Hard-charging Wolverines advance

The Associated Press

RIO RANCHO — Courtland Luscombe scored 19 points and Casey Crist and Seth Bailey each added 17 as Texico overcame a slow start to beat Pecos 56-51 Wednesday in the boys Class 2A quarterfinals.

Texico (23-5) trailed by 18 early in the second quarter and cut the deficit to eight by halftime and one at the end of the third period. Crist made a field goal, putting Texico ahead 41-40 for the first time in the second half.

Pecos (15-9) answered with two foul shots and a field goal by Adam Trujillo to go ahead 43-40.

But No. 4 seeded Texico regained the lead with a 14-8 run in the last five minutes, thanks to seven free throws by Bailey, two from Crist and one by Josh Murray. Texico outscored Pecos 18-12 in the final quarter.

“There was a sense of urgency,” Wolverines coach Richard Luscombe said. “We weren’t playing offense and we weren’t playing defense. These guys have done a good job of understanding we’re not on vacation.”

Dominic Baca had 27 points for the Panthers, including hitting 5-of-7 seven 3-pointers in the first half.

Luscombe said the Wolverines started in a 1-3-1 zone, but broke it in favor of man-to-man in the second period, putting Murray on Baca for rest of the game.

Murray held Baca to one 3-pointer for the rest of the contest.

“It never felt like we got control of the game in the first half,” Luscombe said. “But we played real well in the second half.”

Texico plays the winner of Wednesday’s Penasco-Bosque Prep game in Friday’s semifinals.

Junior post Daniel Schueler was held to two points, well below is average of 16 points per game, which put the Wolverines at a disadvantage, Luscombe said.

“When you’re missing that, you have a problem,” he said.