The Hilltoppers celebrate post game on their district championship Saturday night. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
The Toppers run on the court for warm-up. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post
With a big push in the second half, the Los Alamos Hilltopper girls basketball team pulled off a rare feat Saturday night.
Los Alamos dominated Saturday’s second half at Griffith Gymnasium, holding the Pojoaque Valley Elkettes to just 11 points after the break to win going away, 51-27. With that win, the Hilltoppers finished off the regular season undefeated in District 2-4A play, something few teams have managed since the core district teams were grouped together decades ago.
Saturday’s regular season finale was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.
Los Alamos (18-7 overall, 8-0 in 2-4A) limped to the finish of the district season, struggling more than expected against both Española Valley and, especially, Taos, ahead of Saturdays second half.
Things didn’t start out great for the Hilltoppers Saturday, either, with the Hilltoppers turning the ball over 5 times early.
But thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Sofia Trujillo and another by Carley Holland, Los Alamos got on track late in the first quarter before the Hilltopper defense held Pojoaque Valley (9-17, 2-6) to just 6 points in the second quarter.
GG Romero sparked the Hilltopper offense in the second half, scoring 6 of her game-high 14 points in the third quarter, while Trujillo finished with 10.
Michelle Macias, who played well coming off the bench against Espanola Valley Feb. 10, had another big game Saturday. Macias grabbed some important rebounds, blocked a shot, and came up with 9 points in the second half.
Pojoaque was led by guard Kaylee Salazar, who had 10 points. No other Elkette finished with more than 6.
Los Alamos, which had clinched the district regular season title with the Feb. 10 win, is the No. 1 seed for the upcoming 2-4A tournament. Los Alamos will host the winner of the tournament semifinal game at 6 p.m. this coming Saturday.
Tara McDonald wins the tipoff to start the game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Abigail Martinez with a 2 point layup in the first half. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Carley Holland with a 3 point basket early in the game. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
Elkette Kaylee Salazar’s jump shot early in the game. Salazar would accumulate 8 additional points in the game for Pojoaque. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
