Rams storm back to edge Moriarty

MORIARTY – After a rough start Monday night, Portales High’s boys recovered to take the lead by halftime and held on late for a 62-58 victory over Moriarty.

Senior guard Davian Lucero led three Rams in double digits with 16 points, while sophomore forward Paxton Culpepper added 13 and senior guard Xodus Gomez 12.

The Pintos (4-6) got off to a quick start, building a 16-point lead during the opening stanza as senior guard-forward Jeremy Padilla had two of his four 3-pointers and 10 of his game-high 20 points in the frame. Portales (7-7) managed to cut the margin to eight by period’s end, though, and took a 34-32 lead into the half when Gomez converted a pair of steals into layups late in the second frame.

From there, it was back and forth.

“Moriarty jumped on us quick,” PHS coach Randy McBroom said. “But I’ve got to give some props to our kids. We traveled 3 ½ hours on a bus and they come out shooting lights out, but our kids battled back.”

The Rams, who have struggled from the free throw line at times this season, won it in part with a 23-1 edge in free throws made. Lucero led the way, going 7-for-8 in the final canto and 10-for-12 overall.

“If we don’t make free throws, we don’t win that game,” McBroom said. “These kids are determined and tough, both mentally and physically.”

Gomez collected seven steals in the contest, while he and Lucero each posted three assists. Senior center Emmanual Diahn was the team’s top rebounder with six.

Also in double figures for the Pintos was sophomore guard Jordan Brown with four 3s and 16 points. He scored eight in both the first and fourth stanzas.

The Rams return to action on Thursday in the four-team Portales Shootout round-robin at the Ram Athletic Center. Portales faces Pojoaque on Thursday and El Paso Cathedral on Friday in 7 p.m. starts before taking on Andrews in a 5:30 p.m. tipoff on Saturday.