MONTE VISTA – The seventh-ranked Alamosa High School girls basketball team had a tougher time than expected when it traveled to face Monte Vista on Tuesday.

The Lady Pirates came out ready to play and they built a big lead in the first half. However, the Lady Mean Moose came alive in the second half and held off Monte Vista for a 41-39 victory.

Daylin Castro put the Lady Pirates on the board first with a short jumper. Morgan Ortega accounted for the Lady Mean Moose’s first points as she made one of two from the free throw line.

Allessah Archuelta answered with a jumper, but Ortega made two free throws. Castro scored again for a 6-3 lead, however, Audrina Knorr made a layup and a free throw, and Ortega drove for a layup to give Alamosa an 8-6 edge.

Castro scored again to tie the score, and then Sasha DuPont drilled a 3-point basket to give the lead back to Monte Vista.

Knorr scored at the buzzer to bring the Lady Mean Moose within 11-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Archuleta made two threes to begin the fourth quarter. Castro and Archuleta both made baskets and Angeleigha Mora made two free throws to give Monte Vista its largest lead at 23-12.

Kadie Hawkins ended the run with a jumper and she later made one of two from the line. Castro scored again, but Alexia Montoya split at the line, and Jaelin Garcia made two baskets to reduce the Lady Pirates’ lead to 25-20 at halftime.

Arreli Felix scored the first points of the second half, but Destiny Pacheco scored for Monte Vista.

Garcia then sparked the Alamosa comeback with two baskets and a free throw. Aubrey Rothermich also scored, and Hawkins made two free throws to give the Lady Mean Moose a 32-27 advantage.

Archuleta made a trey just as time expired to reduce the lead to 32-20 at the end of the third quarter.

Ortega opened the fourth quarter with a jumper, but Archuleta split at the line. Felix scored in the paint, however, Heysenny Beltran drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Alamosa lead to 36-34.

Montoya answered with a three on the other end, but Beltran scored again. Castro made one of two free throws to reduce the Lady Mean Moose’s lead to 39-37 with 3:06 to play.

Beltran tied the score as she stole the ball at midcourt and drove for a layup with 15 seconds remaining. But Ortega was fouled on a drive to the basket. She made both free throws with four seconds left.

Monte Vista pushed the ball up court but could not get the tying basket.

Garcia led Alamosa in scoring with 10 points, followed by Ortega with nine.

Archuleta was Monte Vista’s top scorer with 14 points, followed by Castro with 11.

Alamosa (15-5, 7-2) hosted second-ranked Pagosa Springs on Friday. It will next play at Ignacio next Friday beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Monte Vista (9-9, 3-5) played at Bayfield on Friday. It will travel to third-ranked Centauri today with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Alamosa 41, Monte Vista 39

Alamosa – Ortega 2 5-6 9, Rothermich 1 0-0 2, Knorr 3 1-1 7, Felix 2 0-0 4, Garcia 4 2-2 10, Quintana 0 0-0 0, Montoya 1 1-2 4, Villalva 0 0-0 0, Hawkins 1 3-4 5. Total 14 12-15 41.

3-point goals – Montoya 1. Total 1.

Monte Vista – Pacheco 1 0-0 2, DuPont 1 0-0 3, Archuleta 5 1-3 14, Mora 0 2-2 2, Castro 5 1-2 11, Beltran 3 0-0 7, Cereceres 0 0-0 0. Total 15 4-7 39.

3-point goals – Archuleta 3, Beltran 1, DuPont 1. Total 5.

Alamosa 10 10 12 9 – 41

Monte Vista 11 14 5 9 – 39

Fouls – Alamosa 12, Monte Vista 14.