DENVER – The eighth-ranked Alamosa High School girl’s basketball team drew a tough opponent in the Class 4A State Tournament Great 8 as it faced top-ranked University on Wednesday, March 11, at the Denver Coliseum. 

The Mean Moose gave the Bulldogs all they could handle, sending the game to overtime. However, when the dust settled, University came out on top, 45-43. 

“I just so incredibly proud of each and every one of those young women,” said Alamosa coach James Romero. “They’re warriors, they fought hard and it was a new program for all of them. They just engaged in it, and they were willing to work. When you work as hard as these girls did, you see the fruits of their labor. I’m just so proud of them.” 

Aubrey Rothermich got the Mean Moose rolling with a 3-point basket, and Jaelin Garcia hit a jumper for a 5-0 lead. Natalie Trujillo scored the Bulldogs’ first points, but Ashlyn Rice made one of two from the free throw line, and Audrina Knorr drove for a layup for an 8-2 Alamosa lead. 

Trujillo and Maddie McNair both scored to cut the lead to 8-6, but Leela Gutierrez made back-to-back layups to give the Mean Moose a 12-6 lead. Ella Galindo scored to cut the lead to 12-8 at the end of the first quarter. 

McNair opened the second quarter with a layup; however, Gutierrez drained a three to push the lead to 15-10. 

RaeLee Quick Bear split at the line, as did Carly Thorpe. Kennedy Schneider scored in the paint, and Trujillo made two free throws to give University its first lead at 16-15 at halftime. 

McNair began the second half with a layup, and Scheider also scored in the paint and added a free throw for a 21-15 Bulldogs lead. 

Arreli Felix made a layup to end the run, but Schneider scored again. Garcia drove for a layup, but Natalie Galindo scored to give University a 25-19 advantage. 

Rothermich split at the line and later scored a layup. Quick Bear made a layup, but Felix answered with one of her own. Thorpe made a jumper to give the Bulldogs a 29-24 lead at the end of the third quarter. 

Knorr started the fourth quarter with back-to-back layups, but Thorpe made one of two free tosses. Felix made a layup to tie the score at 30-30, and Knorr made two free throws to give the Mean Moose a 32-30 lead. 

Trujillo converted one of two free throws, and Schneider gave the lead back to University. Trujillo again split at the line for a 34-32 edge. 

Rice put the Mean Moose back into the lead with a trey, and she later split at the line. McNair scored with 16 seconds left in the fourth to deadlock the score at 36-36 and sent the game into overtime. 

Knorr gave Alamosa the early lead in the extra session, and Rothermich made one of two charity tosses. Trujillo made two free throws, and McNair scored in the paint for a 40-39 Bulldogs advantage. 

Rice split at the line, but Trujillo knocked down a jumper. McNair made one of two free throws, but Rice buried a three to tie the score at 43-43 with 10 seconds left in the overtime. 

Natalie Galindo scored from the left side with three seconds to play. The Mean Moose set up for a final shot, but Knorr’s long three was off the rim. 

Knorr led Alamosa in scoring with 10 points, followed by Rice with nine. 

Trujillo was University’s leading scorer with 12 points, and McNair scored 11. 

Alamosa finishes the season with 18 wins and seven losses. The Mean Moose lose only two seniors to graduation, but have several young players who played major parts with the team. 

“We have Jaelin and Aubrey, and you can’t replace that leadership – that heart that they bring,” Romero said. “They were able to establish a work ethic for these young girls that set the standard for the program. We’re excited for the future. We’re excited for these young girls to learn and grow, and be able to compete on that stage. They have a lot of potential and we do as a program as well.” 

University 45, Alamosa 43 

Alamosa – Gutierrez 3 0-0 7, Knorr 4 2-4 10, Garcia 2 0-4 4, Rice 2 3-6 9, Rothermich 2 2-4 7, Felix 3 0-0 6. Total 16 7-18 43. 

3-point goals – Rice 2, Gutierrez 1, Rothermich 1. Total 4. 

University – Trujillo 3 6-9 12, N. Galindo 2 0-0 4, McNair 5 1-2 11, Schneider 4 1-1 9, Thorpe 1 2-4 4, Matchers 0 0-0 0, Quick Bear 1 1-2 3, E. Galindo 1 0-0 2, Whitcomb 0 0-0 0. 17 11-18 45. 

3-point goals – none. 

Alamosa 12 3 9 12 7 – 43 

University 8 8 13 7 9 – 45 

Fouls – Alamosa 17, University 11. Fouled out – Gutierrez.