Monday was a growing moment for the Santa Fe Waldorf basketball team.

Without defensive spark plug Edgar Davila for the first half, the Wolves had to find the defensive intensity themselves.

They did for the last 12 minutes of the half and welcomed Davila back after halftime for more of the same in a 75-43 win over Evangel Christian Academy in a nondistrict game in the Fort Marcy Complex.

Davila missed the start because he practices with a club soccer team Mondays and Wednesdays. His absence was felt in the first four minutes as the Eagles hit five of their first six shots and held a 12-2 lead.

Head coach Rob Clifford fired up his team during a timeout

"We're just trying to develop an intensity that sometimes we lose, especially when our defensive catalyst, Edgar, isn't there," Clifford said. "Sometimes he supplies [the intensity] or I do."

Waldorf (10-7) responded by forcing Evangel Christian to hit just two of its last 16 field goal attempts. The corresponding 25-5 run made it 27-17, Waldorf, at the half.

Upon Davila's return, the Wolves outscored the Eagles 48-26 in the second half. Daniel McCormick led the way with 24 points despite missing the last three minutes of the first half with a bloody nose. He also had five blocks.

Point guard Eliot Radsliff added 21 points, Josh Hagens had a double-double with 12 points and 18 rebounds, while Davila had 10.

GIRLS

PEñASCO 51, PECOS 36

Youth is great to build a solid foundation, but can be a bane when it comes to the present and District 2AA play.

The visiting Lady Panthers (12-8 overall, 1-2 2AA) struggled to hit their shots to start the second half, and Peñasco outscored them 14-6 for a 39-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

"We did a good job where we broke the press, but we couldn't get any of our baskets to fall," said Leroy Barela, Pecos head coach.

Ida Valencia led Pecos with nine points, while senior reserve Mariah Maestas had six of her eight points in the first quarter that saw the two teams tied at 10 at the end of it.