Pintos Find Their Rhythm: Moriarty Dominates Socorro 67-43 Ahead of District Opener

SOCORRO — The Moriarty High School Pintos may have entered Saturday’s contest with a sub-.500 record, but they played like a team peaking at exactly the right moment. Behind a barrage of three-pointers and what head coach Caleb Encinias described as their first “complete game” of the season, the Pintos handled the Socorro Warriors in a convincing 67-43 road victory.

The win provides a massive boost of momentum for Moriarty (6-10) as they prepare to wipe the slate clean for the start of District 2 4A play.

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A Four-Quarter Statement

From the opening tip, Moriarty established dominance. The Pintos jumped out to a 26-11 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, heading into the locker room at halftime with a comfortable 41-22 cushion.

For Coach Encinias, the performance was a long time coming.

“I think that was the first time all season that we put together a four-quarter game,” Encinias said. “From the start to the finish, we talked about setting the tone on the defensive end… we did a good job of holding them to one and done and not giving them a lot of second-chance opportunities.”

Sharp-Shooting and Physicality

The Pintos’ offense was ignited by an elite performance from beyond the arc. The team combined for 12 three-pointers, half of which came from the hot hand of Devin Ortiz. Ortiz finished with a game-high 25 points.

While the perimeter game was clicking, Moriarty also won the battle in the paint. Despite Socorro’s physical style of play, Encinias felt his squad’s size was the difference-maker.

“They just didn’t match up with us in size,” Encinias noted. “I felt like we had the bigger kids, the stronger kids. When you’ve got two physical teams going at it, eventually one team is going to take its toll on the other.”

Sam Pearce was a focal point of that interior presence, chipping in 14 points while navigating constant double-teams and physical fouls.

Bench Spark and Growth

One of the major takeaways for the Pintos was the emergence of a “spark plug” off the bench. Mario Romero, who specifically asked Coach Encinias to move him to a reserve role to better read the game’s pace before entering, has become a vital asset.

Additionally, Dominic Brown provided a significant lift with 9 points, including two shots from downtown.

“What we’re looking for off the bench is someone that’s going to go in there and take care of the ball and compete on the defensive end,” Encinias said. “It’s nice to finally see these guys turning the corner.”

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The Road Ahead: District 2 4A

The timing of this “complete game” couldn’t be better. Moriarty has been “battle-tested” by a grueling schedule that included 11 straight road games. As they move into District 2 4A, the Pintos view their 6-10 record as ancient history.

District 2 4A Snapshot:

The district features competitive programs including Los Alamos, Española Valley, and Pojoaque Valley. While many teams in the district currently hold “upside down” records, Encinias warns against underestimating the competition.

• The “0-0” Mentality: Every team starts fresh in district play.
• Strength of Schedule: District rivals have been playing elite competition, making their records deceptive.
• Physicality: Encinias expects the intensity to ramp up, noting that “you don’t get the whistle you would like” in district play.

“I definitely have a lot of confidence going into district,” Encinias said. “We’re progressing at a fast rate, and that’s encouraging, not only for right now but going into next season as well.”

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Game Box Score

Quarter	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Total
Moriarty	26	15	7	19	67
Socorro	11	11	9	12	43

Moriarty Scoring: * Devin Ortiz: 25 pts (6 threes)

• Sam Pearce: 14 pts
• Dominic Brown: 9 pts (2 threes)
• Ryan Waldrop: 5 pts
• Mario Romero: 4 pts
• Dominic Brown: 9 pts
• Abe Sloan: 3 pts
• Scott Batie: 3 pts
• Jayden Carlson: 2 pts
• Mateo Griego-Manley: 2 pts

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Next Up: Moriarty prepares for their District 2 4A opener against Los Alamos on Tuesday at 6 pm, and the Pintos are looking to carry their hot shooting and defensive discipline into the most critical stretch of the season.