ESPAÑOLA — The power structure in District 2AAAA is shifting and Capital is happy to have its hands on the switchboard.

The Jaguars traveled to reigning district and state champion Española Valley on Saturday and shut down the Sundevils
53-40 in Edward Medina Gymnasium

"It's a good way to start district," Capital head coach Mark Senteney said. "You have to steal one or two on the road and hold serve at home in this district."

The way the Jaguars (14-4 overall, 1-0 2AAAA) played defense at Española was less like a steal and more like a rout.

Española (6-11, 0-2) couldn't muscle past Capital's stout defense all night and only shot 13-for-48 from the field. The frustration set in early as the Sundevils made just one field goal in the first quarter and went down 9-4 after eight minutes.

Mikey Lopez was the keystone to the Capital defense as he challenged shot after shot and scooped up 11 boards off misses. For him, the match-up against the reigning champs was personal.

"There was a chip on our shoulder," Lopez said. "I really didn't like the disrespect they were giving us saying they are the team to beat."

While Lopez held down the paint, the Jaguar guards controlled the tempo and pace of the game.

Senteney knew that if the Sundevils saw any success from beyond the arc, they would likely earn their first district win. So, he told to his guards to defend the arc above all else.

"They start hitting one or two and that cycle gets going," Senteney said. "I'd rather give up a deuce than a three against them."

And it worked.

Española found no success in kicking the ball out to open shooters and only put in one 3 for the night. It came from the Sundevils' leading scorer Jeremy Romero, who finished with 18 points.

Meanwhile, Capital hit five 3s to keep the Sundevils at bay.

Ryan Vigil started the Jaguars' scoring night off with a 3 right out of the gate and hit another at the start of the third quarter to give Capital a 28-15 lead.

Down double digits, Española began a full court press that forced five Capital turnovers in the third quarter. But the increased pressure also increased the Jaguars' trips to the free-throw line.

Capital maintained its lead on the road thanks to a 21-for-32 shooting night from the line. Española only made it to the charity stripe 23 times, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter.

Fatigue never set it for the Jaguars, who have a healthy roster maybe for the first time all year. And it happened just in time for district.

"Its good to have family back," Lopez said.

Lopez had nine points for the Jaguars, as did Vigil. Christian Martinez led the team in scoring despite only making two field goals himself. Six of his points came from the charity stripe.

While Capital made their freebies, Española couldn't buy one.

Layups, free throws and jumpers three feet from the basket bounced off the rim like they were being paid to.

"We're taking very good shots, point-blank, you couldn't ask for anything better," Sundevils head coach Richard Martinez said. "We just haven't shot the ball well so we got to go back to the drawing board and shoot for maybe two hours before the next game."

Although the team that has won the 2AAAA regular season title five straight years is now sitting at the bottom of its own district, no team in the district is safe. Nobody knows that more than Senteney.

"This district is very tough and if you have an off night, the other team will take advantage of you," Senteney said.

For now, all the parts are working and all circuits are a go for the Jaguars, not that that is any consolation for them now.

"We feel good but we're not done," Bryan Vigil, who finished with eight points, said.