Basketball

Midway through the 5A Metro region schedule, Central High School continues to set the standard, and at the center of it all are the Mattingly brothers.

Of the two teams, the Page Lady Sand Devils needed this win. The Sand Devils led Window Rock for over three quarters on Saturday night before the two 3A North rivals exchanged leads in the last six-plus minutes. There were eight lead changes with Page getting the go-ahead bucket from senior Issianna Brown for a 45-44 win with nine seconds to go.

The game changed in eight minutes. After managing just five points in the opening quarter, the Piedra Vista Lady Panthers flipped the momentum with a dominant second quarter and rode senior guard Jaime Pierce’s steady leadership to a 54–42 comeback win over the Tohatchi Lady Cougars on Monday night.

Gallup boys basketball coach Ryan Becenti knows that the game is not over until the clock reads all zeros.

With the game on the line, the Wingate Bears leaned on Zefferino Flores to carry the team. The junior forward answered the call as the Bears turned back the Valley Pirates, 53-49, in an interstate game on Friday night.