Buffs, Broncos bow out in 1A boys meet

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ALBUQUERQUE — Art Castro’s 21 points led Tatum to a 66-49 win over Melrose in the Class 1A boys quarterfinals Wednesday night.

Tatum (24-8) advances to the semifinals Thursday against Springer (27-3).

Tatum coach Curt Stephens said strong scoring kept his team strong throughout the game.

‘‘We really started pulling together after the first quarter, hitting more perimeter shots,’’ said Tatum coach Curt Stephens.

Tatum’s Rusty Hale and Grady Herrera each scored 12 points.

Tatum scored the last six points of the first quarter, then had a 16-6 run in the second quarter to take a 31-21 lead at halftime.

The Buffaloes (20-9) tried to narrow the deficit with a 7-0 run early in the third quarter, but Tatum’s defense kept them to only three points in the last five minutes of the quarter.

Tatum continued its solid play in the fourth, opening a 55-33 lead with 6:19 left in the game.

Carlos Ruiz led the Buffaloes with 11 points.

Melrose coach Casey Pack said his team went flat early on.

‘‘We let it slip. It was basically their senior leadership against our sophomore leadership,’’ Pack said. ‘‘I think the kids were still in awe of everything.’’

Temple Baptist 80, Floyd 44 — Tyler Baker was too tough, and Temple Baptist is still perfect.

Baker, the Roadrunners’ 6-foot-7 junior, had a triple-double with 30 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists against Floyd in a quarterfinal round game of the boys 1A State Tournament Wednesday night.

With Baker scoring 22 of the Roadrunners’ 35 first half points, the Albuquerque school had little trouble running its record to 30-0. Temple Baptist will play Des Moines (24-8) in Thursday’s semifinals.

Des Moines advanced with an opening round 67-51 win over Animas.

Dustin Bentley added 16 points for Temple Baptist. The Roadrunners dominated in every phase of the game and had a 41-17 edge in rebounds.

Floyd (20-9) was led by Chance Chenault with 15 points. The Broncos went scoreless for the game’s first 3 1/2 minutes and by halftime trailed 35-18.

Temple Baptist’s reserves played the last five minutes.