St. Pius boys, now ranked No. 2, earn huge road win

This particular result was probably less beneficial to the winners than it was harmful to the losers. Indeed, St. Pius’ visit into Highland’s gym on Tuesday night had a status quo feel to it.

The one-game lead (in the loss column) the Sartans, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A boys basketball, had over second-place Grants in District 5-4A was the same Tuesday night as it was Tuesday morning.

But St. Pius’ solid 53-47 road win over the defending state champion Hornets was not without a silver lining, which was this: While the Sartans (16-5, 4-0) by no means made serious headway in terms of clinching the league’s regular-season title, they all but eliminated Highland (10-12, 1-3) from winning the regular season.

“We’re at a high point right now,” said St. Pius senior forward Mason Montoya, who had a team-best 21 points, but his two most urgent contributions came in the final 90 seconds and did not involve him scoring. “We’ve got very good chemistry, and we’re strong right now.”

The veteran Sartans, who have eight seniors and are ranked behind only Artesia by the coaches, had to withstand a push by the Hornets in the second half after St. Pius led by 11 (38-27) in the final minute of the third quarter.

Highland pulled within three points with five minutes to go. Juan Limas’ 3-pointer cut the deficit to two, 44-42, with three minutes left for the Hornets.

It was 46-42 as the game was down to the final minute and a half.

Montoya drove from the baseline in front of his bench, got to the bucket and kicked out top to Carson McConnell, who buried a 3-pointer and held his finish, knowing the importance of this basket, and it was 49-42 for the Sartans.

“For us, Mason has been our guy all year,” St. Pius coach Ryan Myers said. Of the McConnell 3, the coach said, “He made a fundamental play, we got to the rim, jump stop, Highland floods the paint, kicked to the open guy and Carson stood up and hit a big, big shot when we needed one.”

Still, Highland persisted. Limas, who had 20 points, scored five straight, including a 3, and the Hornets again were within two, 49-47, with 49 seconds remaining.

With 24 seconds left, St. Pius went to the line. Kenneth Zamora made the first, but missed the second.

However, Montoya rebounded. This led to him being fouled, and he buried two free throws for the Sartans, now up five, 52-47, with 22.8 seconds showing.

“Got lucky with the board,” Montoya said. “It came my way.”

Jesus Licon finished with 16 points for Highland, and made just one 3-pointer.