Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Artesia’s basketball Bulldogs are undefeated in District 4-4A and head coach Michael Mondragon was happy with the way the team competed during the first half of league play.

Heading into part two of the district season against Lovington at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bulldog Pit, Mondragon knows the Bulldogs cannot relax – Lovington, Goddard and Portales are tied for second in the district standings and itching to hand the Bulldogs their first defeat of the season.

“We’ve yet to put four good quarters of basketball together, we’re working towards that,” the coach said during a telephone interview Tuesday as the Bulldogs took a break from the district race.

As the team prepares for final stretch of the regular season, Mondragon is looking for consistency with hopes of sweeping the competition just as Artesia did during part one.

“We haven’t put four consistent quarters of basketball together yet,” he said. “That’s what we need to do. Obviously, there’s the game plan; obviously there’s the execution; obviously, there’s the understanding of your opponent. We just want to focus on us, focus on what we can control and getting better at it.”

The Bulldogs have been guided this season by junior guards Charlie Campbell and Braylon Vega. Clay Kincaid, a 6-foot-8 junior center/power forward, provides punch underneath the basket.

“All three … are doing what we ask them to do, hitting big shots,” Mondragon said. “They’re getting their teammates the ball and giving them opportunities to score and that’s what you want.”

During the Jan. 31 district opener at Lovington, Campbell scored 27 points, Kincaid had 13 and Vega had 7 en route to a 59-46 win.

At home against Portales on Feb. 4, Vega had 20 points, Campbell had 16 and Kincaid tossed in 9 as the Bulldogs took care of the Rams 74-48.

Artesia ended the first half of district play with a 67-48 win over Goddard on Feb. 7 as Vega led all scorers with 22 points.

Mondragon said Artesia’s bench has played a key role in the team’s district success along with Campbell, Vega and Kincaid.

“We’re not a one- or two-man team,” he said. “We’re a true testament to a team. In the first part of district, different guys have stepped up for us … it’s going to take the whole team,” he said.

Friday’s contest is the last home game of the season. The Bulldogs travel to Portales Feb. 18 and on Feb. 21 Artesia’s district season wraps up in Roswell against Goddard.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.