Portales girls win ninth-straight

Coming into Tuesday’s game, Portales coach Wade Fraze knew that Lubbock Christian High would be quite the challenge for his Lady Rams. It took a 22-point effort in the third quarter for Portales to come away with a hard-fought 60-51 victory at the Ram Athletic Center.

Portales (20-3) had squandered a seven-point lead as it let Lubbock Christian go on a 12-1 run to start out the second quarter. When it was halftime, the Rams trailed 28-25.

“We just came out confident,” Lubbock Christian coach Craig Mitchell said. “The girls were shooting well in the second quarter. We looked like a team. In the second quarter we just let it come to us.”

Portales had trouble at first in the third as Lubbock Christian built a large lead but the Lady Rams fought back to tie the game at 37. Then with about three minutes left in the quarter, the Lady Rams found Bailey Rowley, who sank her only 3 of the night to give Portales a 40-37 lead. They would never trail from that point on.

“It was a set play we had set for that shot,” Rowley said. “The gym got excited and we got excited. We knew we had the game in our hands then and we wanted to finish strong.”

Rowley finished with nine points and also had a key block in the final minute of the game. With Portales leading by nine, Rowley stopped an easy lay-up attempt, giving Portales the ball back with less than 30 seconds, sealing Portales’ 20th victory of the season.

Staff photo: Matthew Asher

Portales sophomore Zamorye Cox tries to get by a Lubbock Christian defender in the second quarter of the Lady Rams game on Tuesday. Cox finished with two points and the Lady Rams beat the Lady Eagles 60-51.

“We know we have to play hard-nosed defense 24/7,” Rowley said. “Stopping the ball prevents them from getting more shots and more momentum. The better defense we play, the better offense we play. “

Fraze was pleased with how his team responded in the second half for the victory.

“In the second quarter we were playing their ball game,” Fraze said. “If you make a mistake, that team will make you pay. They can shoot the ball, they can defend, they’re great at shooting the 3. As soon as it touches their hands they can hit it. We started, not consciously, to play like they played. We needed to slow it down. We needed to be quick but not hurried. We were definitely hurried then.”

Lubbock Christian (26-8) made more treys (9) than two-point field goals (8) in the game. Shelby Blankenship (20) and Lindsey Hearn (15) combined for seven of the Eagles nine 3s.

For the Rams, Kambrey Blakey (20) and Sheraya Cox (11) scored in double figures and were responsible for 13 of Portales’ 22 points in the third quarter.

The Lady Rams have already locked up the regular season District 4-4A title and will play their final regular season game this Friday at the RAC against East Mountain. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.