Ram teams win in Las Vegas, Roswell to stay undefeated

Whether it was in the north or the south, it was a good night for Ram basketball in New Mexico.

The Portales girls, despite being shorthanded, blew out previously-undefeated West Las Vegas 84-41 on the road behind a near triple-double by Zamorye Cox.

Meanwhile, down in Roswell, the Rams used a balanced effort to top 5A Goddard 71-58.

In a battle of unbeatens up north, it was never a contest as Portales (5-0) got double-doubles from Taylor Rippee and Cox. Rippee had the more conventional double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Cox had a game-high 23 points to go with 12 steals and seven assists.

“We jumped on them early,” Portales coach Wade Fraze said. “We got some turnovers early, in the press and halfcourt both, and we converted early.”

Jenika Padilla led the Lady Dons (4-1) with 15.

Portales played without starters Lindsay Blakey and Kelly Fraze. Blakey is expected to return from injury after Christmas, while Fraze has the flu and is touch-and-go.

“We just want to keep getting better,” Fraze said. “This is going to be a tough week. We have Robertson, who’s also undefeated at this point, and then we’ve got Clovis, who’s a good team. It will be a good week for us to try to get better.”

In Roswell, it was a 30-point, 18-rebound night for senior Jeremie Karngbaye, but coach Rickie McBroom noted a balanced effort in all phases for Portales (3-0).

“We emphasized starting the game by going inside,” McBroom said. “They’ve got a 6-4 post, and we got him in foul trouble right away. That was huge going in. Jeremie also had some great offensive rebounds and putbacks tonight, which was huge. We were really balanced tonight. The kids did a good job.”

McBroom credited Darion Ontiveros and Braden Bridges for their job defensively on Goddard’s LeAnthony Harrison.

“I know he had 27,” McBroom said, “but they did a great job on him. they made him work for everything. It was great team defense, too, but they did a great job.”

Junior Ramirez scored 12 points and hit four of the Rams’ eight 3-pointers.