While the final shot belonged to the Cardinals of Las Vegas Robertson High School, the final points were the property of Chris Ortiz and the Elks of Pojoaque Valley.

Ortiz drained two free throws with 13.3 seconds remaining Saturday night to untie the final knot and lift the Elks to a 65-63 victory in District 2AAA boys basketball in Ben Luján Gymnasium.

The Cardinals missed a 30-footer at the buzzer.

Justin Bustos forged the 63-63 deadlock with a 3-pointer prior to Ortiz getting fouled. After Ortiz gave Pojoaque Valley the lead, the Cardinals crossed half court and called time out.

The play was designed for Bustos, but after a loose ball the only option left was a desperation shot.

Luke Salazar topped a balanced scoring attack with 18 points for the Elks. Brian Montoya followed with 15, including an 8-for-9 effort from the free-throw line. Christian Baca and Ortiz each scored 10.

Bustos finished with 17 points for the Cardinals.

Fabian Varela chipped in 16 and Antonio Arguello followed with 10.

The score was tied 18-18 after one quarter. Pojoaque Valley led 35-33 at halftime and 48-46 at the end of the third quarter.

With the win, the Elks (14-7) remained in second place in the district at 4-2. They share that spot with St. Michael's.

St. Michael's 59, Raton 29

The Horsemen continued their stingy ways defensively en route to their third straight District 2AAA victory.

In its past three games, St. Michael's has allowed 35, 35 and 29 points. The Horsemen limited the Tigers to a two-point second quarter and extended their 21-9 first-quarter advantage to 31-11 at the break in Perez-Shelley Gymnasium.

Antonio Garcia scored 12 points for St. Michael's (13-9, 4-2 2AAA). Wesley Vaughan followed with nine.

For Raton, Derrick Valdez finished with 12 points.

Los Alamos 77, Taos 55

Everyone in Otero Gymnasium knew Alex Kirk was going to get his. What they didn't know as that Zach Parks and Austin Wolstein were going to get theirs, too.

Wolstein shared game-high scoring honors with Kirk, each scoring 24, while Parks finished with 22 in the District 2AAAA game.

Kirk also grabbed 15 rebounds, blocked seven shots and collected six assists. He was one of two Hilltoppers to record a double-double. Parks, who finished with 10 assists, was the other.

"It was an up-and-down game," Alan Kirk, Los Alamos head coach, said.

The ups?

For Los Alamos (16-5, 3-1 2AAAA), it was a 24-14 head start after one quarter, a 42-24 lead at halftime and 29 assists.

The downs?

"We had 17 turnovers," Kirk said, "and some of them were kind of silly."

Max Suazo scored 20 points for the Tigers.

Desert Academy 54, Walatowa 44

Alex Kokesh and Jeremy Upsal combined for 35 points in the District 2A victory in Larson Gymnasium.

Kokesh took game-high scoring honors with 19 points for the Wildcats (5-13, 1-2 2A). Josh Lochner also finished in double figures with 13 points. Lochner averages five points per game.

"He really played well," Daniel Romero, Desert Academy head coach, said of Lochner, who finished 7-for-12 from the free-throw line.

The Wildcats dictated the tempo and held respective leads of 8-7, 25-21 and 36-31 at the end of the first three quarters.

"The tempo was what we wanted," Romero said, "and we got some turnovers and steals off our press. Any wins this late in the season are good wins."

Caleb Saiz and Dillon Toya scored 14 points apiece for Walatowa.

Evangel Christian 67, Santa Fe Waldorf 54

The Eagles' 38-28 advantage held throughout the second half, as the Wolves dropped their first District 2A game of the season in Albuquerque.

Matt Macias scored 24 points, Jordan Easley-Small added 15 and Andre Segura had 13 for the Evangel Christian Academy.

For Waldorf (6-8, 3-1 2A), Brad Linch had 27 points and Maclean Benard followed with 10.