Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
CMI staff
ARTESIA — When you say the Portales Rams earned a win on Tuesday night, you’re not kidding.
PHS went four overtimes with Artesia before finally outlasting the Class 4A Bulldogs 77-75 behind 26 points from Zach Campbell and 22 from Daniel Sanchez.
The Rams (7-4) fell behind early, then controlled most of the middle two quarters but were unable to finish it off in regulation as Artesia outscored them 16-10 in the final stanza. The teams that battled through three nip-and-tuck OTs before Portales took the lead for good in the final extra period and held on.
“It felt like either team could’ve won in regulation if they had made some free throws,” PHS coach Rickie McBroom said. “The cool thing is the kids were able to be part of something special.
“We started off slow, but we just battled through it.”
Senior Nathan Chavez added 12 points for the Rams on four 3-pointers, including one at the end of the third OT to retie the game. Chavez missed a 3-pointer, but teammate Matt Martinez chased down the rebound and got it to him for a second chance.
The Rams finally got ahead and spread the Bulldogs (6-5) out in the fourth OT. They made just enough free throws to hang on, McBroom said.
Senior guards James Lawson and Denzyl Garcia led the Bulldogs with 24 and 17 points, respectively. Lawson converted five of Artesia’s seven 3-point baskets.
The Rams return home for the Portales Shoot Out this weekend, facing West Las Vegas at 6 p.m. on Friday and Las Vegas Robertson at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Meantime, the Lady Rams play Taos in Friday’s 7:30 p.m. late game before taking on Tularosa at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Tuesday
Boys
Portales 77, Artesia 75
Portales (7-4) — Matt Martinez 0 2-2 2, Jarret Faust 1 1-6 3, Isaiah Alvarado 1 0-0 3, Daniel Sanchez 8 5-10 22, Caleb Burciaga 2 0-0 5, Zach Campbell 8 10-13 26, Paul Conrow 1 0-0 2, Nathan Chavez 4 0-0 12. Totals 25 18-31 75.
Artesia (6-5) — Andy Azua 0 1-2 1, Denzyl Garcia 7 2-7 17, Deion Wesson 2 2-3 6, James Lawson 9 1-3 24, David Baeza 5 2-2 13, Joey Lopez 1 0-0 2, Grant Duff 1 1-1 3, Ivan Martinez 2 3-4 7. Totals 27 12-22 73.
Portales 9 15 13 10 6 7 7 8 — 75
Artesia 16 11 4 16 6 7 7 6 — 73
3-pointers — Portales, Chavez 4, Alvarado, Burciaga, Sanchez. Artesia, Lawson 5, Baeza, Garcia. Junior varsity — Portgales 64, Artesia 54. C team — Portales 52, Artesia 34.
