Moose can’t overcome Pirate defense

Alamosa’s Devyn Mitchell (5) gets inside on Pagosa’s Hailey Griego (10) during Saturday's game at Alamosa High.

ALAMOSA — Saturday wasn’t going to be easy, Alamosa girls basketball faced the defending Intermountain League (IML) district champion Pagosa Springs and lost 35-24.

Alamosa (11-2, 3-1 IML) suffered their first loss of the year during the Glenwood Springs Demon Invite basketball tournament against Montrose. Since then the Moose have been solid, picking up 6 straight wins, 3 of which in league games entering Saturday’s meeting with Pagosa Springs (10-2, 4-0 IML).

The Pirates’ defense has been a staple of Pagosa Springs’ success for as they haven’t allowed 40 points or more to an opponent thus far this season. While Pagosa’s defense performed well as expected, Alamosa’s defense matched suit and kept the Pirates to their second-lowest score total of the year. Only No. 1 St. Mary’s has stymied the Pirates more, keeping Pagosa Springs to just 31 points on Dec. 13.

Neither team was very productive in the early going. Alamosa was led in the first half by Lily Lavier with 6 points. Lavier picked up four of her points on two trips to the free-throw line. Pagosa wasn’t much more dominant as first-half leader Hailey Griego had 8 points. But the Pirates went to the break with a 16-10 lead.

In the third quarter, Alamosa came out with back to back baskets from Taylor Motz and Terese Chavez and had closed the distance to 2 points trailing 16-14. Pagosa answered with a 10-2 run that saw Adelyn Dozier hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions and the visiting Pirates entered the final quarter with a 26-18 lead.

The Moose were unable to close the distance again and Pagosa Springs escaped with a 35-24 win. Lilly Lavier led Alamosa in scoring with 9 points, followed by Terese Chavez with 4.

The loss didn’t hurt Alamosa’s position in the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Coaches Poll. The Moose still occupy the No. 5 spot in the rankings.

Alamosa will have another tough league meeting this week when they welcome Centauri (12-1, 3-1 IML) to town then they will wrap the weekend with a home game against Bayfield (4-6, 1-3 IML) on Saturday.