Rams advance to title clash against Elks

POJOAQUE — Portales High’s boys dug out of an eight-point hole early in the final period to beat Silver 55-49 on Friday night in the championship semifinals of the Ben Lujan tournament.

The Rams (5-3) were slated to face host Pojoaque (8-2) in Saturday night’s championship tilt. The Elks got past Santa Fe Indian 38-36 in Friday’s other semifinal.

Senior Davian Lucero and sophomore Paxton Culpepper each hit a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory. Culpepper, who went 8-for-10 from the line in the contest, and senior Emmanuel Diahn scored 12 points apiece while Lucero and senior Xodus Gomez each added 10 for the Rams.

“Silver has some big kids, and obviously we’re not that big,” PHS coach Randy McBroom said. “Our kids forced some big turnovers and hit some big baskets (late).”

The game was tight all the way through. Portales led 14-10 at the quarter, but the score was tied at halftime and after three periods.

“In the fourth quarter, we played with more energy and our kids on the bench had a lot of energy,” McBroom said. “It was a big win for us.”

Senior post Nick Chavez led the Colts (5-3) with 16 points.

Portales 81, Mesa Vista 66 (Thursday, quarterfinals) — The Rams put four players in double figures, led by Diahn with 15, in dispatching the Trojans.

Portales led 17-9 at the quarter, then put the game away with a 26-14 blast in the third segment and led by more than 20 points for much of the final stanza.

Coming off a 23-point loss at Clovis on Tuesday, McBroom said the Rams were looking to get things turned around in a big way. They did that en route to a season-high point total.

“One of our big (points of) emphasis tonight was to push the ball,” McBroom said. “The kids did a good job of that.”

Senior forward Markus Aranda and sophomore forward Paxton Culpepper each scored 14 points for PHS white junior guard Braden Beck added 12 off the bench. Portales had season highs in rebounds (42, led by Gomez with 10) and assists (21, with senior guard Damian Lucero and Gomez collecting five apiece).

“Our cohesiveness was probably the best it’s been all season,” McBroom said. “It was a big team effort tonight.”

Four players reached double digits for the Trojans (3-2), led by senior Jordan Cervantes with 18 points.

Frenship 54, Portales 25 (girls, Friday) — At the Ram Athletic Center, the Wolfforth, Texas-based Lady Tigers opened an 18-8 lead at the quarter and steadily pulled away in improving to 14-3 for the season.

“They’re one of the best teams in west Texas,” Lady Rams coach Wade Fraze said. “I don’t want a steady diet of games like this, but I thought that as a young team we grew tonight. That team just makes you pay for mistakes.”

Junior guard Abbi Holder was the only Frenship player in double figures with 19 points, including 7-of-7 from the foul line, but nine other players contributed points. For the Lady Rams (6-4), junior guard Audrey Paden and sophomore forward Evannie Fulfer each finished with five points.

Portales hosts Lubbock Christian on Tuesday night at the RAC.