This is where experience counts.

The Capital boys basketball team gave away a 14-point lead Friday night in a District 2AAAA game at Los Alamos, but it had the fortitude to came back.

Thanks to five unanswered points from Mikey Lopez, the Jaguars rallied from a 50-47 deficit in the final 90 seconds to pull off a
52-50 win in Griffith Gymnasium.

Lopez hit a fadeaway 3 with 1:30 left on the clock to tie the score at 50.

After forcing a Nick Baker airball, the Jaguars (16-4 overall, 3-0 District 2AAAA) got the ball to the 6-foot-3 junior post and the Hilltoppers could do nothing but foul him.

Lopez calmly hit two free throws with :03 left for the win.

"A lot of those players have experience," said Fil Dominguez, Los Alamos head coach. "They've been playing in big games since last year. And guys like Mikey and Christian [Martinez] have been starters since they were sophomores. That helps them down the line."

Los Alamos, though, found its stride in the third quarter, outscoring the Jaguars 19-7 to erase a 24-13 deficit.

The Hilltoppers (7-13, 1-3) rode the strength of 16 points from Thomas Russell and 12 from Bobby Sanders as they once again held a lead in the fourth quarter, only to lose it in the final minutes.

"I told the guys during a timeout they have no quit in them," Dominguez said. "They have hearts of a champion. But if we can come out aggressive from the outset, we can turn this season around."

CLOVIS 81, ESPAñOLA VALLEY 60

The Sundevils couldn't keep up with the track-meet pace set by the Wildcats in a nondistrict game in Edward Medina Gymnasium.

But that happened in the first half, as Clovis (12-6) held Española to eight points in each of the first two quarters to take a 35-16 lead.

It was a different story in the second half, as Española (7-12) scored 44 points, but the margin never got below 10 points. Jeremy Romero had a team-high 15 points as 10 players recorded points for the Sundevils.

J.D. Blackmon led the Wildcats with 23 points, and Drew Cole added 16 as Clovis scored without hitting a single 3-pointer.

PECOS 76, MONTE DEL SOL 38

The halftime was a period of adjustments for the Panthers in a District 2AA game in Louis G. Sanchez Memorial Gymnasium.

They led 32-24 at the half, but blew the game open with a 28-7 run in the third quarter. Monte del Sol scored just 14 points in the second half against Pecos' press.

"We just upgraded the defense and pressured the ball full court," said Clyde Sanchez, Pecos head coach. "In the first half, they were just getting the ball easily and driving to the basket."

Aaron Lujan led a trio of double-digit scorers for Pecos (15-4, 1-1) with 17 points. Paul C de Baca added 12 and Brandon Quintana 11.

Denis Mares' 17 points paced the Dragons, who lost their 2AA opener in the process.

ALBUQUERQUE SANDIA PREP 52, POJOAQUE VALLEY 41

The Sundevils used a 20-11 run in the second quarter to take a 28-18 halftime lead and controlled the District 5AAA game in Ben Luján Gymnasium.

Tyler Donner had 16 points to lead Sandia Prep, while Brandon Bustos had 16 to pace Pojoaque (7-15, 1-3). Robert Ortiz added 10 for the Elks.