A free-throw burst was all it took to burst Monte del Sol's bubble.

The Peñasco boys basketball team hit 10 free throws in the final 21/2 minutes to put away the visitors 64-55 in Thursday night's District 2AA game.

The Dragons (5-19, 0-7) clawed back from a fourth-quarter hole to pull within five points, but every time they inched closer, head coach Lucy Lindley said, the Panthers responded from the stripe.

"We played better, but we had some early turnovers that were unnecesary," she said. "You gotta tip your hat to someone who can make 10 straight free throws."

The game was tied after the first eight minutes, and the Dragons had a six-point edge at the half, but as is often the case, free trumps work, and the Dragons had to dig in for their points, while the Panthers' sequences went drive, foul, whistle.

Javier Koerdell led a trio of Dragons in double figures with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Roman Romero had 16 points for the Panthers.

ALBUQUERQUE SANDIA PREPARATORY 65, POJOAQUE VALLEY 35

As listless as they come.

The Sundevils showed the Elks a good-old-fashioned whoopin' in a District 5AAA pillow fight.

It was competitive for all of 16 minutes, before a podunk, five-point, third-quarter effort from Pojoaque signaled the end of its chances.

The Sundevils had three players in double figures, as Wyatt Thomas and Johnny Doran presided over the beating with 15 points apiece.

Brandon Bustos (10 points) was the only Elk in double figures.

WAGON MOUND 70, NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF 39

Who cares how you finish, when you get a start like the Trojans had in its District 1B win?

It was of little consequence that Wagon Mound outscored the Roadrunners only 14-13 in the final quarter, because it outpaced them 24-9 in the first. Wagon Mound ( 17-5, 6-0) dressed nine players and had seven score to overwhelm School for the Deaf.

"We went real strong that first quarter," said Bobby Clouthier, Trojans head coach. "When you play an easy team, the kids kinda relax, and then you gotta get them to play the next day."

Clouthier tapped his bench early on, going with a two-starter, three-bench-player rotation in the second quarter.

Once again, it was Chris Cruz leading the way with 20 points. The Roadrunners' high man, Zachery Lee, finished with 22 points.

GIRLS

SANTA FE WALDORF 60, TIERRA ENCANTADA 43

No one had to tell Lauren Gary to rebound that basketball.

It was intuitive for the freshman sensation, as her 32 rebounds smashed Emma Aders' school-record 25 rebound total set in 2008. Seventeen of those came on the offensive end. Oh, and she had 25 points, too, as the visitors cruised to an easy nondistrict win.

"She's a very strong player, and she uses her body well to box out," said Daniel Wendland, Wolves head coach. "When she gets the ball near her, when she gets two hands on the basketball it's hers. She wins a lot of those 50-50 balls."

With Gary handling the boards, the rest of the Wolves' bunch could worry about scoring, particularly Sophia Richard, who finished with 25 points to lead Waldorf.

The Wolves ( 10-12, 1-1) used a 18-5 third quarter to open up a 45-25 advantage heading into the final frame.

"We just really pushed the tempo, and that just served us well," Wendland said. "When you have somebody grabbing that many rebounds it gives you that many possessions."

SANTA FE INDIAN 70, ALBUQUERQUE SANDIA PREPARATORY 29

The two-time defending Class AAA state champion Lady Braves closed out the regular season in style with a rout of the visiting Lady Sundevils at the Pueblo Pavilion Wellness Center.

Minus starting point guard Jennifer Willie, SFIS (20-6, 6-2 in 5AAA) never had a problem putting points on the scoreboard. The lead was 23-9 after one quarter, then outscored Prep 29-2 in the final period to pull away.

Twelve of the 14 SFIS players who got into the game scored at least one point, led by Makayla Holiday's team-high 11. Bridget Lee and Ashley Terry had nine apiece while Danielle Nelson and Mysteri Jodie had seven each.

Wille missed the game with an injured neck she sustained in a loss earlier this week at Albuquerque Hope Christian.