Mike Smith and Jake Cooper
Artesia Daily Press

Artesia head boys basketball coach Michael Mondragon said the team is slowly coming together as members of the football team get acclimated to the basketball court.

The Bulldogs lost 50-46 to Valencia High School in Los Lunas Dec. 13.

Mondragon said it was Artesia’s first road trip of the 2024 season and the Bulldogs were flat.

“Valencia shot the ball extremely well,” he said.

Junior guards Braylon Vega and Charlie Campbell each had 13 points in the loss.

Vega and Campbell led the team in scoring with 22 points each as the Bulldogs defeated Santa Teresa 75-40 Tuesday night at the Bulldog Pit in Artesia.

Mondragon said consistency is a key goal for the Bulldogs during the early stages of the season. He said Vega and Campbell will drive Artesia for the remainder of the season.

“Braylon shot really well,” he said. “They’ve been together 2 ½ weeks. I’m proud of both of those guys.”

Bulldogs host Carlsbad

Artesia and Carlsbad teams square off at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bulldog Pit in round one of the in-county basketball rivalry.

Carlsbad is 6-1 heading into the game and Artesia is 3-2. The Cavemen beat the Desert Warriors in Santa Teresa Saturday, 67-38.

Artesia is outside of Carlsbad’s division. The Bulldogs compete in Class 4A and the Cavemen compete in Class 5A.

“It’s not as important as a district game,” Carlsbad head coach John Zumbrun said, “It’s not going to mean a lot in the district standings. “We’re just looking to get better.”

Zumbrun complimented Mondragon and the Bulldogs’ style of play.

“Mondragon runs a good program over there,” he said. “He always has his team playing hard.”

The Bulldogs travel to Albuquerque Saturday for a 2 p.m. game at Valley High School.

Mondragon said the Vikings are a top team in 4A.

“This will be a good test for us,” he said.

Artesia is off for Christmas and returns to action Dec. 26 at the Hobbs Holiday Tournament.

Artesia Lady Bulldogs update

At 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Bulldog Pit, Artesia hosts the Carlsbad Cavegirls.

Artesia is 3-5 overall and lost to Clovis 70-47 Tuesday night in Clovis. Carlsbad is 7-2 overall.

The Lady Bulldogs went 1-2 at the Albuquerque Academy tournament Dec. 12-14 with losses to Las Cruces Centennial 59-39 and Rio Rancho Cleveland 45-36. Artesia defeated Albuquerque Atrisco Heritage Academy, 60-40.

The Lady Bulldogs host Gadsden at 2 p.m. Saturday.