LADY BULLDOG BASKETBALL

PICTURED: Gracen Kuykendall shoots a free throw during last week's City of Champions Classic.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Lady Bulldog basketball team finished sixth overall at the highly competitive Joe Armijo Basketball Classic at Albuquerque Academy this weekend.

In their second tournament of the young season, the Artesia girls opened Thursday with a loss to Class 5A Centennial, 59-39, that moved them into the consolation half of the bracket. There, they met up with yet another 5A squad -- Atrisco Heritage -- in the semifinal round, where the Lady 'Dogs rallied to turn a three-point halftime lead into a 20-point victory, 60-40.

Led by standout senior Selim Neel, who posted a trio of three-pointers in the first quarter, the Lady Jaguars came out strong with 21 points in the opening eight minutes to Artesia's 15. But Artesia would step up its defense in the second, holding Atrisco to just three points while scoring 12 of their own to lead 27-24 at the break.

The Lady Bulldogs would continue to limit the Jags to single-digit scoring in the final two periods of play while keeping their own offensive output consistent. Artesia also did a solid job of spreading their scoring around, hitting from both inside the paint and beyond the arc in the third as they expanded their advantage to 11, 44-33. Senior Hattie Harrison then went on a tear in the fourth, racking up 10 points that, combined with a bucket apiece from Ashton Craft, Jenna Whitmire and Avery Frederick, saw the Lady 'Dogs close out the contest with a 16-7 showing for the 60-40 win.

That put Artesia in the consolation championship Saturday morning, where they took on a third consecutive 5A team in Cleveland. The Lady Bulldogs hung with the Lady Storm throughout the contest, with baskets by Peyton Barela, Frederick, Harrison and Nylah Archie in the opening quarter keeping Artesia within four, 12-8, going into the second. Turnovers would limit the Lady 'Dogs' opportunities there, but their halftime deficit remained manageable, 23-15.

Again taking advantage of a few too many Artesia turnovers in the third, Cleveland was able to build its biggest lead of the day, 35-19. A pair of late treys by Craft and Harrison, however, brought the Lady Bulldogs back within 10, 35-25, going into the fourth. They'd cut that to six in the early goings on buckets from Archie and Gracen Kuykendall, but back-to-back three's from the Lady Storm's Malia Mose bumped it back to 10. A 3-4 showing from the line by Craft and a pair of Frederick free throws sandwiched a Brooklyn Fuentes bucket to bring the Lady 'Dogs within five, 41-36, with just under two minutes remaining. But Artesia was forced to send Cleveland to the line twice as the Storm stalled out the clock on their eventual 45-36 win.

Ashton Craft received All-Tournament Team honors.

The Lady Bulldogs (3-4) will now prepare to hit the road again Tuesday, Dec. 17, for a 6:30 p.m. game against Clovis before hosting their final two pre-Christmas outings at Bulldog Pit, joining the Bulldogs in taking on Carlsbad at 5:30 and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, and taking on Gadsden at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.

BULLDOG BASKETBALL

PICTURED: Cael Houghtaling puts up a jumper during last week's City of Champions Classic.
(Photo Courtesy Artesia Bulldog Paw Prints)

The Runnin' 'Dog basketball team headed north to Los Lunas Friday for their first road test of the 2024-25 season against the Valencia Jaguars.

The Jags came out strong in their home gym, taking a 14-12 lead out of the first quarter. But Valencia would post just six points in the second, leaving the door open for Artesia to take the lead. The Bulldogs were only able to manage seven of their own, however, to remain down by a point at the half, 20-19.

Valencia heated up from beyond the arc in the third, sinking a trio of three-pointers. Cael Houghtaling delivered one of his own for Artesia, and with baskets by Braylon Vega and Tootie McNeil and a pair each from the stripe by Charlie Campbell and Houghtaling, the 'Dogs were still within five, 36-31, going into the fourth.

But the Jaguars were able to expand their lead to 12, 45-33, in the opening half of the first quarter, and though the boys in orange would make a late charge, time wasn't on their side. Four points from Campbell and a Vega breakaway layup on the steal made it 46-39 with just under two minutes to go in the game, and while a Clay Kincaid shot in the paint and a three from Campbell cut the deficit to four, 48-44, only one minute remained at that point.

Campbell put one off the glass on an inbound pass under the basket to make it a one-shot game with seconds to go. But although the 'Dogs were able to tie the Jaguars up for a possession turnover, they'd miss their final two attempts from the field, and Valencia hit a free throw with four seconds left to eke out the 50-46 win.

