The flu is creeping around Northern New Mexico, and it caught Mora's Tim Romero at the worst time.

The senior forward missed Tuesday's District 2AA boys basketball opener against Pecos because of the illness, but the Rangers showed no ill effects.

Behind Jose Trujillo's 21 points, Mora produced a 63-57 win in Sen. Joseph Montoya Gymnasium.

Trujillo nailed four 3-pointers and led a quartet of double-digit scorers for the Rangers. Pecos scored the first two baskets of the game, but Mora (16-2 overall) went on a 17-6 run the rest of the first quarter.

Mora led 33-25 at the half and 47-40 entering the fourth quarter.

"We showed great team effort," said James Branch, Mora head coach. "They showed they can get it done with Tim's absence, which is very encouraging. The boys played with a lot of heart and a lot of effort. They truly stood for what Mora stands for."

Garrick Martinez added 14 points for Mora, while Cody Najar and Lorenzo Chavez each had 13.

Pecos head coach Clyde Sanchez said his team forgot what it takes to compete in a Pecos-Mora game.

"They came in and played smart and were real aggressive," Sanchez said of Mora. "They outhustled us in all aspects of the game."

Darren DeHerrera led the Panthers (13-4, 0-1) with 14 points, Adrian Ortiz finished with 12 and Johnny Vigil added 11 points.

TAOS 58, SANTA FE HIGH 56

In Toby Roybal Memorial Gymnasium, the Demons (5-13) played "weak, dumb and stupid" in a nondistrict loss to the Tigers (13-5).

Santa Fe High head coach David Rodriguez lambasted his team's effort, saying it essentially gave the game away with soft play down the stretch.

The Demons led by four points in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter before Max Suazo led Taos back.

Suazo had a game-high 31 points. Brandon Suazo had 15.

The Demons were led by Moses Montoya's 15 points. Elliot Nicholas had 14.

"We played weak, dumb and stupid basketball over and over and over again," Rodriguez said. "Poor execution."

ST. MICHAEL'S 73, SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL 40

It took the Horsemen a quarter to get going, but they used a 20-5 spurt in the second quarter to take a 37-18 halftime lead in a District 5AAA game in the Pueblo Pavilion Wellness Center.

St. Michael's (16-3, 3-0) outscored the Braves 22-8 in the fourth to complete the rout.

Antonio Garcia led the Horsemen with 16 points, while Jeff Groenwold 11. Jesse Magdalena had 16 points for SFIS, and Austin Nieto added 10.

ALBUQUERQUE HOPE CHRISTIAN 80, POJOAQUE VALLEY 50

For half a game, the Elks stayed with Class AAA's No. 1 team in a District 5AAA contest in Albuquerque.

The Huskies led 14-12 after one quarter and Pojoaque (7-13, 1-2) was within 22-21 in third-quarter scoring.

However, Hope used a 21-8 second quarter to take a 35-20 halftime lead, and a 23-9 spurt in the fourth for the final margin.

The Elks had Brandon Bustos lead the way with 19 points, while Paul Seaton topped the Huskies' scoring ladder with 15.

ESPAñOLA VALLEY 37, LOS ALAMOS 33

Jeremy Romero scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Sundevils earned their first District 2AAAA win in Edward Medina Gymnasium.

Los Alamos, which trailed 18-11 at the half, went on a 14-4 run in the third quarter to take a 25-22 lead into the final period.

Romero scored seven points from the field before helping Española (7-12, 1-2) ice the game at the free-throw line, hitting six straight free throws.

Daniel Salazar had nine points to lead the Hilltoppers (7-13, 1-2)

Española entertains Class AAAAA power Clovis on Friday, and the 2010-11 team will receive its Class AAAA state championship rings.

TO'HAJIILEE 56, DESERT ACADEMY 42

The pace was where the Wildcats wanted it -- for a quarter.

That's when the Warriors outscored their District 2A visitors 15-4 the rest of the first half for a 23-9 lead at the break.

Desert Academy (2-10, 1-5) never regained control of the tempo, but managed to score 33 points after the break.

"They increased the pressure in the second quarter and caused some turnovers," said Jonathan Salazar, Wildcats head coach. "Toward the end of the third and the rest of the fourth, we got a good handle on it and we crated some easy shots for us."

Michael Montoya had 16 points for the Wildcats, and Max Snyder added 17.

Christian Apachito led To'Hajiilee with 16 points.