Mustangs dominate young Sudan team

BOVINA — Bovina boys coach Eric Fierro has some empathy for what Sudan is going through this season.

The Mustangs took full advantage of Sudan’s youth and inexperience on Friday to register a 69-40 victory, and head into a three-week holiday break cruising along with a 5-1 record.

Meantime, the Hornets (1-8) are going through a learning process with a nine-man roster that includes four freshmen and no seniors.

“They’ve got a very young team,” Fierro, who has eight seniors on his squad, acknowledged. “We’ll probably be in their shoes next year.”

Behind a personal-best 27 points from senior Jose Mata, the Mustangs dominated from start to finish. They led 20-4 at the quarter and 33-11 at halftime, and the Hornets were never able to get the margin under 20 the rest of the way.

“We’re young, but they’re improving each game,” Sudan coach Steven Gray said of his squad. “They’re going through some growing pains.”

Bovina likes to get up and down the court, on both offense and defense, and the Hornets were simply unable to keep pace.

“We came out fast, and that’s what we want to do,” senior Cole Emery said. “We want to get as many points as we can as fast as we can, and then apply pressure to the other team.”

Bovina doesn’t play again until Jan. 8, when it visits Lockney. Emery said the Mustangs will be ready for that one.

“They beat us on our home court last year, so we want to beat them on their court and get revenge,” he said.

Sophomore Darian DeLaRosa added 13 points for the Mustangs while senior Fernando Martinez, playing just his second game after suffering a ruptured pancreas during Week 3 of the football season, finished with 10.

One of the few issues for Bovina was its failure to convert a number of layup opportunities, Fierro said.

“We need to finish at the rim,” he stressed. “We probably could’ve had 80 points if we’d done that. It’s something we’ll have to work on during the break.”

Junior guard Michael Limon accounted for more than half of Sudan’s points with 22, while freshman Trent Wilson chipped in 10.

Sudan 81, Bovina girls 37 — The Hornettes (4-7) poured in 28 first-quarter points and were never threatened in the first half of the doubleheader.

Six-foot junior post Addison Boehning scored all of her 29 points in the first three quarters, including 21 in the opening half, while senior Braelyn Porter added 12.

The Fillies (4-4), coming off a strong effort in Tuesday’s 61-23 road domination of Class 3A Friona, found themselves on the other end of it this time.

“We were just outhustled all over the court,” Bovina coach Scott Hill said. “We were sluggish today, but I give Sudan all the credit. They’re a real good team, and they have been for some time now.”

Junior Kate Saenz led the Fillies with 12 points, while senior Ireydi Vela added 9 and sophomore Alando Tarango 8.

In other girls games on Friday night:

Muleshoe 46, Denver City 44 — At Denver City, the Lady Mules climbed over the .500 mark for the first time this season, holding on late after building an 11-point halftime lead for their sixth win in seven games.

Junior Natalie Ambriz scored 15 points for Muleshoe (7-6, 2-1 Class 3A District 3), which also got eight points apiece from Kristina Arzola and KyLee Villa. The Lady Mustangs were paced by 10 points from senior Marley Jordon.

Farwell 71, Morton 26 — The visiting Lady Blue snapped a two-game losing streak as sophomore Charlie May Trimble led four players in double figures with 17 points. All eight Farwell players scored, including seven with six or more.

Sophomore Jaelyn Smith added 11 points while senior Presley Agee and freshman Chloee Whitten tallied 10 apiece for Farwell (8-5), which broke the game open by outscoring the Lady Indians 20-4 in the second frame for a 21-point halftime lead.

In boys action on Friday:

Farwell 70, Morton 32 — The Steers rode a balanced attack as nine players contributed to the scoring column.

Farwell (9-1), which took an eight-game winning streak into a Saturday road matchup against Klondike, led comfortably going into the final stanza before finishing off the Indians with a 19-2 surge. Senior Jonathan Mora and junior Grayson Waldrop led the way for the Steers with 11 points apiece.