Floyd football star hopeful for hoop opener

THE RIGHT KNEE of Floyd senior Chance Chenault may be wiped out for now, but the same can’t be said on his future as a high school athlete.

Chenault took a hard hit to the knee during Floyd’s 50-40 loss at Logan two Fridays ago, a hit that the Bronco said “totally wiped it out.

“It tore my MCl and strained my ACL,” Chenault said Tuesday night. “If it would have been the other way, my high school career would have been over.”

Instead, his basketball season will be delayed a few weeks. Chenault visited with Dr. Bill Barnhill of the Panhandle Sports Medicine Institute, who told him that surgery would not be necessary.

However, a cast will be. Chenault was fitted for a brace this week in Clovis, and he is hopeful he can return in time for Floyd’s season opener against Tatum Nov. 24.

If not, he’d at least like to get on the practice floor as soon as possible.

“It’s driving me nuts,” Chenault said. “I’m in there every day watching them practice and it’s driving me crazy.”

THE STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT has become a tradition for Portales High School, and so too has the sendoff for the team.

Portales coach Ruth Chavez said Tuesday night that aspects are still being cleared for the sendoff, which would begin Thursday at 2 p.m. at the PHS parking lot.

Chavez admitted that she thought about not doing the sendoff this year, but disregarded that idea after talking to her players about it.

“They love it,” Chavez said. “We have a lot of followers. It’s neat for (the younger students) to see. The kids know these players.”

Assuming all schools want to take part — and Chavez said they usually do unless a school has already scheduled something like a play or general assembly — the Lady Rams would travel to James Elementary, go by Brown, then back around to hit both Steiner Elementary and Portales Junior High. Lindsay Middle School would be the final stop before the team takes off towards Roswell for its 1 p.m. Friday match against West Las Vegas.

THE PORTALES BOYS basketball team has finalized a scrimmage for 4 p.m. Tuesday at Carlsbad.

Portales coach Mark Gallegos said Tuesday that Chris Carter and Nathan Brown have both joined the team this week and it’s a matter of fitting the puzzle together right now.