Lady Rams wrap up district with OT win

For four quarters Tuesday night, Portales High's Francis Armijo couldn't find the basket from the free throw line. She couldn't miss in overtime.

Armijo missed all four of her attempts in regulation, but went 4-for-4 in the extra session as the Lady Rams turned back Lovington 38-33 to lock up the District 4-3A regular-season title at the Ram Athletic Center.

Both teams struggled from the line through regulation, but PHS (18-6, 3-0 district) went 8-of-10 in the overtime while the Lady Wildcats (17-8, 2-2) were 1-of-3.

"When we got to overtime, we said to the girls, 'Just relax and we'll be OK,'" Lady Rams coach Clay Stout said.

Trailing 30-29, Lovington had a chance to win the game with two seconds left in regulation when junior guard Juztice Perry was fouled on a 3-point shot, but she was able to convert only the last one.

It was the second narrow loss to the Lady Rams in a week for Lovington.

"I thought we had more of a chance to win tonight than we did at home," Lady Wildcats coach Jason Parrish said. "They controlled the tempo more at our house.

"I'm proud of my kids; they didn't give up."

Armijo also had the responsibility for most of the night of checking junior guard Jocelyn Jeffery, Lovington's top scorer. Jeffery finished with a team-high 10 points, but had only two going into the fourth quarter and fouled out late in the extra session.

"Franny does an excellent job," Stout said. "She stayed with her wherever she went. We got some defensive stops when we needed it."

Portales led much of the way, and opened a 24-16 midway through the third quarter. The Lady Wildcats came back for a 28-27 lead on a three-point play by Jeffery, but freshman Sheraya Cox answered with a 3-pointer about a minute later for PHS.

That was the last field goal by either team, except for a running bank shot by Jeffery late in the OT period.

Cox finished with 11 points for the Lady Rams, seven coming in the fourth quarter and OT.

Regardless of what happens in Friday's regular-season finale against Ruidoso at the RAC, the Lady Rams will host the district tournament championship game against either Lovington or Ruidoso at 7 p.m. on March 1.