The Monarchs' star football running back helped his team advance to the gridiron's state Class 5A semifinals in the fall, and it was his and fellow senior Darrelyn McCloud's combined energy that kept Manzano (23-8) in the game during their state basketball tournament quarterfinal contest at the Pit.

But in the end, fifth-seeded La Cueva (25-6) eliminated the No. 4 Monarchs, 78-55.

"It's not so good to end your season this way," said a pensive Llamas, who hails from Carnuel. "But this senior class has always been the athletic ones. It was a good run."

The Bears, who shot a sizzling 60 percent from the floor, jumped out to a 24-14 lead in the first quarter and led 42-27 at halftime. But Manzano, never a team to quit, came out blazing in the third.

A frenzied flurry from Llamas in the final two minutes of the third was the key to the surge. He leaped to grab a high pass from McCloud, then leaned back into the court from the baseline to bank in an off-balance shot with 2:25 to go.

Llamas, at 1:17, then drove the length of the court with a defender hanging on his shoulder the entire time and converted a layup. And he concluded the third with a running 3-pointer shot from just above the top of the key, his right knee bent and leading the way, to narrow the gap to 12 a half-second before the buzzer.

Twelve seconds into the fourth, Llamas got his fourth foul and had to sit for a while, and the comeback attempt fizzled. The Bears went on a 24-12 run in the final period.

"This group of seniors have been good at Manzano," Monarchs coach Travis Julian said. "They've worked hard since their freshmen year, and they've made us competitive in football and basketball."

McCloud had 17 points versus the Bears, and Llamas and senior Kyle Lantz scored 12 apiece.

Manzano was hurt by the suspension of Quavshaun Branch, who was absent due to unspecified disciplinary reasons, and by the departure of starting sophomore post Austin Roark. Roark, who is from the Zuzax area, injured his left ankle with 15.5 seconds left in the first half and didn't return.

Julian said he was told Roark might have broken his foot.

Manzano defeated 13th-seeded Carlsbad 67-59 in a state first-round game on the Monarchs' court Saturday.

Manzano girls

The Monarchs, the No. 13 seed, fell 53-50 in a state first-round game at Gallup High on Friday. Manzano senior April Semler, who lives in Yrisarri, led her team with 12 points.

"With 3.6 seconds left, we advanced the ball from the full court to the halfcourt set, and our freshman guard (Caroline Lantor) took the (3-point) shot that would've sent it into overtime," Monarchs coach De'Mone Curry said. "It went in and out."

The Monarchs wrapped up the season with an excellent 19-10 record as compared to last year's 13-17 performance. But Manzano, for the second straight year, exited the postseason in the state tournament's round of 16.

The No. 4 Bengals (23-5) advanced.

"But I'm a very proud coach; they did well," Curry said. "After the Cibola game (a 36-31 loss to the Cougars, state's eventual sixth seed, on Jan. 14), I said we needed to be competitive. Now, we are that, but now we just need to learn how to close out games. We were up by five (in the fourth quarter). I think the crowd was a factor."

Curry is already champing at the bit for next season.

"We lose six seniors, but we'll return Ty Romero and Caroline Lantor," he said. "I'll say right now that (Lantor) is the best freshman in the state of New Mexico. And Destiny Bragman will be back and (Cedar Crest's) Sara Evans is returning."

Curry also noted that Elena Matthews of Sandia Park and Camille Brummett of Tijeras are expected to return after getting some varsity experience as floaters this year. In addition, he said Manzano's junior varsity did well this year, and he expects some of them to possibly move up to varsity next winter, including the likes of Natasha Aguilar and Jazmyn Llamas, Jordan's sister.