Texico, Melrose, Grady post district title wins

STAFF REPORT

TEXICO — The Texico Wolverines took no chances Saturday night in their bid for a District 4-3A tournament title.

The district’s top seed opened a 20-6 lead at the quarter and cruised the rest of the way in a 72-49 victory over the fourth-seeded Eunice Cardinals, who had pulled off a couple of upset wins to get to the finals.

Senior guard Brannon Karger scored seven of his game-high 22 points in the first quarter, and the Wolverines (18-5) continued to add to their lead the rest of the way.

Also in double figures for Texico were junior guard Braden Fraze and freshman guard Dalton Thatcher, each with 10 points.

Texico coach Scott Karger said he thinks the Wolverines will be behind Lordsburg when the New Mexico Activities Association announces the Class 3A field today.

“I think we’re going to be a 2 seed,” he said. “Of course, we’ll find out tomorrow.

Euinice (7-19) was led by guards Donovan Nichols and Bryce Jenkins, who scored 11 points apiece and accounted for all four of the team’s 3-pointers.

District 6-2A — At Melrose, the top-seeded Buffaloes got 16 points from senior forward Braden Hemminger and 13 from sophomore guard Cade Barnard in posting a 58-40 win over the third-seeded Dora Coyotes.

Buffaloes coach Jim Doherty said he thinks his team will get a No. 1 seed in the upcoming Class 2A state meet.

“We’ve beaten three district champions,” he said. “(The Buffs are) playing real solid for the last five games now and they’ve been doing it without (senior guard Wyatt Willliams).”

Williams has been resting a strained ACL, but Doherty said he expects him back when the Buffs (22-3) host a first-round game next Saturday night.

“I was proud of the kids; we played good defense again,” Doherty said.

Senior forward Dalton Privett scored 12 points for the Coyotes (18-11), and sophomore forward Slade Hamann added 10.

District 4-1A — At Grady, the top-seeded Bronchos survived a bit of a rough night at the free throw line because Floyd had an even worse time in a 58-40 victory for the district tourney title.

Grady (19-6) spent a lot of time at the line, but converted only 20-of-44 attempts. Meantime, Floyd (8-17) shot just 1-of-14 from the stripe.

Grady broke open a relatively close game with a 21-point third quarter, but coach Jason Lee said it really wasn’t anything he said at halftime.

“I’d like to take credit, but we just had a better quarter offensively,” Lee said. “We kind of settled down in the third quarter.”

Senior guards Trenton Lee (15 points) and Koby Valentine (14) led the way for Grady, while Floyd had no one in double figures. The Broncos were led by junior forward Edgardo Chavez and sophomore forward Jarrett East with 11 points apiece.

Jason Lee said he thinks the Bronchos are likely to get a No. 5 seed at in the Class 1A state meet, noting that the competition is close at the top with about six teams.