Carlsbad Cavegirls win City of Champions Classic for ninth time
Editor's note: This story was updated on Dec. 5 to reflect that the Cavegirls won the City of Champions Classic tournament nine times in the past, including the last two years in a row.
Before the start of Saturday’s championship game in the City of Champions Classic in Artesia Carlsbad Cavegirl head basketball coach Matt Enloe emphasized team play against El Paso Riverside.
It paid off as the Cavegirls (4-0) defeated the Rangers (8-3) 42-30. Carlsbad is a regular participant in the City of Champions Classic and won the inaugural title in 2004.
Saturday's victory marked the third year in a row that Carlsbad won the title at the Artesia tournament.
Enloe was concerned about Riverside’s pressure game before tip-off.
More:Carlsbad Cavegirls advance to title game of City of Champions Classic in Artesia
“If we handle the pressure, we have a good shot (to win),” he said.
Carlsbad went through every obstacle that Riverside threw at them. The Cavegirls had an 11-point lead at the end of the third quarter as the Rangers tried to get the upper hand in the final period.
Late in the game the Cavegirls had a three-point lead. In the closing seconds Carlsbad’s Jasmynn Gonzalez and Allie Myers made key foul shots to put some distance between them and the Rangers.
Gonzalez led all Carlsbad scorers with 15 points. Kilea Estrada had 12.
Cavegirls make home debut Monday
Carlsbad basketball fans have a chance to see the Cavegirls play the first home game of the 2023 as Santa Teresa comes to town.
Carlsbad’s opening games were at Alamogordo and the three-day tournament in Artesia.
“We’re excited to show our fans what the Cavegirls are about this year,” Enloe said.
More:Teams from New Mexico and Texas gather in Artesia for basketball tournament
Cavemen earn first win of the season
Carlsbad defeated Artesia 55-45 in the seventh-place game of the City of Champions Classic. The Cavemen led 15-9 at the end of the opening period and never looked back on the closing night of the tournament.
Carlsbad (1-4) returns home Tuesday night hosting the Gadsden Panthers and then its back on the road Dec. 8 through 10 for the Cleveland Tournament in Rio Rancho.
The Los Lunas Tigers won the boys championship 64-56 over Fort Sumner and the Artesia Lady Bulldogs finished in third place on the girls' side with 64-52 win over Alamogordo.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad Cavegirls win City of Champions Classic in Artesia
