Bulldogs Snap Tigers’ Streak with 52-39 Victory

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.</em> — In a high-energy 5A district clash Tuesday night, the Albuquerque High Bulldogs used suffocating defense and a stellar performance from freshman phenom [player_tooltip player_id='1356317' first='Abrielle' last='Pavia'] to hand the visiting Los Lunas Tigers a 52-39 defeat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs won the opening tip and built leads as large as 14 points twice en route to snapping Los Lunas' six-game winning streak. A lively home crowd fueled Albuquerque's tenacious man-to-man defense, which disrupted the Tigers' rhythm and forced them to take tough shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Los Lunas started strong, closing the first quarter on an 11-2 run to take an 11-8 lead. But the Bulldogs flipped the script in the second, outscoring the Tigers to take a 22-17 halftime advantage. Albuquerque pulled away in the third, extending the margin to 39-31 heading into the final frame before sealing the win with solid execution down the stretch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pavia was electric, finishing with a team-high 23 points. The freshman sensation controlled the half-court game with a dazzling handle, mixing crossover dribbles, hesitation moves, and smooth pull-up jumpers while attacking the rim aggressively. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='648201' first='Lailah' last='Bouldin'] added 11 points, thriving in transition and punishing Los Lunas whenever they failed to get back on defense. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='828816' first='Sarah' last='Garcia'] contributed 6 points but was the unsung hero — bringing relentless energy, battling in the paint, setting crisp screens to free up Pavia, and making hustle plays that kept momentum firmly with the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Los Lunas, sophomore standout [player_tooltip player_id='1068499' first='Kayla' last='Finley'] poured in a game-high 24 points, showcasing her blend of power and quickness to dominate her matchup. She was the only Tiger in double figures, carrying the offense as Albuquerque's defense clamped down on the rest of the lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs' victory improves their record to 15-3, while Los Lunas drops to 18-3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What's Next</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Albuquerque High (15-3) travels to face Rio Grande (9-9) on Friday, Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Los Lunas (18-3) returns home to host Rio Grande (9-9) on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 7:00 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->