Elkettes Hang Tough Against Powerful Lady Dons
![IMG_0690 [640x480]](https://pojoaquenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/IMG_0690-640x480-300x225.jpg "IMG_0690 [640x480]")
Cheyenne Cordova
West Las Vegas defeated the Pojoaque Elkettes 35-26 Wednesday night in the third place game of the Ben Lujan Tournament. It was a loss, but it was a loss against a team that came into the tournament ranked second in the state.
West (8-1) came into the tournament undefeated and suffered their first loss in the semis to Espanola, who entered the tournament with two tournament championships.
Pojoaque (6-4) came out strong, smothered West’s quickness and jumped to a 6-0 lead The Lady Dons, out of rhythm, missed their first seven shots.
Launching from the perimeter, the Elkettes didn’t make a field goal in the second, just three free throws. West started to run the floor with Brianna Montano and Miranda Martinez each putting four points-the duo led the Lady Dons with 11 points apiece-and West went up 14-11 at the break.
“We were attacking in the first quarter and that’s what we want to see,” Pojoaque head coach Lanse Carter said. “As the game went on, we started to regress and started settling for 15-16 foot jumpers and not taking it to the hole. We need to penetrate if we’re going to succeed.”
Pojoaque showed composure in the third quarter, committed just one turnover and Kiana Vigil, who led Pojoaque with 9 points, splashed the Elkettes’ first 3-ball of the game at the 4:04 mark to knot it up at 18-18.
Miranda Martinez immediately unraveled the knot with the Lady Dons first 3 of the night. At the end of three, two minutes later, West led 23-20.
Although Carter said the Elkettes were too passive at times, he said he felt the “big difference in the game was West’s 16-9 advantage on the O boards.”"
About the loss, Carter said, “We’re looking at the big picture. We hung in there with one of the top teams in the state. If we play a little bit better, we can compete with anyone.”
