FRIDAY PREPS: Coyotes hoping Masini can lead postseason bid

DORA – Whatever hopes Dora's boys have of a deep postseason run this season rest largely on the shoulders of 6-foot-5 senior post Steven Masini.

Fourth-year Coyotes coach Kris King said this week that Masini ranks in the top three in New Mexico in several categories, including points (25.4 ppg), double-doubles (21) and rebounds (16.9 rpg). King said the latter ranks him 11th among all high school players in the nation.

On Friday night, Masini scored 24 points and added 20 rebounds, but the Coyotes dropped a tight 55-53 non-district decision at home to Clovis Christian. He now has 1,274 points in his three years at Dora.

Junior Cole Kirchner added 11 points for Dora (17-6), while senior Conner Rooney also compiled a double-double with 10 tallies and 11 caroms The Coyotes got out to a 19-5 lead at the quarter, but the Eagles (15-8) outscored their hosts 16-3 in the third stanza to take the lead and won it on two free throws by senior Noah Gershon with less than a second left.

Gershon finished with 20 points – the other 18 coming on six 3-pointers. Junior Jaden Martinez added three 3s and nine points for CCS, which had an 11-3 margin in trifectas for the game.

Since moving to Dora from the Richmond, Va. area three years ago, Masini has established himself as a force to be reckoned with around the basket.

As a freshman, he attended Class 6A Thomas Dale H.S. in suburban Chester, Va. He was on the JV squad until moving up to the varsity late in the season.

The following year, Masini and his mother moved to Causey the following year so she could take care of his grandfather.

"He fell out of the sky," King said. "The kid was a blessing for our program."

Masini played for the Coyotes during the COVID-abbreviated season in the spring of 2021. Last year, he scored 583 points and helped Dora post a 17-10 record.

He admitted it took some time to adjust to the tiny town and school.

"It wasn't bad, though," Masini said. "Everybody here was really friendly."

With him, the Coyotes certainly hope to make some noise in the postseason.

"It's unbelievable to have him here in Dora," King said. "I think most teams are going to key on him and make the rest of my team (try to) beat them."

Meantime, Masini said he's still looking to improve his game, and hopes to play in college.

"I can still get a lot better," he said. "I've gotten a lot better since my sophomore year. I feel like I've become a better team player."

In other boys action on Friday:

Farwell 43, Panhandle 40 – Down 15-0 at the quarter, the Steers made a remarkable comeback to overhaul the Panthers at Panhandle and nail down the District 3-2A title with one game left.

Senior Alec Actkinson led Farwell (24-4, 9-0 district) with 12 points and junior Corey Stancell tallied 11. Senior Landyn Hack put in 15 points for the second-place Panthers (19-7, 7-2).

Bovina 52, Amarillo Highland Park 26 – At Amarillo, only junior Miguel Lopez reached double figures for the Mustangs (15-14, 3-6 District 3-2A) with 10 points, but five others finished between six and nine.

Senior Zack McClung netted three 3-pointers and 11 points for the Hornets (12-17, 1-8).

In a District 3-3A matchup at Muleshoe, Dimmitt (15-10, 7-4) eked out a 38-37 victory over the host Mules (7-14, 2-9).

Schedule changes – Two non-district doubleheaders scheduled for Friday night were postponed – Elida at Cimarron and Floyd at Hondo. The Floyd games will not be made up, while Elida's squads are slated to travel to Cimarron on Friday for 3:30 and 5 p.m., tilts.

Meantime, seven area games slated for Thursday night – all in district play – were postponed and have been rescheduled for this week. Clovis Christian's boys will play at Grady at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, while doubleheaders set for Wednesday send Fort Sumner to Melrose in District 6-1A (4 and 5:30 p.m.) and Santa Rosa to Texico in District 6-2A (5:30 and 7 p.m.).

Also, Gateway Christian's District 4-1A tilts games at Elida, postponed by Thursday's inclement weather, have been reset to Saturday afternoon (12:30 and 2 p.m.).