PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

Zepeda’s 26 not enough in Mean Moose loss

By KEN HAMRICK, Courier sports editor
Posted 1/22/25

ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School boys basketball team had a tough opener to the Intermountain League season on Friday as it lost 45-44 at Bayfield.

The Mean Moose returned home on …

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PREP BOYS BASKETBALL

Zepeda’s 26 not enough in Mean Moose loss

Posted

ALAMOSA – The Alamosa High School boys basketball team had a tough opener to the Intermountain League season on Friday as it lost 45-44 at Bayfield.

The Mean Moose returned home on Saturday and hosted Montezuma-Cortez. They played the Panthers tough, however, they lost the game by a score of 65-45.

Jayden Lujan gave Alamosa the early lead with a jumper, but Asher Bennetts and Tay Wheat both scored to give Cortez a 4-2 lead.

Victor Zepeda made a 3-point basket to give the lead back to the Mean Moose. But Trey Hall made a jumper and a free throw.

Zepeda drove for a layup, but Hall scored again.

Tony Griego drained a three for a 10-9 Alamosa lead. Trace Hartsoe scored in the paint, but Lujan made a trey to give Alamosa a 13-11 lead.

That would be the Mean Moose’s final lead. Hall scored again to tie the score at 13-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Wyatt Oliver made a 3-pointer to give Cortez a 16-13 lead. Josh Gonzalez made two free throws, but Conner Rosenbaugh made a layup and a free throw, Hall a layup, and Caidin Leonard a three to extend the Panthers’ lead to 24-15.

Lujan ended the run, followed by Nelson Arambula driving for a layup and Zepdea burying a three to close the deficit to 24-22. But Rosenbaugh and Wheat both scored to give the Panthers a 28-22 advantage at halftime.

Cortez had a strong start to the third quarter, scoring the first 14 points. Hall, Wheat and Ah-dae Lang each scored four points in the run and Leonard had the other two points.

Zepeda made four straight free throws, but Hall came back with six straight points. Zepeda hit another 3-pointer, but Cortez led 48-29 at the end of the third.

Zepeda accounted for the first two points of the fourth quarter, but Wheat scored on the other end. Hartsoe scored again to increase the lead to 52-31.

Arambula and Zepeda both scored to close the gap to 52-35. Rosenbaugh scored again, but Jaidyn Burciaga drained a three.

Lang made a three and added a free throw. Zepeda made two free tosses, and after Leonard split at the line, Zepeda buried his fourth 3-pointer.

Leonard and Wheat both scored. Zepeda scored again, but Ridge Hathale made two free throws to conclude the scoring.

Zepeda led all scorers with 26 points.

Hall led Cortez with 21 points, followed by Wheat with 12.

Alamosa (2-9, 0-2) hosted Taos (N.M.) on Tuesday. It will travel to Pagosa Springs on Friday with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.

Montezuma-Cortez 65, Alamosa 45

Montezuma-Cortez – Leonard 2 1-2 6, Hall 9 2-3 21, Wheat 6 0-0 12, Bennetts 2 0-0 4, Hartsoe 2 0-0 4, Lang 2 3-3 8, Hathale 0 2-2 2, Oliver 1 0-0 3, Schmitt 0 0-0 0, Rosenbaugh 2 1-1 5. Total 26 9-11 65.

3-point goals – Hall 1, Lang 1, Leonard 1, Oliver 1. Total 4.

Alamosa – Zepeda 8 6-6 26, Burciaga 1 0-0 3, Arambula 2 0-0 4, Griego 1 0-0 3, Lujan 3 0-0 7, Solis 0 0-0 0, Maez 0 0-0 0, Gonzalez 0 2-2 2. Total 15 8-8 45.

3-point goals – Zepeda 4, Burciaga 1, Griego 1, Lujan 1. Total 7.

Montezuma-Cortez 13 15 20 17 – 65

Alamosa 13 9 7 16 – 45

Fouls – Montezuma-Cortez 10, Alamosa 16. Technical foul – Wheat.