Jesse Jones | News-Bulletin photo
Valencia’s Jayden Montoya, who led all scorers with 20 points in a losing cause, puts up a scoop shot Saturday against Los Lunas. Montoya continued her hot streak three days later by scoring a school record 33 points against Bernalillo.
Tomé
The new year started basically the same way 2023 ended for the Los Lunas girls’ basketball team. Not so coincidently, the same can be said for the Valencia girls’ basketball team.
After all, LLHS defeated VHS 46-39 in the Holiday Hoopla tournament in Las Cruces right before the New Year, and seven days later did it again on the Jaguars’ home court.
In the hard-fought rematch Saturday, Los Lunas first-year coach Manny Vigil returned to Valencia, where he and his entire Los Lunas staff once led the Jaguars.
Los Lunas coach Manny Vigil was back on his old turf Saturday, leading the Tigers to a second victory in one week against Valencia.
“It’s surreal,” is how Vigil put it. “I hear a lot of things from the fans, but I’m used to it.”
Vigil’s Tigers fell behind early, despite forcing double-digit turnovers in the first quarter against the short-handed Jaguars, who were without injured starters Azalia Malizia and Francesca Otero.
Valencia’s Jayden Montoya opened the scoring with a three-point play and Valencia took an 11-7 lead after one quarter. Montoya had 15 first-half points and 20 for the game.
Los Lunas continued the pressure, taking the lead for the first time with less than two minutes to go in the half on an inside basket by Alyssa Campos. A three-pointer by sophomore Vayda Golino, who had 11 points, put LLHS in front 24-21 at the half.
“It’s tiring but it helps us a lot, getting steals and more buckets,” Golino said of the Tigers’ constant pressure.
A banked in three-pointer by Savannah Saavedra plus a nice dump pass from Eden Montgomery to her sister, Jaiden Montgomery, gave Valencia a 27-24 lead midway through the third quarter. Jaiden Montgomery posted 15 points, one of only four Jaguars to score.
A power drive by the Tigers’ Golino knotted the game at 28-28 entering the final eight minutes.
VHS seemed to wear down in the fourth quarter, as Los Lunas built a cushion. A key play in the run was a three-pointer by Tessa Jaramillo, who scored 12 points and was the Tigers’ leading scorer for the second straight game.
Los Lunas made enough free throws down the stretch to post a 50-41 victory.
“We regrouped at halftime and kind of adjusted a couple of things we were doing defensively,” Vigil said. “The girls responded very well.”
Vigil also credited Evah Lopez and Adelina Villanueva, who were “like ‘glue’ players coming off the bench. They really stepped up defensively.”
Despite the setback, VHS first-year-coach Raymond Montoya called it “a really good showing,” without Malizia and Otero.
“We’re missing two ballhandlers, so we had other players step-up off the bench and play a big role.”
Montoya said it may have been “a blessing in disguise,” to help prepare for the future.
“They (Los Lunas) play so hard, and the girls stepped up and really matched it.”
Jaiden Montgomery is also optimistic about how the team is coming together.
“Everybody gets shots up, everybody gets to handle the ball, and everybody has an important role,” she said
VHS (9-6) returned to action Tuesday with a 74-61 victory over Bernalillo. Jadyn Montoya set a school record with 33 points.
LLHS (6-6) lost Tuesday at Organ Mountain 47-31, part of a stretch in which the Tigers will have played 12 straight games on the road, including tournaments.
Los Lunas finally returns home Jan. 31 against Santa Fe Capital.
Mike Powers spent more than 40 years as a television news and sports anchor, mostly in the Albuquerque market. He has won numerous awards including New Mexico Sportscaster of the Year. He covers a wide range of sports, including the Valencia County prep scene.
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April 25, 2024
