Texico sweeps Estancia

Texico’s Mindi Roberts drives to the basket past Estancia’s Heather Thomas during the second half Tuesday’s game in Texico. CNJ photo by Eric Kluth.

TEXICO — Estancia and Texico were tied 2-2 after the first minute Tuesday night. After the second minute, the game was all but over.

Behind pressure which overwhelmed the visiting Bears, Texico ran off a 23-0 blitz — scoring the first 10 points in a matter of 31 seconds — and cruised to a 75-20 District 6-2A boys victory at Texico Sports Arena.

The second half was played with a running clock, invoked in New Mexico Activities Association games once a lead grows to 35 or more points after halftime.

In addition to getting numerous easy baskets from in close, the Wolverines (12-3, 1-0 district) also got two 3-pointers each from seniors Logan Brown and Johnny Rivera in building a 33-7 lead after one period.

“I thought our pressure defense really hurt them,” Texico boys coach Richard Luscombe said. “It seemed like we were in every passing lane for a while.”

It went from bad to worse for the outmanned Bears (1-13, 0-3). Texico outscored Estancia 16-2 in the first six-plus minutes of the second quarter, and led 51-13 at the half.

All 10 players scored and all five starters were in double figures, led by senior guard Mark Peabody with 17 points.

Joey Autry finished with 10 points for Estancia.

“I thought defensively it was probably our best game overall,” said Luscombe, whose team lost by seven points on Friday at Capitan. “It seemed like everybody was where they were supposed to be tonight.”

The Wolverines were without senior forward Joe Zaikowski, who injured an ankle at Capitan.

Girls

Texico 50, Estancia 27 — Trailing 6-5 with 4:48 left in the opening quarter, Texico coach Buddy Little scrapped his team’s 1-3-1 zone defense for man-to-man and fullcourt pressure, and the tide quickly turned.

Junior Brette Hadley scored all of her game-high 14 points in the first half for Texico, including three 3-pointers. Senior Mindi Roberts added a pair of treys as Texico (12-3, 1-0) rolled into the break leading 37-17.

“We started slow in both halves,” Little said. “Once we got going, we played pretty good.”

Texico outscored Estancia 13-2 to end the first quarter to lead 20-10, capped by Roberts’ 3-pointer from the corner with four seconds left.

“We’re shooting (3-pointers) more confidently,” Little said. “We’re one of those teams that have to work for everything we get.”

The Lady Bears (6-8, 1-2) got 10 points from Heather Thomas.