Timberwolves Make History: East Mountain Topples Cottonwood Classical for First Winning Season

January 30, 2026

ALBUQUERQUE – The monkey isn’t just off their back; it’s been left in the rearview mirror.

In a gutsy, come-from-behind performance on Thursday night, the East Mountain Lady Timberwolves (14-5, 3-0) secured a historic 42-37 victory over Cottonwood Classical (11-10, 2-1). The win was a milestone on multiple fronts: it guaranteed the program its first-ever winning season, extended their school-record winning streak to 11 games, and snapped a decade of dominance by a “bully on the block” that had beaten them 18 of the last 20 times.

It’s almost a side note that coach Ron Drake continues his 38-year streak of never having a losing season.

Clamping Down for a Comeback

For the first three quarters, it looked like history might have to wait. Cottonwood Classical controlled the tempo early, leading 13-8 after the first frame and maintaining a 22-15 cushion at halftime.

However, the fourth quarter belonged entirely to the Timberwolves’ defense. Trailing 35-31 entering the final period, East Mountain’s suffocating press and half-court tenacity allowed the Lady Coyotes only two points in the entire fourth quarter.

“After the third quarter, I told the girls we’ve got to step it up,'” Drake said. “Our defense is good, but we’ve still got to get better. And they did. I’m really proud of them.”

The Turning Point

The rally was sparked by freshman Kate Hushman, who led the team with 16 points. With the Timberwolves trailing 37-31, Hushman took over, scoring six straight points to pull East Mountain level.

“I think it was the crowd and the energy coming from the bench,” Hushman said of her critical stretch. “It’s like a vibe in here… it makes you want to put that ball in the bucket.”

Despite the momentum, East Mountain didn’t actually take their first lead of the night until there was only 1:07 remaining. Sophomore Evelyn Kannolt, who had struggled with her outside shot earlier in the game, stepped up when it mattered most, burying a three-pointer to break a 37-37 tie.

“I kind of just go with the flow,” Kannolt said. “If I miss a shot, I keep shooting because I know eventually it’ll fall. If you block out those misses, the makes feel even better.”

Junior Emee Naylor provided the final dagger, hauling in a bucket underneath in the waning seconds to seal the five-point victory.

A Program Transformed

For senior Maya Cheney, who has endured the lean years of the program, the victory was emotional.

“It means so much. 20 years is an insane thing,” Cheney said, referring to the program’s long wait for a winning record. “We’ve come close so many times. To beat [Cottonwood]… there are no words. I’m just so happy to have this team.”

The win is especially sweet for a squad that lost by a single point to Cottonwood Classical earlier this season. By exorcising those demons, Drake has his team eyeing even bigger goals.

“My goal was to get better and better, and we are,” Drake said. “We won those district games on the road, so that says a lot.”

East Mountain Box Score:

Elizabeth Appel: 2 pts

Kate Hushman: 16 pts

Evelyn Kannolt: 13 pts

Maya Cheney: 6 pts

Emee Naylor: 4 pts