Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune

Tribune

Highland High player Deeva Vaughn gets a hug and kiss from family friend Barbara Adams as her dad, T-Bone, takes a photo on his cell phone. Vaughn's grandmother, Alice, looks on. The Hornets lost to Eldorado 71-53 on Tuesday night, but Vaugh became the second metro-area girls player to surpass 2,000 career points. She scored 16 in the loss.

Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune

Tribune

Highland's Deeva Vaughn blocks a shot by Eldorado's Brittney Brown. Vaughn's offensive milestone headlined Tuesday night's 71-53 loss to the Eagles. With her 2,000th point, she joined elite company in New Mexico high school hoops history. According to New Mexico Activities Association records, only four other players have eclipsed 2,000 points.

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The moment went to the state's best player.

The game went to the what might be Class 5A's deepest team.

Not to be overshadowed by Highland swingman Deeva Vaughn's milestone - 2,000 career points - Eldorado ran, rebounded and racked up offense in a performance that illustrated why the Eagles are a serious championship contender.

"That's the thing," said Highland coach Jon Ingram. "They easily play 10, 11 kids. You can't just focus on one or two kids because everyone can score."

Tuesday night, five Eagles scored in double figures and athletic Eldorado zipped past Highland, 71-53.

If it wasn't Jordan McGee (16 points, seven rebounds) it was Channel Sedberry (13 points, 12 rebounds).

If it wasn't Lexy Quackenbush (11 points), it was Sara Schwantes (10 points).

Oh, and post Christina Faris came off the bench to contribute 11 points and five rebounds.

Three other Eagles scored. And, what's more impressive, this balance was achieved without two captains: Kya De Garmo (minor knee injury) and Nicole Hunnicutt (illness).

"We're all very strong," said McGee, a 5-foot-10 junior forward. "We have a lot of depth on the team. We all can step up."

But weren't the Eagles concerned how their Ferrari-paced offense would accelerate without De Garmo to push the pedal?

"Not at all," McGee said. "Lexy's a great point guard. Our guards are really good. Our whole team is really good at running the floor."

Eldorado (17-6 overall, 4-1 in District 5-5A) even kept its pace after a brief pause to recognize Vaughn's accomplishment.

Her big basket came later than she, and probably most fans at the Highland (12-12, 3-3) gym, expected. Coming into the game, she needed five points, an easy mark for a future Division-I player who averages 23.3 per game.

Vaughn finally hit 2,000 with a twisting, reverse layup with 6:46 to play in the second quarter. Vaughn scored over Faris, who nudged the Hornets standout to the floor while trying to contest the shot.

She got up, smiled and ran down to the other end of the floor to play defense. But before Eldorado could advance the ball, school officials stopped play. The public address announcer told the small crowd of Vaughn's milestone and a television reporter interviewed her on court. Vaughn smiled and fired the game ball to her father sitting in the upper-level bleachers.

Vaughn air-balled her first shot of the game - an awkward turnaround jumper from the short corner. She was nervous to start.

"If you noticed I couldn't get five points after the first quarter," Vaughn said, laughing at herself. "I was struggling."

Vaughn, who will play for Houston next season, is believed to be the second metro-area girls player to surpass 2,000 points. Former Eldorado forward Jill Shaver did it in 1990, though her final point total was unavailable.

According to New Mexico Activities Association records, only four other players have eclipsed 2,000 points. Talmai Aguirre scored 3,297 points before graduating in 2006.

Vaughn finished with 16 points. Teammate Taylor Dennis notched 18, hitting three 3-pointers.

"This is something you probably won't appreciate until seven, eight, nine years down the road," Ingram said. "This is a major accomplishment."

A win over a talented district rival would have sweetened it.