Campbell and Vega tied for top-scoring honors for the Bulldogs, followed by Houghtaling with seven and Kincaid with six. Artesia will now return to Bulldog Pit for a pair of games this week -- vs. Santa Teresa at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, and an Eddy County War double-header with the Lady Bulldogs (who tip off at 5:30 p.m.) at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, against Carlsbad. The 'Dogs will then have one last pre-Christmas outing at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, against Valley in Albuquerque.

AHS SWIMMING

(Photos by Andrea Ciro)

The Artesia High School swim teams competed in their final meet of 2024 Saturday: the annual Carlsbad Holiday Invite. It was another big day for the Lady Bulldogs and Bulldogs, who placed first and second, respectively, out of fields of nine and seven teams, with the 'Dogs coming up short of only the host Cavemen.

Individually, Aidan Ciro -- while notching a new state qualification alongside Ann Greenwood, Addisyn Hartman, Eli DeHoyos and Layton Whitmire -- shattered two nine-year-old school records set in 2015 by Jonathan Darnell. Ciro's new record times include a 1:50.63 in the 200-yard freestyle and a 5:10.26 in the 500-yard freestyle.

Artesia delivered 13 total state-qualifying times in Carlsbad, including:

• Girls' 200-Yard Medley Relay
- Artesia "A" (Johanna Padilla, Ann Greenwood, Addisyn Hartman, Sarah Plotner)
1st, 1:58.69
• Boys' 200 Medley Relay
- Artesia "A" (Layton Whitmire, Eli DeHoyos, Aidan Ciro, Alec Ciro)
1st, 1:46.73
• Boys' 200 Freestyle
- Aidan Ciro, 1st, 1:50.63
• Boys' 200 Individual Medley
- Eli DeHoyos, 1st, 2:10.25
• Boys' 50 Freestyle
- Layton Whitmire, 1st, 23.53
• Boys' 100 Freestyle
- Eli DeHoyos, 1st, 51.71
- Layton Whitmire, 2nd, 52.03
• Girls' 500 Freestyle
- Addisyn Hartman, 1st, 5:46.20
- Ann Greenwood, 2nd, 5:53.77
• Boys' 500 Freestyle
- Aidan Ciro, 1st, 5:10.52
• Girls' 200 Freestyle Relay
- Artesia "A" (Ann Greenwood, Johanna Padilla, Addisyn Hartman, Sarah Plotner)
1st, 1:48.91
• Boys' 200 Freestyle Relay
- Artesia "A" (Eli DeHoyos, Alec Ciro, Layton Whitmire, Aidan Ciro)
1st, 1:35.75
• Girls' 100 Backstroke
- Ann Greenwood, 1st, 1:05.39

Other results included:

• Girls' 200 Freestyle
- London Acosta, 5th, 2:36.43
- Tynlee Whitmire, 12th, 2:58.32
- Ella Thomas, 14th, 3:01.04
- Evelyn Yeager, 15th, 3:37.77
• Boys' 200 Freestyle
- Javier Rodriguez, 2nd, 2:08.97
• Girls' 200 IM
- Anikah Wisen, 3rd, 2:44.24
• Girls' 50 Freestyle
- Sarah Plotner, 3rd, 27.40
- Johanna Padilla, 4th, 28.44
- Amanda Murphy, 11th, 31.79
• Boys' 50 Freestyle
- Chaz Rogers, 8th, 30.12
• Girls' 100 Butterfly
- Johanna Padilla, 2nd, 1:10.42
- Sarah Plotner, 3rd, 1:11.24
- Ella Thomas, 9th, 2:01.62
• Boys' 100 Butterfly
- Javier Rodriguez, 4th, 1:04.69
• Girls' 100 Freestyle
- Morgan Fisher, 1st, 1:00.91
- Anikah Wisen, 4th, 1:05.00
- Carly DeHoyos, 7th, 1:09.64
- Amanda Murphy, 10th, 1:17.77
• Boys' 100 Freestyle
- Alec Ciro, 10th, 1:01.27
• Girls' 200 Freestyle Relay
- Artesia "B" (London Acosta, Carly DeHoyos, Anikah Wisen, Morgan Fisher)
6th, 2:01.28
- Artesia "C" (Ella Thomas, Evelyn Yeager, Amanda Murphy, Tynlee Whitmire)
9th, 2:29.95
• Girls' 100 Backstroke
- Addisyn Hartman, 3rd, 1:10.44
- Tynlee Whitmire, 7th, 1:26.89
- Evelyn Yeager, 13th, 2:04.93
• Boys' 100 Backstroke
- Alec Ciro, 4th, 1:09.58
• Girls' 100 Breaststroke
- Morgan Fisher, T-1st, 1:14.97
- London Acosta, 10th, 1:37.28
• Girls' 400 Freestyle Relay
- Artesia "A" (Ella Thomas, Evelyn Yeager, Amanda Murphy, Tynlee Whitmire)
4th, 5:52.00

