Girls basketball showdown: Tigers grind out win at VHS

Tomé

It was a heck of a way to start the new year, with 4A’s Valencia Jaguars and 5A’s Los Lunas Tigers battling Saturday for 32 minutes in a clash of two of New Mexico’s top ranked basketball teams. No. 4 LLHS (12-1) built a big lead and then held off the seventh-ranked Jaguars (11-4) to win 41-31.

Despite being on the short-end of the score, VHS coach Raymond Montoya enjoyed the competition.

“It’s so exciting. It’s such a fun rivalry with Los Lunas,” said Montoya, complementing his counterpart Manny Vigil and his coaching staff. “They’re so smart, they get their team playing unbelievable.”

Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter, with a three-pointer by Grace Baca lifting the Tigers to an 8-0 lead after one period.

“Our defense is strong,” said Vigil, a former Valencia coach. “Sometimes when we start rotating our defense will go down a little bit.”

That may have been what happened after LLHS built a 15-0 advantage. An off-the-backboard trey by Savannah Saavedra finally put the Jaguars on the board with four minutes left in the half.

Kayla Finley answered with three baskets for Los Lunas to help the Tigers to a 24-9 lead at the break. Finley finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Late in the third quarter, Valencia was able to cut the lead to single digits, 26-18, on a bucket by Jaiden Montgomery. That would be as close as the Jaguars would get, with LLHS settling for the ten point victory.

“It’s a big win. It’s a really good team,” said Vigil about the Jaguars.

Still, Vigil sees room for improvement.

“I think our energy was a little low,” with the Tigers playing on back-to-back nights following a 62-28 victory over Piedra Vista.

Despite seniors Vayda Golino and Jacelyn Baca being out for the season because of injury, Vigil likes the team’s progress.

“The girls are playing phenomenal,” he said. “We’re just trying to get them to learn to clean up some little things,” which happens with a roster that includes two eighth-graders.”

More firepower from the guard position to take pressure off Finley is another new year’s wish for Vigil.

As for Montoya, he was pleased with how the Jags dealt with adversity.

“I feel like our girls showed some fight, showed some maturity,” he said. “Seeing our girls step up to that, there’s nothing better.”

Naima Corrales led Valencia with 11 points, all in the second half.

Both teams were back on the court Tuesday. Valencia traveled to Chaparral and won 57-28 while Los Lunas visited Organ Mountain, a dominating 64-21 victory. Belen (7-8) started the week with back-to-back victories at home. Monday, the Eagles edged Los Alamos 53-49, followed by a 53-45 win over Moriarty.

Boys basketball

Valencia (8-5) visited Centennial Tuesday, falling 69-57. After winning the Stu Clark Tournament title after Christmas, VHS earned a dramatic 38-37 victory last week over Goddard when Carin Bustillos made two free throws with half a second left.

After taking the consolation title at the Stu Clark Tournament, BHS (8-5) dominated Los Alamos Monday on the road 81-39. Valencia (8-5) visited Centennial Tuesday, falling 69-57.

Starting Thursday, Belen and Valencia take part in the North/South Shootout at the BHS gym.

Organ Mountain visited Los Lunas (5-9) on Tuesday, nipping the Tigers 55-50.