Cavemen Sink Alamo 63-57, Santa Teresa 60-33

By Don Eskins

The Cavemen, following a sluggish start on the new basketball season, have reeled off five straight victories to up their 2025-26 record to 5-3.

Carlsbad’s latest victims were the Alamogordo Tigers and the Santa Teresa Desert Warriors. On Thursday, December 11, CHS sank Alamo 63-57, and on Saturday, December 13, Santa Teresa 60-33.

To nobody’s surprise, the five-game winning streak has given Carlsbad’s boys a boatload of confidence, something they’ll need on Friday night, December 19, when they host the Artesia Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs, with only four games under their belts so far in 2025, will take the floor at 3-1 on the year.

During the season, the Cavemen and Dogs have had two common opponents, the Rio Rancho Rams and the Alamogordo Tigers.

Both Carlsbad and Artesia lost to Rio Rancho. The Bulldogs were crushed by the Rams 79-44; the Cavemen fell by 11, 52-41. However, both teams have also registered victories over Alamogordo. Artesia downed the Tigers 67-60; CHS defeated Alamo 63-57.

Based on the Alamogordo scores, Cavemen and Bulldog basketball fans are in for an exciting night of hoops.

The C-teams will open up Friday night’s action at 4:30 p.m., followed by the JV’s at 6 p.m. and the varsity at 7:30 p.m.

Cavemen 63, Alamogordo 57: Trailing the Alamogordo Tigers 43-41 at the end of the third period, the Carlsbad Cavemen rallied in the fourth to outscore the Cats 22-14. The CHS fourth-quarter spurt earned the Cavemen a 63-57 victory over the Tigers, their fourth straight win of the 2025-26 season.

Shane Sullivan, with 16 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and five blocked shots, led the CHS effort. Also having a big game offensively was Zenas Huerta with 15 points and four assists.

Cavemen 60, Santa Teresa 33: Carlsbad High rolled over the Santa Teresa Desert Warriors 60-33. Up 28-16 at the half, and 38-26 after three quarters, CHS raced by the Warriors in the fourth, 22-7, to grab the 60-33 win.

Leading the way for CHS were double-digit scorers Shane Sullivan, with 17 points, and Mario De Leon with 10. Tanner Cornum and Zenas Huerta each had nine.

CHS vs. Alamogordo

AHS 14 13 16 14 57

CHS 15 15 11 22 63

Leaders: Scoring: Shane Sullivan, 16; Zenas Huerta, 15; Sanyika Green, 9; Kevin Quarles, 8; Dryden Preece, 7; Tanner Cornum, 3; Frankie Martinez, 3; Maliq Mills, 2; Rebounds: Shane Sullivan, 11; Dryden Preece, 5; Kevin Quarles, 3; Zenas Huerta, 3; Mario De Leon, 2; Assists: Shane Sullivan, 6; Zenas Huerta, 4; Dryden Preece, 3; Steals: Tanner Cornum, 3; Shane Sullivan, 3; Maliq Mills, 2; Blocks: Shane Sullivan, 5; Tanner Cornum, 1; Zenas Huerta, 1; FTs 6-10-60% (Hudl Digital Stats)

CHS vs. Santa Teresa

STHS 4 12 10 7 33

CHS 18 10 10 22 60

Leaders: Scoring: Shane Sullivan, 17; Mario De Leon, 10; Tanner Cornum, 9; Zenas Huerta, 9; Dryden Preece, 7; Kevin Quarles, 3; Maliq Mills, 2; Miles Stephens, 2; Sanyika Green, 1; Rebounds: Shane Sullivan, 9; Mario De Leon, 8; Tanner Cornum, 5; Maliq Mills, 2; Zenas Huerta, 2; Sanyika Green, 2; Dryden Preece, 2; Assists: Sanyika Green, 4; Tanner Cornum, 3; Mario De Leon, 3; Steals: Tanner Cornum, 5; Zenas Huerta, 3; Dryden Preece, 3; Sanyika Green, 2; Shane Sullivan, 2; Blocks: Mario De Leon, 1; Tanner Cornum, 1; FTs 3-6-50%. (Hudl Digital Stats)