Timberwolves Make History: East Mountain Secures Record 8th Straight Win

December 21, 2025

SANDIA PARK, NM — In a grit-and-grind performance that capped off a perfect first semester, the East Mountain High School Timberwolves defeated Oak Grove Classical Academy 59-45 on Saturday. The victory marks a historic milestone for the program, extending their current winning streak to eight games—a school record.

A Game of Momentum and Response

The Timberwolves started the contest with intent, jumping out to an early ten-point lead. However, the Owls of Oak Grove showed resilience, mounting a furious comeback to take a brief 14-13 lead. After the teams traded buckets to reach a 16-16 deadlock, East Mountain regained control.

The second quarter proved to be the turning point. Sharp-shooting and discipline at the charity stripe allowed the Timberwolves to mount a 29-18 halftime lead. Vicente J. Ortiz and Liam Pierce were clinical, combining for a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the period.

Long-Range Firepower

The perimeter game was the story of the afternoon. East Mountain’s offense found its rhythm from behind the arc, with Pierce and Ortiz leading the charge with four three-pointers apiece. Ben Schwebke and Quinlan Gwyther also contributed from deep, stretching the Oak Grove defense and opening up the floor.

Coach’s Corner: “Cutting Off Momentum”

Head coach Brad Hofmann attributed the win to his team’s ability to handle Oak Grove’s aggressive defensive pressure.

“I was really happy with the ball movement and making the extra pass,” Hofmann said. “They do a lot of running and jumping and doubling. If you don’t move the ball quickly and make them pay for that, you’re in trouble. I thought the kids did a nice job just sticking to our principles.”

Hofmann also highlighted the team’s depth, specifically praising the contributions of bench players like Ben Schwebke, who provided a spark with solid defense and a key three-pointer.

Despite the historic 8-0 start to the season, Hofmann is keeping his squad grounded. “That can be fool’s gold if you’re not focused on getting better,” he warned. “Every game’s an opportunity to improve. We have a long way to go.”

Box Score Highlights

Player	Points	Key Stats
Vicente J. Ortiz	21	4 Three-Pointers, Perfect FTs
Liam Pierce	20	4 Three-Pointers
Eric Hofmann	8	Strong Inside Presence
Quinlan Gwyther	5	1 Three-Pointer
Ben Schwebke	4	1 Three-Pointer
Aiden Erickson	1	Defensive Specialist

Looking Ahead

The Timberwolves (8-0) will head into the winter break to recover from the physical toll of a dense schedule and final exams. However, the rest will be short-lived. East Mountain returns to action just after New Year’s Day to host a formidable Santa Rosa team.

“They’ve got size, they’ve got shooting, they’ve got everything,” Hofmann said of the upcoming matchup. “We’ll really need to be prepared for that one.”

Santa Rosa is far better than the Lions’ 4-3 record indicates. The Lions have lost twice to Class A No. 1 Logan (71-66, 79-73) and to 1A No. 2 Fort Sumner House 68-62 in overtime. Three of the Lions’ wins have come on the road including a 71-67 win over previously unbeaten Class 2A No.1 Texico.