Buffs reach boys finals

TEXICO - Logan DeVaney is probably known a bit more for his football prowess than his basketball skills.

Still, as one of a handful of seniors on the Melrose boys basketball team, he has a sense of when to try to take over a game.

DeVaney converted 8-of-10 free throws, missing only his first and last tries, and delivered the first 3-point basket of his high school career on Friday night as the Buffaloes turned back Texico 50-46 in the championship semifinals of the EPAC boys basketball tournament.

Melrose (7-2), which captured the last EPAC crown in 2020, was to face top-seeded Fort Sumner (9-1), a 59-47 winner over Dora on Friday, in Saturday night's title clash.

Meantime, the Wolverines (6-4) and Coyotes (6-5) played for third place.

"He really stepped up in the second half," Buffs coach Kevin Lackey said of DeVaney. "He picked a great time to hit his first 3-pointer."

Lackey was concerned when his team lost two of three in its season-opening tournament in early December, but since then the Buffs have run off six wins in a row and have hopes of another postseason run.

"From where we were the first week of the season, I'm proud of the team," Lackey said. "But we've still got a long ways to go."

DeVaney delivered eight of his game-high 15 points in the final stanza, including an unexpected 3 while sent the Buffs in front 39-33 early in the period.

"I only shoot it if I'm open," the 6-foot-3 senior said. "After I made that one, they came after me (the next time) and I found Brody (McAlister for an inside shot)."

DeVaney and freshman reserve Josiah Roybal played big roles down the stretch. Roybal broke a 30-30 tie with a 3-point basket on the first possession of the final segment, and finished the quarter with six points.

"I think we're a very well-rounded team," DeVaney said. "We have five or six freshmen who like to step up and play with us."

Texico coach Craig Cook was impressed with DeVaney.

"Logan DeVaney changed the entire game," Cook said. "He's a very selfless player and he created opportunities for teammates."

Junior Jahvon Askew led the Wolverines with 14 points before fouling out late.

"We got outworked," Cook said. "They're a good, hard-working team and they play for each other.

"We're going to have to learn to work a little harder when it comes to trying to beat the better teams."

In the earlier semifinal, Fort Sumner trailed 20-10 midway through the second quarter, but closed to within five at halftime and then took over with a 25-point eruption in the third canto.

Sophomore Joaquin Segura led the Foxes with 21 points, while junior Clay Norman and sophomore Chance Thomson each finished with 14. Dora junior Steven Masini matched Segura for game scoring honors with 21 points.

In consolation semifinals on Friday:

Logan 61, Grady 49 - The Longhorns were outscored in the second half, but by that time they had control after building a 29-14 margin at the intermission.

Sophomore Brock Burns led a balanced attack for Logan (4-7) with 11 points, followed by junior Christian Kotara, sophomore Kaden Stoner and freshman Devin Kotara with 10 apiece. For the Bronchos (4-8), sophomore Zane Rush scored 16 points and senior Jordan Verble tossed in 14.

Elida 66, Floyd 9 - The Tigers (12-2) led 23-5 at the quarter and completely overwhelmed the Broncos (2-9) behind 19 points from senior Rylan Creighton, 12 from junior Aiden Yates, 11 from junior Jose Jimenez and 10 from senior Gavin Hartman. Senior Ricky Ramirez was one of four players to score for Floyd and finished with three points.