Last Friday, the girls basketball team won its first district game in team history by defeating Moriarty 45-36 on the Lady Pintos' home floor, and in so doing, put itself in the middle of the District 5-4A race.

"We got by their pressure," VHS coach Shannon Vigil said. "We had no fear of them. We played a good game."

The Lady Jaguars (10-11, 1-1 5-4A after Friday) were scheduled to travel to Albuquerque Academy on Tuesday, after News-Bulletin press time.

Valencia is scheduled to travel to Del Norte on Friday for a game that will begin at about 7 p.m.

Valencia will host Academy in a Tuesday, Feb. 16 contest.

The Jags never trailed in their game against Moriarty at John B. Salvo Gymnasium after securing a 10-7 first quarter lead.

Led by Mikayla Gallegos, who scored 13, Michelle Traynham, who had 10 and Emma Hart, who scored 8, the Jags gradually extended their lead to 37-22 after three quarters.

"We stated a goal before the game for everyone to play physical, and to attack and shoot," Vigil said about the Jaguars' balanced scoring. "They all did a good job of that."

Valencia suffered a shooting lapse in the final five minutes of the game that allowed the Pintos (5-14, 0-2) to narrow the gap.

"The last five minutes we did not put the ball in the basket," Vigil said. "So we got a little complacent with ourselves."

Nonetheless, Vigil was satisfied with a victory over a team that had easily defeated them last year.

"Moriarty is a big rivalry for us, because they put a pounding on us (three times) last year," she said.

Vigil said her team could fight its way into the district title mix. That will entail winning on the home court of the Del Norte team that won 52-47 last week at VHS.

"It's right there for us. It's within our reach," she said. "We're working hard, continuing to fight, and giving it our all."

Harold Smith of the Mountain View Telegraph contributed to this article.