Valley Feb. 11 at Edward Medina Gymnasium.
Rick Valdez and Kyle Evenhus battle Jaydn Martinez for a rebound under the Topper basket. Photo by John McHaleladailypost.com
Zach Mauro and Nathan Chacon reach for a loose ball. Photo by John McHaleladailypost.com
Rick Valdez drives in for a layup, he scored 7 points for the game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
The topper Cheer Team encourages fans to get loud at Thursday’s game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
