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Texico’s Garret Mayfield (left) and Bryce Bailey chase down an offensive rebound during the Wolverines’ season opener Tuesday against Tatum. Photo by Eric Kluth
New Mexico
Texico Wolverines (0-1)
Coach: Richard Luscombe (15th year)
2002-03 record: 18-9 (7-1 District 6-2A)
Last playoff appearance: 2003, lost to Hope Christian in the Class 2A regional semifinals for the second consecutive year.
Top returning players: Bryce Bailey, 6-2 P, Sr.; Braden Vaughan, 6-2 F, Jr.; Johnny Rivera, 5-7 PG, Sr.; Mark Peabody, 5-10 G, Sr.; Logan Brown, 6-1 F, Jr.
Top newcomers: Josh Pena, 5-8 G, Jr.; Joe Zaikowski, 6-1 F/P, Sr.; Garret Mayfield, 6-1 F, Jr.
Quotable: “We’re hoping the football success (a Class 1A state championship) will carry over. They certainly had a lot of ‘basketball’ scores. We’re hoping we can score as many points as they did. It’s going to be a little tough early, just because we’ve got to get our legs back under us.” — Texico coach Richard Luscombe.
Fort Sumner Foxes (0-0)
Coach: Dexter McDaniel (1st year)
2002-03 record: 12-13 (6-4 District 3-1A)
Last playoff appearance: 2000
Top returning players: Jerid Higgins, 6-3 P, Sr.; Jameson West, 5-9 W, Sr.; Roel Canales, 5-4 G, Sr.; Ryan Fikany, 5-9 So., PG.
Top newcomers: Stephen Gallegos, 6-0 F, So.
Quotable: “Our goal is to make (the players) believe we can be more than football players, and that we can get out of district.” — Fort Sumner coach Dexter McDaniel.
Melrose Buffaloes (0-1)
Coach: Casey Pack (2nd year)
2002-03 record: 12-14 (6-4 District 3-1A)
Last playoff appearance: 2001, defeated Logan to win the Class 1A state championship.
Top returning players: Harvey Park, 5-11 G, Sr.; Carlos Ruiz, 5-9 G, So.; Chris Russell, 6-3 P, Sr.; Caleb Dodd, 6-2 P, Jr.
Top newcomers: Brock Graham, 5-8 PG, So.; Jeremy Weese, 5-11 F, Jr.; Jason Runyan, 6-1 P, Jr.; Tyler Tatum, 6-0 G, So.
Quotable:Grady Bronchos (1-2)
Coach: Ken Kostedt (2nd year)
2002-03 record: 10-13 (4-4 District 4-1A)
Last playoff appearance: n/a.
Top returning players: Kevin Brown, 5-11 F, Sr.; Jarrod Lindsey, 5-11 G, Jr.; John Schueler, 6-3 P, Jr.
Top newcomers: Robert Windham, 5-6 G, So.; Colt Grau, 5-10 F/P, So.; Domingo Diaz, 5-6 G, So.
Quotable: “I think we should do pretty well toward the end of the year. We’ve got some good athletes, but we’ve got a lot of growing to do.” — Grady coach Ken Kostedt.
Clovis Christian Eagles (0-3)
Coach: Robert Boatman (1st year)
2002-03 record:17-4
Last playoff appearance: 2001, took second place in the High Plains Christian Athletic Association.
Top returning players: Ryan Boatman, 6-0 P, Fr.; Dustin Handley, 5-6 PG, So.; Landon Ware, 5-7 G, So.
Top newcomers: Matt Ware, 5-9 F, So.; Larry Vongsa, 5-9 F, Fr.; Chris Mitchell, 5-10 F, So.
Quotable: “It’s going to be a growing experience for us, but we know that. We have very young kids, but they’re enthusiastic and very responsive. If we can come out of this season with experience, and grow and learn, watch out for next year.” — Clovis Christian coach Robert Boatman.
Texas
Farwell Steers (2-0)
Coach: Kirk Saul (5th year)
2002-03 record: 19-11 (7-3 District 3-1A)
Last playoff appearance: 2002, lost to Stratford in the area (second) round.
Top returning players: Grant Gregory, 6-3 F, Sr.; Cale Stevenson, 5-9 G, Sr.; Tyler Myes, 6-3 C Sr.; Tate Nichols, 5-10 G, Jr.; Jason Johnson, 5-10 PG, Sr.; Jose Cabello, 5-10 P, Sr.; Daniel Kaltwassser, 6-1 F, Sr.
Top newcomers: Robbie Tabb, 5-10 PG, Jr.; Rowdy Mitchell, 5-10 F, Jr.; Jeremie Chandler, 6-2 P, Sr.
Quotable: “We’re expecting a really big year. We’ve got a lot of returning experience, and a little bit of size. We should have more depth than anybody we play.” — Farwell coach Kirk Saul.
Muleshoe Mules (3-0)
Coach: Ralph Mason (10th year)
2002-03 record: 6-22 (2-8 District 2-3A)
Last playoff appearance: 2000, lost to Seminole in area (second) round.
Top returning players: Landon Sheets, 5-11 G, Sr.; Brady Black, 6-0 P, So.; Tatom Heathington, 6-1 W, Sr.; Layne Sheets, 5-9 PG, Sr.
Top newcomers: Sterling Via, 5-9 G, Sr.; Chris Kindle, 5-11 W, Jr.; Trevor Turnbow, 6-0 W, So.
Quotable: “I would hope we’d be better this year. We took our lumps last year, but we have a lot of players coming back.” — Muleshoe coach Ralph Mason.
Bovina Mustangs (4-0)
Coach: David Combs (1st year)
2002-03 record: 17-11 (8-2 District 3-1A)
Last playoff appearance: 2003, lost to Morton in the bi-district (first) round) in the Mustangs’ first playoff appearance since 1992.
Top returning players: Jonathan Chisom, 6-0 P, Sr.; Raymond Chisom, 5-9 W, Sr.; Jeff Casas, 5-9 PG, Jr.; Michael Nieto, 5-10 F, Sr.
Top newcomers: Joseph Tapia, 5-11 F, Fr.; Hugo Aguillon, 6-0 P, Jr.; Roger Martinez, 6-3 P, Jr.; Saul Martinez, 6-3 P, So.
Quotable: “I’m having as much fun as a kid with a new toy on Christmas Day. We’ve got to play within ourselves; they’re still tryingto get used to me. If we stay focused and disciplined, we won’t finish last in the district.” — Bovina coach David Combs, who came out of retirement to work in Bovina after last coaching as an assistant at Amarillo River Road in 1998.
— Compiled by Dave Wagner
and Rick White
