Boys first round: Melrose, Texico advance

TEXICO — Senior swingman Skyler Davis scored 10 of his team-high 22 points in the third quarter, 16 in the second half overall, and helped Texico beat Menaul 63-50 to open the Class 2A tournament at Texico Sports Arena Saturday night.

In their last home game this season, the Wolverines (22-7) turned a 20-13 early-second-quarter lead into a 26-13 advantage by halftime, then built on that with a 13-5 run to open the third quarter.

Though Menaul (17-13) did climb to within 10 points twice during the fourth quarter, Texico held steady and earned the right to head upstate as one of 2A’s elite eight.

“They competed. That’s what you ask ’em to do,” Texico head coach Ty Thatcher said. “And they found a way to be ahead at the end.”

“It’s a great journey to be able to win game by game,” Davis said. “Your ultimate goal is to win a championship at the end.”

Senior guard Dalton Thatcher added 19 points for the Wolverines, helping them lead 20-9 after the first quarter by scoring 11 points — including three treys — during that period. He also helped Texico close it out in the fourth by going 5-for-6 from the foul line.

Menaul’s Carlos Fuentes led all scorers with 26 points.

The Wolverines move on to play fifth-seeded Mora (21-9) — who defeated 12th-seeded Eunice 57-45 on Saturday — in a Wednesday-morning quarterfinal at Rio Rancho’s Santa Ana Star Center. Game time is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

The teams met at Texico’s pre-holiday tournament in December, with the Wolverines surviving 76-65 in double overtime.

“They’ve got a good team,” Ty Thatcher said of Mora, “got a new coach (Marco Sánchez) mid-season. And that makes it a little bit interesting, a little bit challenging.”

Class 5A

No. 8 Hobbs 78, No. 9 Clovis 67

Jalen Young scored 14 to lead five in double figures as the Eagles outlasted their District 4-5A rivals.

The teams had split their first four games of the season, most recently Clovis winning the 4-5A tournament at Hobbs last weekend.

Hobbs (21-7) moves on to play top seed Volcano Vista, which beat Carlsbad 58-42. Clovis’ season ends at 20-9.

The Wildcats trailed by 13 at the half, but chipped away over the third and fourth quarters. Dewayne Dawson hit a 3-pointer with just under two minutes to play to make it 70-67, but freshman Jalen Goar answered with a trey of his own that kickstarted a game-ending 8-0 run.

Brundon Pettit added 12, while Isaiah Chavarria had 11. Goar and Teren Smith each added 10.

Senior guard Jacob Moon had 21 points to lead the Wildcats (20-9). Two other Cats reached double figures, Anthony Gutierrez with 16 and Bryce Cabeldue with 11.

Class 4A

No. 8 Goddard 31, No. 9 Portales 29

ROSWELL — All throughout the District 4-4A season, Portales lived with its zone defense giving it a chance to win most nights.

It gave the Rams a great chance at a first-round upset against 4-4A foe Goddard, but the host Rockets had just enough offense and defense of their own to survive with a 31-29 victory Saturday night.

The Rockets (19-9) move on to an 8 a.m. Wednesday quarterfinal at The Pit against top-seeded Los Lunas. The Tigers beat 16th-seed Artesia 57-42.

The Rams (16-12) looked like they had a chance to go up late when Rico Diaz drew contact on a made layup with :05 to play. The call was a charge, and the Rockets remained ahead 31-29.

“I’d have to see the video (to know if the call was right),” Portales coach Rickie McBroom said. “If you’re a Portales fan, you probably think it was a block, but I don’t know.”

McBroom credited Portales with a great road crowd, and the Ram players with great effort throughout the prep week and all of the season.

“I felt like our kids had a great week of practice,” McBroom said. “They gave their hearts, played until the very last seconds. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids. There were some ups and downs. I wouldn’t trade this group for anybody.”

Class 1A

No. 5 Melrose 69, No. 12 Animas 54

MELROSE — Tate Sorgen had a dominant night with 30 points and 22 rebounds, and Melrose won comfortably despite never really dealing a knockout blow.

The fifth-seeded Buffaloes (22-7) never trailed and were in control throughout, jumping out to a 9-2 lead and pushing the lead as high as 21 in the fourth.

“We played 10 kids, mixed the lineup,” Melrose coach Kevin Lackey said. “Second half, we got sloppy with the basketball and stopped executing on offense. We tried to do too much at time. We could never blow it open, and they just made shots.”

Sorgen’s big night came on what Lackey just called a mismatch with the Panthers.

“They’re a very athletic team with a lot of speed, but they don’t have a lot of size,” Lackey said. “We were able to take advantage of that.”

Tristan Sena added 15 for Melrose. The Panthers, led by Tell Swift’s 18, end their season at 17-10.

The Buffaloes move on to a 1:15 p.m. Wednesday quarterfinal against Logan at Bernalillo High School. The Longhorns defeated No. 13 Cimarron 79-45.

“It’s unfortunate,” Lackey said. “I feel like we’re two of the top teams in 1A and we’ve got to play in the quarters. It’s going to be who shows up and executes a little bit better.”

No. 2 Fort Sumner 76, No. 15 To’hajiilee 25

FORT SUMNER — The Foxes, last year’s champions in Class 2A, blew things open with a 22-4 fourth and got to the mercy-ruled running clock in the third.

Jude Segura scored 22 points lead three in double figures and 10 overall scorers for the Foxes (21-8), who will face New Mexico School for the Deaf in an 8:15 p.m. Wednesday quarterfinal at Bernalillo High School. The seventh-seeded Roadrunners defeated Vaughn 69-58.

Noah Maxwell and Jayden Terrell each added 11 for Fort Sumner, who had 12 3-pointers on the night.

Trent Guerro had nine to lead To’hajilee.

No. 9 Gateway Christian 51, Elida 29

ROSWELL — In a matchup of District 4-1A opponents, the Eagles were once again victorious over the ninth-seeded Tigers.

Gateway (19-8) moves on to face Quemado in a 4:45 p.m. Wednesday quarterfinal at Bernalillo High School.

Elida’s season ends at 15-11.