Gallup Lady Bengals Rally to Beat Academy, Stay Unbeaten

Gallup High overcame a daunting early deficit to post a 58 to 45 victory over Albuquerque Academy in the opening round of the John Lomasney Invitational on December 4. The Academy opened the game on a 13 to 0 run and extended the margin to 23 to 9, but Gallup mounted a decisive comeback in the second half to complete a 20 to 3 closing run.

Junior guard Marie Nez delivered the turnaround, scoring a game high 21 points, all in the second half, and converting 8 of 9 attempts from the free throw line. Teammates provided supporting production as Kayden Tsosie finished with 13 points and Mykeia Vicenti added 11, giving Gallup the balanced attack it needed once it increased aggression to the rim and tightened defensive pressure. Foul trouble severely constrained Albuquerque Academy, with five players eventually fouling out, which opened opportunities that Gallup exploited in the final period.

The victory moved Gallup to 3 to 0 in the tournament and sets up a Thursday matchup with Ganado. For Gallup High and the broader McKinley County community, the game reinforced the program's capacity to compete in tightly scheduled holiday events, and it provides a short term boost to school spirit and youth interest in basketball. Tournament runs like this also tend to draw higher attendance for subsequent games and can deliver modest economic activity to local vendors and businesses on game days.

From a program development standpoint, the performance highlights the value of depth and late game composure. Nez's all second half scoring illustrates a player who can change a game in the fourth quarter, while the team response after a slow start underscores coaching adjustments and physical conditioning. Over the longer term, continued success at invitational tournaments can strengthen arguments for investment in coaching resources and facilities, and it can help sustain feeder programs across middle schools and youth leagues.

Gallup now travels into the next tournament game with momentum and a clearer sense of its strengths under pressure. The result will be watched by local supporters eager to see whether the Lady Bengals can extend their unbeaten run against Ganado on Thursday.