Toppers Pickup Big Win At Home Against Moriarty Pintos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on February 5, 2023
- 8:25 pm

Josiah Fresquez leads the Toppers onto the court for a must win game with the Moriarty Pintos Saturday night in Griffith Gym. He was a key factor in the 48-43 win scoring 11 points for the night. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Niko Garcia again was the leading scorer of the game with 22 points. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

By MIKE COTE
Sports
Los Alamos Post

The visiting Moriarty Pintos, who have struggled in District 2-4A play, weren’t expected to be much trouble for the Los Alamos Hilltopper boys basketball team Friday night.

Instead, the Pintos led for most of the ballgame and had a 9-point lead over the Hilltoppers heading into the final quarter.

But Los Alamos switched tactics in that final quarter, going to a full-court press. The press turned the tide of the contest and Los Alamos came back to take a 48-43 victory at Griffith Gymnasium.

That game was broadcast on the Los Alamos Daily Post’s YouTube channel.

Moriarty was the aggressor in the ballgame from the opening tip Friday and attacked the basket throughout the first three quarters.

But, while the Pintos (7-16 overall, 0-5 in district) got to the rim and set themselves up with potential easy buckets, the Pintos misfired on about a dozen uncontested shots from 3 feet or closer.

Their inaccuracy left the door open for the Hilltoppers’ comeback in the fourth quarter. Had the Pintos shot better early, they likely would have given the Hilltoppers too tall of a hill to climb late.

Los Alamos (9-13 overall, 3-2 in district) needed a victory to stay competitive with the front-runners in 2-4A Friday. Los Alamos lost a heartbreaker to Española Valley at home Jan. 27 but was blown out by Pojoaque Valley Jan. 31 and has virtually no margin of error going forward if it wants to contend for the 2-4A regular season title.

But the Hilltoppers were cold from the floor early, too, and were getting beaten on the boards.

Niko Garcia helped to finally get Los Alamos going on the offensive end. Garcia had 11 points in both halves to finish with a game-high 22.

But in the fourth quarter, Los Alamos’ Josiah Fresquez, the team’s second-leading scorer, heated up, hitting two big 3-pointers in the quarter to spearhead the late comeback.

Fresquez had 9 of his 11 points in the final 8 minutes, while Enrique Tafoya chipped in a pair of buckets during the comeback, as well.

The Hilltoppers rotated several people into the game to play near the basket Friday due to the absence of Rick Valdez, who was injured in the Pojoaque Valley contest.

Jeremy Padilla, one of the few Pintos that was connecting with any regularity Friday, led his team with 18 points. Center Jahkeem Graham had 16 points but the Hilltopper defense limited his touches down low in the second half.

With the comeback win, the Hilltoppers are now very much in the district race.

Right now, Los Alamos sits in third place in the standings, half a game behind Taos, which Los Alamos defeated last week on the road.

Española Valley nipped Pojoaque Valley in Española Friday night, improving to 4-1 in 2-4A and dropping the Elks into fourth place.

Los Alamos still has to travel to Española Valley and Pojoaque Valley for games in the second half of the 2-4A season. The Hilltoppers will play the Sundevils Feb. 11 and can make the district race considerably tighter with a victory.

Eddie Gartz stands his ground as Herman Archuleta drives to the basket in the 2nd period. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com