Texico tops in 3A

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link Staff photo: Joshua Lucero

Texico sophomore Jasmine Gannon takes a shot for two of her 14 points in Texico’s 50-39 win over Clayton for the Class 3A title.

ALBUQUERQUE — If Texico junior Brianna Reyna knew, she may have tried for one more assist.

She had other concerns, though, like making things right for the Lady Wolverines after last year’s heartbreaking three-point loss to Tularosa in the then-Class 2A title tilt.

Reyna finished one assist short of a triple-double — 19 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists — and put the Lady Wolverines on her back in a 50-39 win over former district rival Clayton on Saturday at The Pit. “This year, I told myself we weren’t going to fall short again,” Reyna said. “I wanted to do everything I could to win it.”

The Lady Wolverines (25-4) clamped down on the Lady Jackets the rest of the way after Clayton (25-8) went 6-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from distance in the opening period, Texico, leading 17-16 at the quarter, held the Lady Jackets to just 7-of-26 from the floor the rest of the way.

“We struggled to make anything the last half,” Clayton coach Ross Perschbacher said. “The first half, they were gambling a little more on defense.”

Sophomore post Jasmine Gannon, who had not scored a lot in the previous two state games, got going again in this one with 14 points — 10 in the third quarter — on 7-of-10 shooting.

“My mindset was just to finish (shots),” Gannon said. “I don’t think I performed as well as I could the last two games, but today we finished.” It was sort of a battle of the then-2A team of the 80s and 90s — Clayton won 10 titles in 12 seasons under former Clovis High coach Miles Watters, including nine in a row — against the team of the millennium. This title was Texico’s seventh since 2000.

“It feels awfully good,” said Lady Wolverines coach Richard Luscombe, who has coached both Texico programs to state titles. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have (won a few of them.

“I’ve won (state titles) with my daughter and I’ve won with my son, but this year has been great.”

Senior Sarah Daniels and Gannon scored baskets in the final 40 seconds to give the Lady Wolverines a 25-22 halftime lead. Clayton came back with the first five points of the second half, but Texico posted a 13-3 edge the rest of the period to lead by eight.

The smaller Lady Jackets saw their best post player, Montana Baker, pick up a third foul early in the third period and go to the bench. Gannon and Reyna went to work at that point, with Reyna finding Gannon around the basket for some relatively good looks.

“We couldn’t front their big girls like we did in the first half,” Perschbacher said. “Their size was the difference, and they did a good job of utilizing it.”

Senior guard Tessa Franz led Clayton with 11 points and five rebounds.