LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Jordan Naranjo had 60 feet of open court, a partisan crowd on his side and all the time in the world.

If only the North basket wasn't his enemy.

Naranjo, a graduate of Santa Fe Indian School, has scored more than his share of points that meant a lot more than the two he missed Friday night. But when you're labeled an All-Star basketball player — and a North All-Star at that — a blown breakaway layup is not something to be expected.

It was the last thing Naranjo wanted to be remembered for. He spent the rest of the second half making up for it in the ninth annual Class AAA North/South All-Star Game in the John A. Wilson Complex on the New Mexico Highlands University campus.

All was forgotten when the North beat the South 101-85, which completed a doubleheader sweep. The girls game saw the North eke out a 74-73 win.

As for Naranjo, he said his timing on the approach to the basket became askew when his legs slipped on the jump.

"When my leg slipped, I knew it was going to be short," Naranjo said. "I got kinda mad."

It showed over the next few minutes. Naranjo scored all eight of his points after the break during a back-breaking 31-7 run that turned a 45-44 South lead at the half into a 75-52 rout at the 12-minute mark.

While the South managed an 14-2 run to creep to within 77-66 on Albuquerque Hope Christian graduate Conner Pierce's layup at 8:40, the return of the North's potent five proved ominous.

Naranjo, Jordan Romero (of St. Michael's), Michael Yardman-Frank (St. Michael's), Adrian Rivera (West Las Vegas) and Cade Payne (Bloomfield) returned to the court and the lead grew to 86-70 on a Rivera 3 at 5:51.

Romero, who will play at Eastern New Mexico, was the North's most valuable player with 20 points, while Payne scored 19. Naranjo finished with 15.

North head coach Albert Jim of Tohatchi, said the 10 North players determined which five they were going to participate with.

"The first half, I told everybody they were going to get their minutes," Jim said. "At halftime, we decide who was going to run with who. That was the crux of our talk — to find out who was comfortable with each other."

Jim noticed that Naranjo was most comfortable attacking the basket, which accentuated his athleticism.

It became most apparent when he was in the air — the missed layup excluded.

"He has tremendous body control," Jim said. "Some of the things I just couldn't believe he did. I didn't see it at all during the week of practice, but it was there come game time."

Naranjo said he would like to continue his development in college. His choices at the moment are Northern New Mexico Community College in Española and Haskell University in Lawrence, Kan.

"I am kinda hoping," Naranjo said. "I am still working on my game. I want to get better at the college I go to and try out for that team."

AAA girls: NMHU might be the site of Ellen Cruz's last game representing the Pojoaque Elkettes, but it also served as a preview of her next destination. One of the things the Cowgirl-to-be needs to work on is her free-throw shooting, especially in the final minutes.

Cruz was only 1-for-4 from the line in the final 1:41. Her last two unsuccessful tries came with 5.8 seconds left and the North leading 74-73.

South wing Jozie Arviso grabbed the carom, but her pass to Hot Springs' Bailey Shrivers at midcourt bounced off of her hands and rolled out of bounds as the clock hit triple zeros.

Still, the ends did not justify the means in Cruz's eyes.

"I was pretty consistent all through my junior year and as a senior, then all of a sudden for (the) state (tournament), I was struggling," Cruz said. "I was doing fine, but I think it's mental right now."

Perhaps the 18 points she scored will make her feel better.

It was five behind former Elkette teammate Jackie Bartleson, who is bound for summer school at Howard Junior College in Big Springs, Texas, on Monday. But the most valuable player for the North was St. Michael's guard Kayla Herrera.

Although she scored only 10 points, her hustle and defensive intensity brought the crowd to its feet on several occasions.