Holiday Hoop-La Update, El Paso Hanks girls, 12/27

El Paso Hanks 45, Los Alamos 42

Hanks had to do everything to hold off a pesky Hilltoppers to advance to Friday’s semifinals against Las Cruces High in the girls portion of the 4th Annual Holiday Hoop-La high school basketball tournament at the Pan American Center.
Hanks improved to 12-6 on the season, while Los Alamos is 4-5. Hanks got 16 points from Kelsey Canavan to lead the way.
Hanks will meet LCHS today at 3:30 p.m.
“Los Alamos is a tough team,” Hanks coach Patty Mullany said. “We struggled at times, but we did some good things. We have to cut down on turnovers.”
Hanks also got 10 points from guard Alexa Candelaria, who hit a couple of big shots and added a nifty assist in the fourth quarter to put Hanks up 43-34.
Los Alamos rallied in the final two minutes and cut the lead to 45-42 on a Tyree Richins layin with 12 seconds left, but that would be as close as they would get.
The Hilltoppers got 12 points each from Bryanna Richins and Sarah Ethridge.
Hanks trailed just once in the game, 2-0, and led 11-6 after one quarter, 21-16 at halftime and 32-27 after three quarters.
Today’s matchup against Las Cruces High will be the first meeting between Hanks and the Bulldawgs. Hanks has already beaten Mayfield and Onate from Las Cruces this year.
“Las Cruces High will pressure us, we’ll have to take care of the ball,” Mullany said.

Los Alamos 6 10 11 15 - 42
Hanks 11 10 11 13 - 45
Los Alamos
Sarah Ethridge 6 0-0 12, Bryanna Richins 5 2-4 12, Tyree Richins 2 2-2 6, Keyla Tumas 1 0-0 2, Taylor Ealey 2 1-2 5, Sarah Worland 2 1-1 5. Totals 18 6-9 42.
Hanks
Alexa Candelaria 4 1-1 10, Victoria Claytor 3 1-1 7, Clarissa Rodarte 2 0-0 6, Adrianna Leatherbury 2 2-2 6, Kelsey Canavan 8 0-0 16. Totals 19 4-4 45

- Felix Chavez