Portales girls struggle, but still hold off Ruidoso

It wasn’t pretty, but the Portales Lady Rams are once again District 4-4A tournament champions after besting Ruidoso 54-28 on Friday night at the Ram Athletic Center.

In the two previous encounters this season, Portales (22-3) routed Ruidoso by a combined 131-45. It certainly wasn’t as easy for the Lady Rams this time as they had trouble making shots throughout the game.

“We didn’t play well in any respect,” Portales coach Wade Fraze said. “We didn’t shoot well, we didn’t block out like we normally do. We were out of position on defense a lot.”

Staff photo: Matthew Asher

Portales senior Sheraya Cox takes a contested jumpshot in the second quarter of the Rams game against Ruidoso Friday night. Cox finished with nine points and the Lady Rams won 54-28, clinching the District 4-4A tournament championship.

With the two previous blowout losses, Ruidoso decided to try to play a slower tempo, which included several trips with more than a minute of time going off the clock before attempting a shot.

“The whole game plan was to slow (Portales) down,” Ruidoso coach Jason Kampsky said. “They can’t score when they don’t have the ball. At halftime it was 22-12, so we accomplished that. But Portales is really good. We did everything we could to keep the score down.”

Portales senior Kambrey Blakey, hobbled by a minor injury, scored 10 points in limited minutes.

“We’re just taking it day-by-day,” Fraze said of her injury. “We’re looking past today. She’s not 100 percent, but that’s what we’re going for.”

Bailey Rowley also scored 10 for the Lady Rams. Ruidoso (15-13) didn’t have anyone in double figures. Korey King led her team with eight while Lia Mosher added seven.

The game was never in really in doubt as Portales led the entire way and spent the majority of the game up by double digits.

The nail in the coffin came with about 3:30 left in the game. Portales led 40-25 when the Cox sisters, Sheraya and Zamorye, scored five quick points as part of an 8-0 run to put the game out of reach.

Sheraya finished with nine points and Zamorye added six.

“One thing I’ll say about these kids is they’re fighters,” Fraze said. “I’ve told them that sometimes things are just (bad breaks), but champions find a way to win.

“I’m proud of the kids. They’re competitors. They’re coachable and I’m just proud of each one of them.”