2 for No. 1

CMI staff writer

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For the first time since 2009, the Portales High girls team will have a game to play on state championship Friday at The Pit.

For the fourth time in as many years, Elida will be there as well in its final hunt for a Class B title.

The Lady Tigers (18-9) will seek to wrap up a perfect four-year run through the class when they face Corona in a 1:30 p.m. matchup at The Pit. The matchup will be followed by Portales taking on top-seeded and undefeated Shiprock with a 3:30 p.m. scheduled tipoff.

link Joshua Lucero: PNT correspondent

The Ram bench cheers after a turnover late in the fourth quarter of the team’s Class 3A semifinal against Lovington Thursday morning at The Pit in Albuquerque. Portales defeated Lovington 56-48 to reach its first title game since 2009.

The Lady Rams (24-5) reached the title game by defeating District 4-3A rival and two-time defending 3A champion Lovington 56-48. The Wildcats accounted for three of Portales’ losses, with the others coming to Class 5A semifinalist Clovis (29-1) and 5A state finalist Mayfield (27-3).

Portales is seeking its first title since 2006 and its sixth in school history. This is the school’s 13th appearance in a state title game, with all but one coming in Class 3A, and its last one coming in 2009.

“The girls were in seven straight state championships (from 2001 to 2007),” Portales coach Wade Fraze said. “After a while, it kinda becomes ho hum, but that came with a lot of work, a lot of talent. We missed one year with Clay (Stout), then got back the next year against Pojoaque, who was undefeated. Since then, it’s been a while. It is special (getting back).”

link JOSHUA LUCERO: PNT correspondent

Portales junior McKenzie Bucksath puts up two points in the second half of Thursday’s Class 3A semifinal at The Pit in Albuquerque. Portales defeated Lovington 56-48.

One Portales assistant, Amanda Bonner, played on the 2009 state runner-up team and has a younger sister, Kacie Terry, on the roster. Another Portales assistant, Rebekah Mitchell, played on the 2006 state title team. Fraze, a first-year coach, was an assistant for Stout and Brenda Gomez, respectively, on both squads.

“I just feel very blessed,” said Fraze, who joined Portales in 2005. “I’ve been a head coach several places, but when I was a head coach at Seagraves and Sterling City (Texas), we had to build from the bottom up. It took a long time. This program was not at the bottom.

“They haven’t been in the state title game, but we’ve been here and we’ve been competitive. This is the first time I haven’t had to build it, and I’m thankful for that.”

Elida reached its title game in much less dramatic fashion, enjoying a 22-point halftime lead en route to a 64-40 semifinal win over Carrizozo.

In addition to potentially winning its fourth-straight title, Elida is protecting a perfect 56-0 mark against Class B opponents since the class began in 2010. The class will be reorganized as 1A next season, and will include all current Class B teams and some current 1A squads.

“It means a lot to them,” Elida coach Dan Howard said. “They’ve never been beat by a Class B school since we started this. We’re just trying to keep going.”

Elida has won four titles in school history, and Friday will be its eighth appearance in a title game.

link JOSHUA LUCERO: PNT correspondent

Portales sophomore Sheraya Cox gets off a no-look pass to teammate Savannah Vincent in the first quarter of a Thursday morning Class 3A semifinal at The Pit in Albuquerque.