The Belen Eagles pushed their score all the way to 66 on Friday, but even that wasn't enough to win. The matchup between Belen and Highland wasn't particularly close, with Belen falling 82-66. Belen has not had much luck with Highland recently, as the team's come up short the last eight times they've met.
Belen's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jordi Rojo, who scored 14 points along with five assists and four steals. Rojo is on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last four games he's played. Alan Moreno was another key contributor, scoring 16 points along with three steals.
It was another big night for Jesus Licon, who scored 39 points along with five rebounds and three steals for Highland. Licon is absolutely dominating the point category: he's posted at least 15 every time he's taken the court this season. Another player making a difference was Owen Cheng, who scored 12 points.
Belen has not been sharp recently, as they've lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 7-12 record this season. As for Highland, their victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 14-4.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Belen will face off against Grants at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Highland, they won't have much time to rest: their next matchup is against Albuquerque Academy at 2:00 p.m. on January 27th. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in New Mexico (Albuquerque Academy is ranked 11th, while Highland is ranked ninth).
