LAS CRUCES — Janessa Johnson was not a scorer for the first three years of her career on the Las Cruces High girls basketball team.
Coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament last season,Johnson worked on her shot as soon as she was cleared to run. It's paid off as Johnson has gone from a pass first point guard to a key scorer on the No. 1 team in New Mexico.
"It has helped but I didn't think it would as much as it has," said Johnson, who is shooting 52 percent from 3-point range and averaging 14 points per game.
The Bulldawgs were 16-0 before suffering their first loss on Friday at home against Carlsbad. Johnson's newfound offense has made it more difficult for opponents to defend senior Sarah Abney.
"Other teams have trouble because they can't stay on one person," Johnson said.
The Bulldawgs were ranked No. 25 in a USA Today Super 25 Girls Basketball poll this week.
It's the best start for Bulldawgs head coach Matt Abney, who has never coached a No. 1 ranked team in New Mexico.
Abney's 2010 team started 11-0 and finished 26-3, but this year's group features five senior starters.
"This group has played together for so long than anyone can lead us in scoring every night," Matt Abney said. "We are really balanced and we have six good players and five of them are seniors."
The Bulldawgs beat Hobbs 48-44 on the road on Tuesday, ending a 23-game home win streak.
"It's the first time ever in program history that we have been ranked No. 1 and it comes when we have to go play at Hobbs," Matt Abney said.
Sarah Abney leads the Bulldawgs with 15 points per game, Valeria Valtierra and Christina Aguayo each average nine points per game and Brooke Salmon averages six points per game after taking over point guard duties from Johnson.
District 3-6A features three of the top five teams in the state, including Carlsbad, who is 4-0 in district play.
But the Bulldawgs aren't letting the polls, statewide or national, go to their heads.
"There is a lot of pressure and you can't get comfortable with winning and get a big head," Johnson said. "We are just enjoying the moment and working hard each game."
Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.