Aaliyah Chavez becomes Monterey's all-time leading scorer in key win over Lubbock-Cooper
There was little doubt after her debut season that Aaliyah Chavez could go down as one of Monterey's all-time great girls basketballers when it's all said and done.
She's already got the numbers to prove it.
On the stage of a top-five matchup in Class 5A, Chavez secured her place in the conversation with a signature performance. The sophomore dropped 45 points to become the Lady Plainsmen's career scoring leader and spearhead a crucial 86-67 win Friday over Lubbock-Cooper.
The capacity crowd at the New Box witnessed Chavez surpass Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Kamie Ethridge, who totaled 1,729 points from 1979-82. Chavez took over the top spot during an 18-point third quarter as No. 1-ranked Monterey fought off a Lady Pirates push.
"What can you say about Aaliyah that hasn't already been said? She's incredible," Lady Plainsmen coach Jill Schneider said. "She's a special player. Doesn't surprise me at all. … Now every game she plays, she's setting that bar higher and higher and higher."
Despite the big-game atmosphere and the implications, Chavez said she approached the game the same way. It resulted in Monterey's second consecutive win over Cooper, though it's the first in District 4-5A play. In fact, it's the first league win over Cooper during Chavez's career.
An injury sidelined Chavez for a 74-71 loss to the Lady Pirates on Dec. 16. An eight-point victory in the Caprock Classic championship was nice, but the Lady Plainsmen got their significant revenge Friday to pull into a first-place tie.
"We really wanted it bad," Chavez said, "just because I was back and we had something to prove. … We came out ready to play."
Chavez, who added 12 rebounds and six assists, scored six consecutive points to pump Monterey's early lead to 19-9. She had 25 points by halftime, whether Euro-stepping through the lane or hitting one of her seven 3-pointers, as the Lady Plainsmen led 46-29.
No. 5 Cooper (21-6 overall, 7-1 district) finally found some offensive rhythm in the third quarter, pulling within 62-53 following back-to-back Calyn Dallas 3-pointers. She led the Lady Pirates with 21 points on seven 3s.
But it was Chavez's night.
The sophomore buried a pair of 3s herself to extend the advantage to 15. The Lady Pirates never cut the deficit back to single digits.
"(Chavez) makes some incredible plays, some amazing plays," Cooper coach Kyle Lovorn said, "some tough shots, and she's a smart player too, offense and defense. Our girls don't back down from that. They'll just move on to the next play and take another challenge. But she's an awesome player."
Lovorn added it was difficult dealing with Monterey's size. Texas Tech signee Kelly Mora posted 17 points and 17 rebounds, with 6-foot-3 freshman Ari Johnson notching 10 points and 10 boards.
With that type of post presence and Chavez's ability to take over games, it's easy to see why the Lady Plainsmen (23-3, 7-1) sit atop the state rankings. Schneider likes the way her team is trending but hopes it continues to "get better every game." It's a mentality that Chavez mirrors as the postseason nears.
"Every game's the same," Chavez said. "I know I have to get ready for when we go to playoffs, instead of just these games. So we have to stay ready for playoffs."
Plainsmen close first half of district undefeated
The Monterey boys basketball team used a 17-0 spurt to start the second quarter in righting the ship Friday.
The Plainsmen (18-8, 6-0) overcame an early nine-point deficit by turning up their energy and defense en route to a 61-53 win over Lubbock-Cooper on Friday.
"Really trying to work on getting that to start the game and not in the middle when something's happened like that first quarter did," Monterey coach Josh Davis said. "But that quarter is a big identity of who we are and what we want to be."
The result keeps the Plainsmen undefeated and at the top of the District 4-5A standings. Cooper (14-12, 2-4), which held a brief lead late in the third quarter, got within 54-51 on Sam Marcinkowski's bucket with 1:05 left. But Brandon Infante capped a fast-break possession that sparked a 5-0 spurt to give Monterey breathing room.
Davis said utilizing the team's athleticism has allowed the undersized Plainsmen to get the upper hand midway through league play.
"We've really had to put a premium on pressuring the ball and being in some passing lanes," Davis said. "… We did a good-enough job, especially in the second quarter, of bothering them and forcing some turnovers, and it ended up being a little bit of a difference in the game."
District 4-5A
GIRLS
Monterey 86, Lubbock-Cooper 67
Cooper 15 14 28 10 — 67
Monterey 21 25 22 18 — 86
Lubbock-Cooper (21-6, 7-1) — Calyn Dallas 21, Rylee Robertson 2, Peyton North 6, Carisa Cortez 10, Majik Esquivel 18, Gabby Contreras 8, Karlee Cronk 2.
Monterey (23-3, 7-1) — Aaliyah Chavez 45, Heaven Limon 2, Ambrosia Cole 6, Jaelyn Morrison 6, Ari Johnson 10, Kelly Mora 17.
BOYS
Monterey 61, Lubbock-Cooper 53
Cooper 17 5 14 17 — 53
Monterey 8 18 15 20 — 61
Lubbock-Cooper (14-12, 2-4) — Connor Gant 8, Jaron Rosemond 2, Pierce Miller 13, Bode Marshall 4, Sam Marcinkowski 6, Dayne Collier 14, Hayden Bradley 6.
Monterey (18-8, 6-0) — Azijon Luke 5, Zyrin Brantley 12, Brandon Infante 10, Kash Lewis 7, T.K. Young 15, Carter Bovkoon 12.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Aaliyah Chavez becomes Lubbock Monterey's all-time leading scorer
