PHS teams set for district play

Portales High's basketball teams will play the first two of their four District 4-3A games on the road.

Truth be told, neither boys coach Rickie McBroom nor girls coach Clay Stout minds that much.

PHS squads visit Ruidoso for 5:30 and 7 p.m. clashes tonight. On Tuesday, the Rams (12-8) and Lady Rams (15-6) play at Lovington before hosting both later on this month.

Ruidoso dropped district openers last Friday at Lovington, the boys losing 59-49 and the girls dropping a 75-43 decision.

"I'll be honest — I think we've played pretty well on the road this season," McBroom said, which has gone 8-6 in road and neutral-court games against a relatively challenging schedule.

The Rams expect to face different styles in their district games.

"Ruidoso's not real big, but they're quick and they shoot the ball well," McBroom said. "Lovington has more size, and they're a more deliberate type of team."

McBroom said Lovington (7-15), which has played a largely Class 4A/5A schedule and is coming off a 67-60 home loss to 5A Clovis on Tuesday, has the biggest player in the district in 6-foot-5 sophomore post Stephen Lennox.

McBroom said altitude won't be an issue for his team at Ruidoso (8-12, 0-1 district).

"We've got to go out and play every game," McBroom said. "Hopefully our kids are ready, and if they are we should have a good chance to win."

Stout said the young Lady Rams (15-6) have actually played better t his season on the road, where they have posted an 8-2 mark.

"The main thing is you have to be focused and ready to play," he said. "When you go on the road, I think it's important for you to win the rebound battle."

Stout said he's concerned about senior point guard Lyndsey Saenz and senior forward Madigan Gonzales for the Lady Warriors (8-11, 0-1). Gonzzles leads the team in scoring at 16.4 ppg, can play either inside or outside, he said.

"They're pretty athletic kids," he said of the Lady Warriors in general. "Sometimes it's pretty hard to play after you've had that long bus trip."

Stout said it will be important to try to do well in the next two games to set up the rest of district play.

"It'd be nice if we could get these two wins on the road," Stout said. "It would put us in the driver's seat."