Portales girls move to 10-3

ROSWELL — The Portales Lady Rams came out firing, hitting on 10-of-15 field goals in the first quarter en route to an easy 70-49 win Tuesday night at Roswell High.

Kassandra Richards scored 20 to lead four in double figures for Portales (10-3). Roni Gomez added 15 for the Lady Rams, with Morgan Hill scoring 14 and Erika Cook 13.

Portales never looked back after a 23-14 first quarter against the Lady Coyotes, who were led by Shyisha Lucas’ 13 points. Samantha Matta added 11 for Roswell.

The Lady Rams will return to play Friday at Artesia. Portales won the previous matchup 63-23 in the season opener for both teams.

Boys fall in OT

ARTESIA — Only three days after finding a winning touch, the Portales Rams couldn’t find it again in the final minutes against Class 4A Artesia.

Portales (4-8) missed a pair of chances to win the game in regulation, then got outscored 12-2 in the extra session as the host Bulldogs took a 52-42 win Tuesday night at the Bulldog Pit.

The Rams, who knocked off West Las Vegas on Saturday, dropped to 1-3 in games following a victory and 0-8 when the opposition scores 50 points.

“We didn’t play any defense,” Gallegos said of the overtime period. “They just pounded the ball inside.”

The Bulldogs’ inside attack was led by Tim Rich, who scored 15. Brandon Serich added 11 for Artesia.

Gallegos said the Rams had a pair of chances to take a lead in the final seconds, but Seth Clabaugh missed a free throw to complete a three-point play and the Rams couldn’t get a shot off when Artesia fumbled away the rebound from the free throw.

Clabaugh scored a season-high 13 to lead Portales, while Chris Carter had 10 despite being held out in the first half as punishment for being late to a team shootaround.

The Rams will be in action again Friday at Muleshoe.