Toppers Close In On Clinching District Title With Road Win

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 4, 2023
- 7:00 am

Tara McDonald controls the tipoff to start the game against the Pojoaque Valley Elkettes played in the Ben Lujan Gymnasium in the valley. The Toppers took control of the game from the tipoff and won 49-37. McDonald scored 8 points for the game. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

GG Romero drives between Amaya Gonzalez and Lauren Salazar on her way to the basket. She scored 14 points for the night. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Daily Post

While it seemed the Los Alamos Hilltopper girls basketball team dictated the action Thursday night, the Hilltoppers had trouble putting away the Pojoaque Valley Elkettes.

But after struggling much of the way, the Elkettes cut a big Hilltopper lead down to just 6 points and had a chance to cut into it further in the fourth quarter.

Fortunately for Los Alamos, its star GG Romero cashed in a turnover, putting in a key layup on the other end to quell the Elkette rally and help give her team the victory.

Los Alamos dropped Pojoaque Valley in the key District 2-4A match-up, winning 49-37 at Ben Lujan Gymnasium in Jacona. That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.

With that victory, the Hilltoppers (14-6 overall, 4-0 in 2-4A play) gave themselves a clear shot at a regular season district title and an almost certain at-large pick for the playoffs in the unlikely event things go south for them the rest of this season.

Romero, a sophomore who’s been starting for the team since she was an eighth-grader, came up with some big plays in the game, in which Los Alamos started off red hot but cooled off enough to let Pojoaque Valley get back in.

Los Alamos jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the first 3 minutes of the game, using some well-timed pressure to force 5 Pojoaque Valley turnovers in its first 7 possessions. Los Alamos led by as many as 10 in the first quarter and looked poised to run Pojoaque Valley out of its own building.

But after the Hilltoppers’ initial success on both ends of the floor, the Elkettes managed to get their turnovers under control, while the Hilltoppers went ice cold from the field.

With Pojoaque Valley threatening to get back into the ballgame before the half, Romero came up with two big buckets in the second quarter, as did Sofia Trujillo, to give the Hilltoppers a 23-11 edge at the break.

Pojoaque Valley (8-14 overall, 1-3 in district) was led Thursday by point guard Kaylee Salazar and forward Maricela Bowie. Both players got going in the second half and tightened up the contest while Los Alamos struggled to get on track.

Bowie and Salazar finished with 8 points each.

Romero, who has been Los Alamos’ leading scorer the entire season, had 14 points to lead everyone, while Trujillo finished with 12. Tara McDonald and Abby Martinez both finished with 8.

The Hilltoppers, who have won all their district games by double-digit margins, can all but salt away the regular season title Saturday at Moriarty.

Moriarty, which has played very well against the rest of the district competitors this season, was blown out by Los Alamos in their first meeting Jan. 19.

Abigail Martinez brings the ball down court in the first period. She scored 8 points. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com