Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Portales pummels Pojoaque in 4A first-rounder

PORTALES - With the game wrapped up by halftime, the Portales girls basketball team easily advanced past the Class 4A girls round of 16 by beating Pojoaque Valley, 75-37.

The fourth-seeded Lady Rams move on to an 11:30 a.m. quarterfinal Tuesday against District 4-4A rival Moriarty at The Pit. Moriarty topped Hatch Valley 49-41.

Led by Zamorye Cox with 25 points, the Lady Rams (17-10) easily handled the Elkettes (12-15), who found themselves down 22-9 after the first quarter. Taylee Rippee added 12 for Portales, while Pojoaque was led by Michaela Martinez with nine points.

"Learning how to take what we are given, but not forcing anything," said Cox of the team's performance. "It gives us a lot of confidence and knowing we are capable of doing it if we play the way we need to."

Playing in a press most of the game, the Lady Rams stifled the Elkettes from the go, generating turnover after turnover and leading to numerous easy baskets. It didn't hurt that Portales also had one of its better shooting nights on the season as well.

"Well, we shot the ball well, and when you shoot the ball well the game becomes easier," said Portales coach Wade Fraze. "We found the open man, which enabled us to shoot better."

Going into the game Fraze had warned that Pojoaque's size could give the Lady Rams trouble on the inside and that he was relying on his inside defense as well as pressure on the outside to stop the Elkettes. His squad answered the call and then some.

"Defense's effort was good," Fraze said. "When we talk on the floor and move as a team, do what we are supposed to, we are a good defensive team."

 
 
Rendered 02/28/2024 18:59