Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Joshua Lucero Texico senior point guard Justin Rucker gets off a no-look pass during Saturday’s game against Native American Community Academy in the Eastern New Mexico Tip-off at Greyhound Arena. Rucker scored 21 points as the Wolverines rallied in the second half to beat the Albuquerque-based Eagles 61-43.
Staff photo: Joshua Lucero Texico sophomore Mason Golden shoots over two Native American Community Academy defenders, including senior Kevin Sandoval (3), during Saturday’s game at Greyhound Arena.
Sports writer
PORTALES — Texico’s Justin Rucker lost more than half his senior season in football after suffering a concussion in a Sept. 26 game against Farwell.
Staff photo: Joshua Lucero
Texico senior point guard Justin Rucker gets off a no-look pass during Saturday’s game against Native American Community Academy in the Eastern New Mexico Tip-off at Greyhound Arena. Rucker scored 21 points as the Wolverines rallied in the second half to beat the Albuquerque-based Eagles 61-43.
He returned to action in the Wolverines’ basketball opener — ironically, against the Steers, celebrating his return to action with a game-winning 3-pointer in a 60-59 victory.
“I just wanted an opportunity to get them back,” he said with a smile, later acknowledging that the thought of doing something like that hadn’t crossed his mind.
On Saturday, he helped carry Texico down the stretch as the Wolverines (2-0) overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to beat Native American Community Academy 61-43 as part of the Eastern New Mexico Tip-off, a four-game event at ENMU’s Greyhound Arena.
Rucker scored 12 of his 21 points in the final period as Texico pulled away from a tie by outscoring the Class 3A Albuquerque-based Eagles 26-8.
If nothing else, the senior guard is a little fresher without having the wear and tear of a full football season on him.
“I started basketball right away after football season ended,” he said after falling short of his career high of 26, set last season against Penasco.
Texico held the Eagles (3-2) to just 13 second-half points.
“We didn’t do a very good job in the first half,” Texico coach Scott Karger said. “(NACA’s) second-chance points were killing us.”
Staff photo: Joshua Lucero
Texico sophomore Mason Golden shoots over two Native American Community Academy defenders, including senior Kevin Sandoval (3), during Saturday’s game at Greyhound Arena.
Rucker said Karger made the point loud and clear at the half.
“Defense and rebounding,” he said. “Coach really made that our emphasis.”
Rucker scored three baskets as part of an 8-0 run that put the Wolverines in front for good early in the final period. Texico outscored the Eagles 26-9 in the stanza.
Sophomore guard Mason Golden added 14 points and junior guard Brannon Karger 12 for the Wolverines. Senior guard Neulyn Castillo had 11 points and senior guard Joe Wade 10 for NACA.
