ALAMOSA – The Del Norte High School boys basketball team came back from Friday night’s loss to Buena Vista with a 54-52 win over Lake County in the final day of the Erik Melgoza Shootout Saturday at the AHS gym.

Calvin Quintana got the Tigers off to a good start with a jumper, but Lake County’s Cannan Hall tied the game. Tytus Atencio’s 3-point basket gave the lead back to Del Norte, but Isaiah Martinez scored five straight points for a 7-5 Panthers lead.

Noah Bailey then scored six consecutive points to give Del Norte a 13-9 lead. Lashawn Trujillo ended the first quarter with three points and Del Norte led 16-9 at the end of the period.

Abdiel Trujillo scored the first points of the second quarter, but Atencio answered with a pair of free throws. Jaxon Woods scored in the paint, and Martinez from beyond the arc. Jaren Peters made two free throws to tie the score at 18-18.

Julian Vigil gave the lead back to the Tigers, but Peters tied the score again. Atencio came back with two free throws and a 3-pointer, followed by Bailey’s layup, and Del Norte led 27-22 at halftime.

Peters opened the second half with a jumper, but Bailey scored back-to-back baskets. Peters scored again, but Lashawn Trujillo made a three for a 34-26 lead.

Martinez came back with five unanswered points. Bailey scored a layup, but Martinez and Jason Ayers both drained treys, and Hall split at the line to give Lake County a 38-36 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Quintana started the fourth quarter by nailing a jumper, but Martinez scored four straight points to increase the lead to 42-38. Atencio buried a three, but Ayers made two out of four free throws for a 44-41 Panthers lead.

Atencio ended the run with a jumper, but Peters scored for Lake County. Bailey then made three free throws, and Atencio one out of two to put Del Norte back into the lead at 47-46.

Martinez gave the lead back to the Panthers, but Bailey made a 3-pointer and Atencio a jump shot and Del Norte led 52-48.

Ayers cut the lead to two, but Bailey made two more free throws.

Peters drove for a layup to wrap up the scoring.

Del Norte had two 20-plus point scorers as Bailey scored 22 points and Atencio 20.

Martinez led all scorers with 26 points, followed by Peters with 10.

Del Norte (1-1) will compete at the La Junta Holiday Shootout starting on Thursday. The Tigers will play Fowler at 5:30 p.m. at La Junta’s Tiger Gym.

Del Norte 54, Lake County 52

Del Norte – Velasquez 0 0-3 0, Trujillo 2 1-2 6, Atencio 6 5-6 20, Quintana 2 0-4 4, Bailey 7 7-10 22, Estrada 0 0-0 0, Howell 0 0-0 0, Vigil 1 0-4 4. Total 18 13-25 54.

3-point goals – Atencio 3, Bailey 1, Trujillo 1. Total 5.

Lake County – Ayers 2 1-4 6, Hall 1 2-4 4, Martinez 8 5-5 26, Peters 4 2-2 10, Wood 2 0-0 4, Tarango 1 1-2 3, Trujillo 0 1-4 1, Sterkel 0 0-0 0, Tapia 0 0-0 0, Mims 0 0-0 0. Total 20 12-21 52.

3-point goals – Martinez 3, Ayers 1. Total 4.

Del Norte     16 11 9 18 – 54

Lake County     9 13 16 14 – 52

Fouls – Del Norte 18, Lake County 19. Fouled out – Trujillo; Ayers.