The Artesia swimmers will resume their 2024-25 season in the new year with the Albuquerque Academy Invite on Jan. 11, 2025. The Artesia Invitational will follow on Jan. 17 at the Artesia Aquatic Center.

AHS BOWLING

PICTURED: The Artesia bowling teams break huddle at Silva Lanes in Albuquerque.

The Bulldog bowlers rolled a sweep in the Advanced Division Saturday at Silva Lanes in Albuquerque -- with Artesia #2 placing first and Artesia #1 second overall -- and added another top finish in the Intermediate Division.

Artesia #2 remained unbeaten at 3-0 on the season with their Advanced win. The team finished with a total pin count of 3,132. Individual scores included:

• Chase Collins: 195-198=393 (196)
• Brenden Depew: 210-162=372 (186)
• Damian Lopez: 157-205=362 (181)
• Mason Jeter: 200-148=348 (174)
• Jace Miles: 158-172=330 (165)

Artesia #1 came in second, with a pin count of 3,124 and results including:

• Brent McIntire: 257-212=469 (234)
• Payton DeMerritt: 175-238=413 (206)
• Hagen Murph: 187-200=387 (193)
• Ayden Gomez: 201-173=374 (187)
• Kambry Collins: 158-189=347 (173)

In the Intermediate Division, Artesia #3 came out on top with 2,687 total pins:

• Maggie Morris: 202-170=372 (186)
• Sebastian Gonzalez: 177-159=336 (168)
• Talyn Pacheco: 177-158=335 (167)
• Ayden Dean: 164-158=322 (161)
• Grant Johnson: 170-145=315 (157)

Coming in fifth in the Intermediate Division was Artesia #5 (2,572), while Artesia #4 finished ninth (2,436):

• Axel Hartley: 170-173=343 (171)
• Ayden Huffman: 137-179=316 (158)
• Gael Ruiz: 155-159=314 (157)
• Darius Mendoza: 132-150=282 (141)
• Mia Duran: 139-139=278 (139)

• Destiny Powell: 121-169=290 (145)
• Adam Longoria: 132-154=286 (143)
• Jody Roberts: 162-113=275 (137)
• Diego Molina: 133-141=274 (137)
• Alejandro Bahena: 109-158=267 (133)

And in the Novice Division, Artesia #6 took third and Artesia #7 13th:

• Ricardo Huerta: 158-192=350 (175)
• Jackson Parker: 145-121=266 (133)
• Mia Campbell: 128-112=240 (120)
• Sophie Kitchen: 111-113=224 (112)
• Elliott Gonzales: 98-122=220 (110)

• Kaine McCall: 131-137=268 (134)
• Edwin Villarreal: 105-135=240 (120)
• Phoebe Green: 117-110=227 (113)
• Justin Rodriguez: 119-93=212 (106)
• Peyton Troost: 111-89=200 (100)

Next up on the NMHSBA schedule is a tournament at Starlight Lanes in Bernalillo on Jan. 4, 2025.

AHS WRESTLING

PICTURED: Isabel Irvin shows off her third-place medal.

The Artesia wrestling teams competed this weekend at the Las Cruces Invite.

Isabel Irvin came away with a third-place overall finish for the Lady Bulldogs. Irvin opened competition with a victory over Socorro's Arasely Moreno, then topped Cleveland's Julie Thurgood in Round Two and El Paso High's Celeste Espinoza in the quarterfinals. Irvin came up short of Las Cruces High's Alyssa Sedillo in the semis, then bested Carlsbad's Andrea Ramirez in the consolation semifinals and Albuquerque High's Vanessa Ramos in the third-place match.

In boys' action, Rylee Kelley reached the quarterfinal round before falling to Azeah Ayala of Rio Rancho.

Click here to view full boys' results from the tournament, and click here to view the girls' results.

The AHS wrestlers will next travel to Ruidoso for a 5 p.m. meet Tuesday, Dec. 17.